HANGIN'OUT - Appalachian Trail

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#21

I hiked with several section hikers on my thru-hike. Everyone who didn’t make it to Georgia was a section hiker. The biggest problem I had hiking with section hikers was the pace. I usually had to slow down to hike with them. Think most thru-hikers get into a zone and hike at a level anyone not hiking everyday jsut can’t keep up with for long. I enjoyed meeting different people and hiking with them. In fact I had several good experiences with trail magic from section hikers giving me a ride to town or buying me lunch in town. So I highly recommend slowing down to walk with section hikers. Being a section hiker is hard than a thru-hiker, they are only there for a few days or weeks before going back to work so they never really hit peak hiking condition.

Darth Pacman

#22

True Blue, what planet are you on. 80% of thrus turn out being section hikers. 99% of the folks on the AT are section hikers, the thru’s are the minority, a very rare bunch indeed, but what is this stuff about kicking out section hikers from a shelter if you are a thru. You are not a thru hiker until you make it to the end my friend. Until then you is just a section hiker that wants to be a thru. The AT is a national park without reservations and that means first come first serve-rain or shine. If you choose not to carry a tent and expect a section hiker to give you shelter space in a thunder storm when the shelter is packed beyond it limits, well - I do think anyone would jump out into the storm for you my friend. So I would recommend that someone like you carry there own shelter for sure. Hey A.T. Dreamer I have never met a bad hiker who was attempting to thru hike, but I will say that by the time they get to middle Virginia that they are so in a routine that there social skills may be a bit boreing.

a2

#23

Hell, I ran into some section hikers that I liked better than a lot of the Thrus

Virginian

#24

Too big of a deal is made between the literal definition’s of a ‘Thru’ & ‘Section’. And it seems that this site is slowly becoming, in a sense just a forum for attention… “Look at me, look all, Ive hiked 15,000 on the AT” “Look at me people… Im great, Im a THRU HIKER” It seems a hikers right to exist in a medium state of his or her own happiness has to be judged by others on here. Really lame and sad.

I hike… because I love the outdoors, because… I love the freedom it brings. Im not out there because I m looking for votes to be Prom King, but it seems some are.

The only significant trend I see on the AT is the forming of groups after a period of time. Sure, It happens… people who seem to share common interests or who just all click and get along. Good for them, they’re enjoying the hike. But… to talk of excluding a hiker who simply states that they are not a ‘Thru’ is simply ignorant. There is no difference at all between two people who set off NOBO or SOBO. One can have the title ‘Thru’ the other ‘Section’. Two hikers here, just out to enrich thier lives on the great AT. 2,180 vs. 1 mile… Who cares…

Im happy to run into single or group hikers. Some, not intentionally set away from you, as they have been in a tight group for miles and have come into thier own… No offense taken… happy hiking…

~Ronud here… KTR

KTR

#25

The Walking Stomach is so totally right.

As for my own dealings, I have section hiked on both ends of the trail (Old Speck to Abol, 99; Springer to Newfound Gap, 05) and had no sense of ‘elitism’ from thru hikers. Every one of them I met were just incredible people. Radio and Krazy Katie especially, along with Rawhide, just welcomed me as one of the gang. But . . . I didn’t really hike with them. I met them frequently thru the day, spent the night at the lean-to with them, hitched into town with them . . . but was not actually ‘hitched’ to them in anyway. But I felt part of the family.

At the other end, I hiked a while with Cheesehead '00 in the Wilderness, and had a great time. There was no elitism here, either . . . but . . . the trail angel we met was FAR more receptive to the thru than to me. If that qualifies as elitism . . . then . . . there you go.

Kineo Kid

#26

To Everybody:

And so we dissolve the imaginary hierarchy.

Thank god.

Sincerely–Conan.

Conan

#27

Thru Blue, I would like to thank you for making me blow snot on my monitor, The second post on this thread did it for me. :slight_smile: As far as the rest of our “gentle” posts- you guys need to lighten up! Quit being so analytical!
Hey! H Y O H ITS YOUR HIKE! ( I like my CARHART, by the way)
Again, Thanks for the laugh!

1/4 of the way

#28

a2 you are so right. Most folks on the trail are just section hikers. Hikers down south doing a NOBO hike are not real thru-hikers until they finish all 2170 miles in one season. Most of them will fail.
When I started NOBO in “01” and folks I met asked me if I was a thru-hiker, I sais “no”. I’m just hiking north. I felt the odds of finishing were against me at age 66.
I have met many section hikers that I admire and respect. A lot of hikers don’t have the 6 months to dedicate to the AT.

Grampie