Blue Blazers vs. Purists

imported
#1

Thinking back to the trail, I can vividly remember two distinctions between hikers:
1.) Purists vs. Blue Blazers (or yellow blazers, etc.)
2.) Hikers that looked like they would finish vs. hikers that looked like they wouldn’t finish.
I found some distinguishing characteristics of each side of the above cases.
Purists seemed to be those who had lighter gear, hiked more miles per day, were focused on finishing (mainly their reason for hiking was mainly to finish the trail), and didn’t spend too much time in towns.
Blue Blazers seemed to be those who had heavier gear, hiked less miles per day, weren’t focused on finishing (more so on being out in the woods), and spent on average, more time in towns.

Hikers that looked like they would finish were those that seemed more fit, had more top-of-the-line gear, had previous hiking experience, and had an optimistic attitude about the trail on a day-to-day basis (weren’t down when it was raining, the miles didn’t get to them as much, etc.).
Hikers that looked like they wouldn’t finish were those that seemed less fit, carried more gear that they wanted as opposed to needed, had less hiking experience, and were pessimistic more often than not.

(Allthough, some of these characteristics didn’t always fit)

Now, I raise this characteristics of the above types of hikers in order to pose you a question. Did you experience these different types of hikers? If so, do you agree with my observations? Did you notice any other characteristics that I failed to mention? What were you experiences like with the different type of thru-hikers? And finally what type of hiker did you consider yourself?

Lion Cub, '03

#2

Sort of and not always in ref to the above observation. We saw overloaded hikers finish, but they weren’t necessarily inexperienced. We saw go-liters not finish who were skilled and got burned out. I’m talking about 2001.
In general, I think the people who are “looking for something to do” after college or don’t do any planning and just want to “do the trail”, won’t finish…but not always. There are way too many variables to say whether a purist or a blazer finishes or not. Many of the hikers that frequent this forum know me and I’ve talked at length in person to each of them about having the fuel to finish let alone start. They all had different concerns about expectations and questioned their own mettle. Each was brave as hell and if they didn’t finish [the trail] they were assured that they had walked the walk and they knew it. They chose their own path in the maze. No right or wrong road. It’s more about the commitment either way you hike. Of coarse not finishing doesn’t mean you failed, but then that’s been beaten already. Congrats to the class of ‘04
BW

Bushwhack & Bramble

#3

So, did you notice any interaction between B & P’s? I remember a few instances where suttle confrontations arose between my group, purists, and another group, blueblazers. I think you should hike how you want to hike, but they persisted and kept referring to us as “those damn purists.” Other things came up as well, but it was pretty funny in hindsight. Did you experience anything like this, even if it wasn’t as extreme?

Lion Cub '03