[BULK] - [pct-l] Alpine Style Thru-Hiking?

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

"Alpine" usually refers to the ecology zone above 10,000' or timberline. Hence the origins of Oilcan's favorite saying: "We'll be having a fine time Alpine!"
Or,
"Alpine" refers to all things associated to the Alps range in Europe.

Which brings up a curious observation: In Europe, tent camping is frowned upon. An elaborate system of hiker huts has been developed over the ages to allow hikers to hike a day, then sleep overnight in these "hut" accommodations (some are rather lux in their offering of lodging and dining).
So, if "Alpine Style" means long distance hiking with no support sources, then that is diametrically opposed to the hiking philosophy of Europe, which the Alps are a premier range to hike in.

-Oilcan
M i c h a e l   S a e n z
McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e    P l a n n i n g    I n t e r i o r s
w  w  w  .  m  v  e  -  a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s  .  c  o  m


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Alan Julliard
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 2:59 PM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [BULK] - [pct-l] Alpine Style Thru-Hiking?

(This is in reference to someone's questions about Coup's hikes at
http://www.golite.com/team/athletes/coup/index.asp)

  I saw this site a couple of months ago when I was looking at modifying my GoLite Gust pack.  I had to chuckle to myself.  From the website:
  
"Alpine Style Thru-Hiking entails doing a hike on a major trail from one end to the other continuously without any re-supply or support of any kind. Other than water, readily available from sources on the routes, everything will be carried from the very beginning including every bit of clothing, equipment, and food."

"Enjoying an alpine style thru-hike of a trail as long as the Colorado Trail wasn't even thinkable a decade ago" said Coup. "Now with 1 ? pound packs, 1 pound shelters, 1 ? pound sleeping bags, ? pound waterproof-breathable parkas and the like, it's totally achievable."

  As I am a climber who has climbed some "alpine style" in the mountains, I know what it means.  Since he did not define it, I will.  Basically, "alpine style" originated in the Himalayas in opposition to "expedition style" which involved large parties of climbers with porters carrying all of their gear, moving slowly and establishing multiple camps for climbers to move between; this was the original method of climbing big mountains.  Alpine style meant small teams (usually 2) carrying everything themselves, minimal gear, moving quickly to minimize the exposure to risk, as if the climb were in the Alps, hence alpine.  Retreat is almost impossible in true alpine style so you better know what you are doing.  Most climbs are done alpine style now.  GoLite's twist of semantics when referring to thru-hiking is quite a stretch even if they do bear a resemblance.
  But what gets me is acting like this is new.  Gee, where were you guys decades ago?  On the AT in 1974, because of the bizarre way I did food drops every 20 days (!), I went from south of Mt. Greylock all the way to Gorham without resupply; isn't that about the same distance as the entire Long Trail?  Certainly going 17 days from Highway 178 to Mammoth Lakes without resupply in 1975 was a lot further than the John Muir Trail, covered much of the same ground plus I was in the snow most of the way; I was supposed to get the next drop at Tuolumne but the PO wasn't open yet, hence Mammoth, though I had enough food to go on the 2 - 3 more days.  Take into account that I was carrying a lot of heavy gear, substitute today's light gear and you could easily add 10 more days of food and still have a lighter pack than I had.  So, although doing the entire Colorado Trail in one go is impressive, I would not doubt that someone did it a long time ago.  Considering all the people out there doing unpublished megahikes for years and years, I would be very reluctant to claim the first on anything.  Just look at Eric Ryback!
  Of course, its all just more hype, something we have come to expect from gear companies.  I wonder if Coup and GoLite have figured out yet that they have done the only trails they are likely to ever do in this fashion since most long trails go through towns and such.  Me, I am starting a new style myself, which I have exercised on a thru-hike of the Cotswold Way with my family and friends, that is, carry no supplies but stop at every pub along the way and partake of goods found within; I call it "Alpine style thru-pubbing".

;-)

Alan


	
		
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