A funny little ditty

imported
#1

Bill Irwin. The blind man that walked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail with only a guide dog and a deep faith in God who became a power of example for not just the hiking community, but anyone searching for a modern day example of a miracle.

Bill Bryson. The scourge of the hiking community who blundered his way along with an hopelessly overwieght sidekick for a few hundred miles before skipping ahead, whereupon his thru-hike fragmented into a few wide-spaced day hikes, who never even saw Katahdin.

Who faced the most challange? Who kept thier convictions? Who do we all look up to? Who’s the better Bill? Bryson-Irwin. Let’s see how they compare.

HIKING PARTNER:
Irwin: A Dog and a God.
Bryson: Katz
ADVANTAGE: Irwin

WAS HANDICAPPED BY:
Irwin: Loss of vision
Bryson: Contempt of vision
ADVANTAGE: Tie

MILES HIKED:
Irwin: 2,160
Bryson: 870
ADVANTAGE: Irwin

NUMBERED IN MILLIONS:
Irwin: Lives his story touched
Bryson: Books he sold
ADVANTAGE: Irwin

FOUND HUMOR IN:
Irwin: The happiness of others
Bryson: The misery of others
ADVANTAGE: Irwin

MOMENT OF TREPIDATION:
Irwin: His seeing eye dog running away
Bryson: Watching Katz climb into the top bunk
ADVANTAGE: Bryson

THE BIGGER MESS:
Irwin: He was discriminated against in a restaurant when he brought his dog in
Bryson: Katz flirting with a married woman
ADVANTAGE: Bryson

LOOKED TO:
Irwin: God for guidance
Bryson: Katz for material
ADVANTAGE: Irwin

ONE WORD USED TO DESCRIBE HIKE:
Irwin: Heaven
Bryson: Hell
ADVANTAGE: Irwin

CONSIDERED BY OTHER THRU-HIKERS TO BE:
Irwin: An inspirational trail legend
Bryson: A yellow-blazing S.O.B.
ADVANTAGE: Irwin

MORAL OF THE STORY:
Irwin: Faith in God can accomplish the miraculous
Bryson: Don’t let Katz carry your food
ADVANTAGE: Tie: morals are relative.

So there you have it. In a landslide victory, our most favorite Bill is-Bill Irwin. But don’t give up, Bryson, cause a sequel will doubtlessly sell millions more! Until next time, this is Kineo Kid reminding you that I’m not one to gripe, because I haven’t even hiked 200 consecutive miles.

Kineo Kid

#2

Are morals really relative, or is it just opinions that are relative?

Or the bigger question…is truth subjective or objective?

I agree though, Bill Irwin’s accomplishment is amazing and it is a great book!

Israel

#3

The opinions of morals are relative to a given situation.
Truth can be objectively subjective. :slight_smile:

To gain truth one must be objective within reference and subjective within applicability.

For me I can not perceive Irwin and Bryson as being related to each other in any way.

Two Scoops

#4

word on the street (or on the trail) is that Bryson never hiked a mile of the AT but instead spoke with hikers at trail crossings. just my opinion. Also i am reading Irwins book right now, just imagine falling with a 80 lb pack and trying to get upright afterwords, way to go billy.

Benny the Bull

#5

After reading all of this, my head hurts.

I thought morels were just really good to eat and very tasty.

Or were we talking morals, or morons, or people named Bill, some of who maybe are morons. Where does Monica fit in to all of this, anyway. Any good Bill story needs a Monica. Time to have another cold one. Keep on hiking.:cheers

Maintain

#6

What is the name of Irwin’s Book?

BenEClone

#7

Blind Courage

Lone Wolf

#8

I don’t think anyone could honestly denounce Irwin, his perseverance and spirit is an inspiration to everyone. Any of us could go on for pages about him singing his praise, and deservingly so, to what he has done for both the handicapped and anyone who knows his saga. Irwin is a great representative of the hiking community, as well as others groups, and we know it.

But, to be fair, Bryson did what authors do, he wrote a book. And taken as light, middle aged, mid-life crisis purely topical and sardonic humor, his book is decent (well, the first half is, the second half lagged a bit…IMHO) It was a quick read, laughed a bit, and gave the book to someone else, as someone had given it to me to read over a 3 day hike. So, so much for royalties for the author on book sales, it is/was a handmedown book. Bryson does not represent the hiking community at large, and importantly, we hikers know it.

I won’t argue morals much, as my own past is done chock full of cemetaries and such, but maybe a little introspection as to this whole string might be good for all. Who here doth not live in a glass house of sorts? :wink:

airferret

#9

Worst case of animal abuse on the trail, advantage Irwin. He actually fell on the poor thing many many times, once braking it’s leg and then forcing it to continue. The dog died young only a few years later. Irwin was and always will be one of the worst pieces of %$&# on the earth.

Blue Jay

#10

Honest to god, I only did this as something fun, not to be taken seriously.

For me, I love both books, though Irwins book means more to me becaue I can identify a lot with his ‘other story’

Anyway…

This thing about Irwin falling on his dog, breaking the dog’s leg, then forcing it to continue . . . that’s the first I’ve heard of that. I don’t know what to make of it, though I don’t think I’m going to stop reading his book or otherwise badmouth him. I’d sooner make fun of Freddie Mercury, though I still love his music. Hey, we are not saints. For me, it’s all about progress, not perfection.

Speaking of Bills . . . :wink:

Kineo Kid

#11

Blue Jay, you can’t be serious in your post. If you are your attitude is simply amazing.

Israel

#12

Geeezzzz…I love this site…::smiley:

Peep

#13

I saw the dog’s feet, I saw the dog’s walk/limp. You don’t want to believe me fine. If you ever get the chance talk to the hikers he talks about in his book.

