[at-l] Welcome to the Newbie/RUCK questions

[thornel at attglobal.net (W F Thorneloe)]

Welcome, pull a log over to the fire. Someone, hand that boy a smashmellow.

A RUCK is a gathering of the usual suspects, and old English word. In 
our case, it is a gathering initially designed to help newbie/wannabe 
thru hikers prepare for their plunge into the woods, during the cold 
dismal wintry months before the Spring thaw.

The first was in Harper's Ferry, probably about 1997. It was just a 
collection of folks at a motel who ate some, stayed up late and 
helped gear choices and motivation. The PARUCK derived directly from 
it, and is held usually on SuperBowl Sunday. It was getting very 
organized and driving a few folks a bit crazy (Kahley, DaRedhead and 
others) resulting in a decision to start a southern version of the 
RUCK. The SORUCK has been a bit like a Southern pot luck/covered dish 
supper that lasts all weekend, with hiking, gear talk and other stuff 
filling up the empty time between meals.

Be sure to read Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. It is the seminal 
text on everything useful about hiking the AT.

OrangeBug
<running and ducking for cover>


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