[at-l] options for the future of the AT

[jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)]

Actually this is an interesting idea for the truly patch conscious hiker.
Perhaps there should be a web site that catalogs all the organizations that
give patches for a particular trail or section of the AT. A hiker could then
organize a long distance hike by linking up a series of trails that would
result in maximum 'recognition'. :)

----- Original Message -----
From: <greyowl@rcn.com>
To: "Jim Bullard" <jbullar1@twcny.rr.com>
Cc: <at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2003 11:44 AM
Subject: Re: [at-l] options for the future of the AT


> The more and more that I think about this subject the more in
> favor I am of the ATC eliminating the 2000 miler award.   For
> instance one simply has to say that they have completed the
> distance and recieve the patch.  While I am one to believe in
> honesty and integrity these virtues are becoming rarer and
> rarer in todays society.  I would hesitate to have another
> organization take over the job of issuing the awards.  On the
> other hand many trail maintaining organizations issue patches
> for the trails that they maintain.  I have for instance a
> patch for the Loyalsock trail.  I paid a few dollars for the
> patch, told them the section that I hiked (you had to hike 10
> miles)and when I hiked it.  The KTA offeres a similiar patch
> if one hikes all of the AT in PA.  I don't know what the
> requirements were as I don't have that patch yet ;-), but One
> use to provide some type of documentation.  Why settle for
> one lousy patch when one could get a whole bunch for hiking
> the trail.  That may be a lot better solution.
>
> I, if I do mange to hike the whole trail, will not need a
> patch stating that I did so.  I know that I did and that is
> enough for me.
>
> Grey Owl
>