Blue Jay

#14

Hey, Blue Jay, MOST hiking dogs have beat up feet, and most of them don’t belong on the Trail either.

I’ve met many folks who hiked with Irwin, and they all maintained he loved his dog very much; cared for the dog as best he could; made sure the dog was checked and examined by a veterinarian while en route (NOBODY else does this on the Trail unless their pet is sick or hurt); and was very upset when the dog died years after his trip.

And incidentally, the dog did not die prematurely; Orient belonged to a breed of dog that doesn’t live particularly long in any case, and is prone to hip and back trouble. I’ve seen NO evidence to suggest that the dog died miserably or prematurely due to abuse by its owner, and I’ve personally encountered trail dogs that were treated MUCH worse. In less than a week on the Trail, I’ve already encountred three dogs who should be sent home. Dumping on Irwin seems a little unfair when there are so many able-bodied, sighted, individuals who are not acting in their pet’s best interest.

(On the several occasions I met Bill and Orient, the dog was healthy, did not walk with a limp, and seemed perfectly happy with itsself and with its owner).

You’ve made some very strong statements. Please in future back them up with more evidence, and if you’re going to continue speaking so forcefully and negatively about another hiker, I suggest you put your real name on your posts. Unsubstantiated accusations, especially those launched under a cloak of anonymity, are always suspect and ill-serve the accuser.

Jack Tarlin

#15

Kinco kid, What’s your motive? During my thru I was aware of Bill Irwins hike. I was more than amazed that a blind man with a dog could do a thru-hike. I just coulden’t imagine it. I have since read his book. I still can’t imagine how he could have accomplished, what he did, without more help than he is admitting. I am amazed at his accomplishments. I would love to meet him and tell him so.
I also admire Bill Bryson. I believe that he hiked what he claimed to have hiked. It would be very easy to fabricate a book about a AT thru by doing just what he did. He chose not to. I met Bill Bryson two days before I left for Springer. He was doing a book signing to promote his travil book on Australia. I approache him with my copy of A Walk in the Woods and asked him to sigh it. I told him that I was leaving to start a thru in two days. He jumped up, grabed my hand and congragulated me in a very sincear way.
Yah, he made a lot of money from his book but he brought the enjoyment of the AT to many who will never be able to experience it
Both Bills are great. Both in different ways. As far as I’m conserned they both do honor to the AT.

Grampie

#16

My name is Richard Stowell, most people know me by Blue Jay. Irwin, himself has said that he broke the dog’s leg. I have also seen many other abused dogs, however their owners were sighted and at least had a chance to be aware of the dogs condition. I do believe that he cared about his dog. He seemed truly upset when I pointed out that it’s feet were bleeding. It didn’t stop him though. Think about it Jack, how often do you fall and you can see. Imagine conservatively how many times, being blind and having the dog that close to him (you saw his leash)he fell on that dog. I know speaking against a legend is unpopular, most hikers looked the other way, like we do with other dog abusers

Blue Jay

#17

Did Irwin’s dog carry his own food? Anybody read the article on Bryson’s book posted at Elmer’s? I agree with that one. It’s really funny. If you’re hiking now, check it out when you get there, you should appreciate it. Irwin is a hero, no matter his dog’s health. Be care careful, the stones you cast. There are ripples even on the net. CELL TOWERS KILL BIRDS!

THA WOOKIE

#18

Quote:

Dog Abuse
Worst case of animal abuse on the trail, advantage Irwin. He actually fell on the poor thing many many times, once braking it’s leg and then forcing it to continue. The dog died young only a few years later. Irwin was and always will be one of the worst pieces of %$&# on the earth.

End Quote

Before shooting off at the keyboard, one should research the facts!!!

Bill Irwin is a fine christian man with a deep faith in God. You could learn about that faith if you would open your mind and heart.

L. Reid

#19

Please tell me how a man that is blind and miles from a road can just stop when his seeing eye dog is hurt? It is not like he can take off a blindfold and walk out and carry his dog in the process.

I am sorry I don’t think I would put Bill Irwin into the “dog abusers” catagory. His dog was highly trained and found much purpose (like other seeing eye dogs) in life, rather than just lounging on the couch at home. I don’t think anyone is trying to look the other way to sugar coat anything as you suggest. His dog was very well cared for throughout the hike. I’ve had hikers fall on me too and I have cut myself on the trail. That does not mean I was abused and should have gone home. If Neil Armstrong got a blister on his way down the ladder to the surface of the moon, should they have just gone home?

Too bad Bill Irwin isn’t here to dialogue with you. I suggest that you inform him of your feelings by going to www.billirwin.com and let him know about this matter. It reminds me of the Dixie Chicks statements while in England. They are entitled to feel the way they feel but there is not a lot of respect for it when it is said in a foreign country and in the manner it was handled. Put the same way, I highly doubt they would have said what they said at a concert in rural Texas. In much the same way, personal name calling to the degree you show really should be brought before the offending person. I hope that you expressed these thoughts when you met him on the trail. You could have called the local humane society or PETA to intercept him at the nearest trail head if the abuse was so neglectful. If I met someone abusing their dog on the trail I assure you I would have made the effort to report such a thing. My conscience would not allow me to let an animal be abused like that while I just keep walking on by.

Maybe your comment came off stronger than you entended?
Just my $0.02 worth.

Israel

#20

“…a fine christian man with a deep faith in God (sic).” Scary. I believe it is fairly common for people who have abused their bodies and minds to eventually become holier than thou. Never a trust a motivational speaker.

carolina boy