Re: [at-l] Re: AT Thru hiker

[Terry McFadden <thruhiker99@yahoo.com>]

--- Thomas McGinnis <tmcginnis@ucclan.state.in.us> wrote:
>      at-l'ers, I thought I might just dredge up Mr. Bryson one more
> time, 
>      for groans......

And I would like to perpetuate. Personally, I have no clue why people get
so bent out of shape over Bryson's account of his hike on the AT. Who
cares how he did it, how far he went, how much he "cheated". He hasn't
applied for 2K miler status, so what difference does it make how he got
from point A to point B? He hiked the AT in his own way, and I believe
that's what we all intend to do when we go out there, isn't it? 

The book was not written to be a guide book, it was written to be an
entertaining narrative on his personal experiences on the trail. And I
happen to think he pulled it off flawlessly, even though I do not
necessarily agree with his and Katz's actions on the trail alot of times.
I still busted a gut every time I read the book. 

Maybe my outlook is inconsistent with the rest of you, but (and I am not
insinuating anything here) I am most definitely NOT a purist, nor do I
have any desire to become one. I hiked for fun, and I will be hiking for
fun when I go back next spring. Blue Blazin' Hiker Trash I am, and proud
of it. But, unlike those on other AT lists, I have yet to recieve any BS
because of it from this group. And I imagine it's because most all of you
probably really could care less how anyone else hikes their hike. Which is
good. But it is not good to have Bryson be the butt of jokes and the
target of criticism for doing his job. I for one never heard anyone using
the term "Brysoning", and rarely was the book discussed. It's just a book,
after all, and books are dead weight on the trail. The Data Book is about
the only reading material people cared about out on the trail. Until, of
course, I write "The Blue-Blazer's Guide to Beer Stores and Party Towns
along the Appalachian Trail." I wonder if ATC would carry that in it's
ultimate store...???

 Just Big Daddy's two cents...
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