I get so riled up about this sort of thing (that is, comments like Jim’s) that I go on a rant. Your post was nicely put. Thank you.
ramkitten
Does any thru-hiker really hike straight thru?
system
#22
Well, even the great Earl Shaffer took one day off on his first thru-hike in 1948. I thru-hiked the trail in about four months last year, but I took probably around ten zero days just to let my body recover. I just completed a marathon, and just about any running coach will tell you that rest days are about the most important thing you can do in training for a marathon. I have to say that my body and mind felt refreshed from a day off, a couple of AYCE buffets, and a night or two of sleeping on a real mattress.
Regarding the manners of thru-hikers, we are an eclectic bunch. Some are much more outgoing than others, but I found them to be an incredibly helpful, encouraging and a really enjoyable group of people to hike with.
Happy hiking to all.
Superfeet
Superfeet
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#23
Whining is the american way, huh? 
Thru-hikers are no different than any hiker…they are just doing more miles. If you want to justify ill mannered people, than do that. But the original question was to do they need days off the trail and I stick by my response. If you can’t stop calling for the WAHHHHHMMMMMbulance, you my friend, need a few days off the trail or need to work on your skills as a human being. I hitched hiked across America 3 times and I can tell you that if I had the pissy, lack of people skills, bad attitude that I have seen in some of these (and yes it is some) thru-hikers (read the journals)I wouldn’t have secured many rides. No one wants to be with cry babies or people who don’t show common decency.
Jim
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#24
Now Jim, I hate to say this, but your last post.
Sounded like crying. And it was not very polite.
Blue Jay
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#25
Back on topic. According to a survey done by Roland Mueser, and printed in his book “Long Distance Hiking,”, the average is 21 zeros.
Now, are they necessary? Dam right. You try doing something day in, day out for months on end. Hard to imagine just hiking for months straight. Maybe Flying Brian Robinson. I also suspect that the people who take the time to post journals are more apt to take more time off than those who don’t. But, to each their own.
Peaks
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#27
I disagree with you joe. Unlike wingfoot’s stuff, Roland mueser did do some research and explains his methods. There is some ancedotal info but it was an attempt at real research on thru-hikers. I do think he needs a larger sample but the info was useful. When I stopped at Rusty’s, he said the thru-hikers now where more oriented on rushing to the next town and didn’t come and hang out like they used to. I do think roland’s work is still relavent to thru-hiking even if Peaks does reference it frequently.
Darth Pacman
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#28
To quote Jane:
“Honestly, these thru hikes don’t seem thru. They seem like several longish hikes over several months.”
This makes me wonder. What does “thru” mean? For one, it’s a funny spelling. The only other place we see that spelling commonly used is at the “drive-thru.” Golly, we seem to spend most of our time parked while we’re there, instead of ACTUALLY driving through. Would it only be an actual drive-thru if they hucked the food out the window as we rolled past? I think not.
A thru-hike is a continuous task. Maybe some folks take a few stops here and there to rest, or visit, or emancipate ice cream from the evil grocer’s freezer, but they still are on their way north (or south 
). Anecdote: Wee Willy the Prince of Whales once told me that no one has ever literally hiked thru. They all seem to stop, curiously, about once a day to do something we call “sleep.” So, until you walk end-to-end w/out stopping, even to fill up your water, you have not thru-hiked. Interesting.
If you work for five days, then take two off, then work five, then take two off, w/ the occasional 3-day weekend and 2 week vacation, do you have a career? Or do you just have several longish jobs over the years? Just a thought.
Until next time, enjoy yourselves (both fun and happy), be civil, hike your own hike, and TAKE IT EASY.
Thank you for your order, please hike thru,
SlowRide
SlowRide
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#29
Me thinks this is gonna turn into the “What is a thru-hike?” thread. You know, the one that now has 70-some-odd posts, many of them not so warm and fuzzy. Not that there’s anything WRONG with the discussion, but phew! Exhausting. I know, I know, nobody’s makin’ me read it.
SO! Anybody do any good hiking lately? (Sorry, just changing the subject :o)
ramkitten
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#31
Done any good hiking recently? You bet. I just got back from Baxter State Park. What could be better? We stayed in a shelter at Katahdin Stream Campgound, and then went to climb the Brothers. While on top of South Brother, the clouds cleared and the entire range came into view. We bagged North Brother, and that completes the New England 4000 footers for me. I got all of the other 4000 footers in Maine except for Redington and North Brother while on my thru-hike 2 years ago. I bagged Redington last summer when I took a quick trip up there and did the Bigelows again.
Peaks
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#32
Thanks Bushwhack and Peaks. Nice to hear. I enjoyed that section Bushwhack. But “day hike”! Wow! That’s a workout. And, yay, Peaks. It’s fun to pick a goal like that–the 4000-footers. The hiking hubby and I are thinking of doing all the named … um, what did he call them? Cinder cones? Here in Arizona.
Anyhow, I’m gearing up for a Kekekabic (did I finally spell that right?), Border Route and Superior Trail trek in July, with a wee warm-up in the Grand Canyon next week. Gotta get my arse back in shape. I’ve started babbling in a journal on here, but heck if I know why it’s not showing up. I like to SHARE!
Well, sorry to have interrupted the thread. Okay, continue.
ramkitten
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#33
Jim, That was the funniest comment I have heard. You wouldn’t have been picked up if you were a whiner. Heck, the person stopping to pick you up didn’t know you before they stopped. How long before they told you that they had to take a different direction?
Seriously, so what if a person hiking the AT is having a bad day and doesn’t want to talk? What if they are hurting all over and need some relief? What if they just got divorced and have some serious issues that they are mulling over? What if they lost their job and a lot of feelings about their self esteem or self worth are rambling through their minds? What if they just got told off by some idiot and they are withdrawn for self preservation? What if they just completed 20 + miles and need to find a place to alight? What if they are constipated and need to get some relief? What if they just got dumped by another hiker who tied their packpack to a tree with a string and as they began their hike after their last break they were stopped real short? What if they looked at you and thought that you might be judgemental and they decided that the best way of avoiding you would be to act grumpy? What if they just didn’t care what anyone thought but were just hiking their own hike?
Ah, So many variables in life and on the trail!
But hitch-hiking, now that really is a thru-hiking tradition as hikers try to get into town to do what needs top be done.
Jack
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#34
“One funny thing about backpacking is that we carry everything we need in our backpacks, but everything that we want is somewhere in a town. The pulling forces of towns and the pull of isolalation and wildness away from towns seems like an unresolved cunundrum to me and many others.”
From Sage’s journal, today’s entry.
I loved the thoughful responses and I tried to ignore the ones that suggested I’m nuts/ignorant/uncharitable/all three for raising the question.
Jane
Jane
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#35
Jane, now you’ve got me curious, are you going to attempt an unsupported no town hike? I’ve never heard of anyone doing it. I think you would become famous. :eek:
Blue Jay
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#36
it really amazes me how intolorant folks in these forums are. everyone has an opinion, and a right to express that opinion. i wish everyone would just mellow out. the AT is a dynamic entity, it’s always changing. in an entity so far-reaching and complex, there really cannot be a right and wrong way of hiking it. don’t just hyoh, make sure you don’t bitch and moan about the way others hike their own hikes.
lurch