Hooking up. - Appalachian Trail

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#1

I’ve been reading trail journals for a while now and find them absolutely amazing. One thing that strikes me is the platonic relationships that are developed on the trail. With so many single men and women and so much freedom, I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a journal where two people have met and developed a relationship or even met and had a one-night stand. Is everybody too exhausted or dirty to hook-up on the trail? I have a friend who will be doing the ATH in 04 and she keeps saying that it would be fun to meet a cute boy. I keep telling her that in my admitted, limited experience (reading only) that I don’t get the sense it happens that often.

(If you are going to respond, please don’t be too graphic so that the topic gets yanked.)

ATH-wannabe.

#2

Most people on the trail are out to hike and have a singleness of purpose but occasionally a hook-up happens. Puck and Belcher come to mind.

Big B

#3

While on the JMT, i met two couples at the Vermillion lake resort who both hooked up while on AT thru hikes. I wish i could remember their trailnames…hmmmmm…no…can’t, although one of the guys real name was Isaac and i think he works/used to work at the NOC. He was tall, wore round glasses and loved bluegrass. Anyway, both couples looked really happy.

P.S It’s bugging me now…anyone know his trailname…he’s thru hiked the trail a few times I think.

Ross - London,England

#4

Such activities are probably kept private, but likely happen more frequently than is reported. Given the disproportionate gender ratio on the trail, I would imagine that an interested young woman would eventually meet an interested young man on the trail or even in town. As far as a cute boy, she might need to wash the grubby young fellow off to tell however… :lol

Alligator

#5

Have you ever smelled a hiker who hasn’t had a shower in a few days?
EWW!:eek:

Harry Dolphin

#6

Many couples get together on the trail. We just don’t talk about it in the online journals. It seems to be a topic that all journalists avoid. It’s simply not cool to gossip about your friends on the internet. Especially with as popular as the journals have become.

Two things I will never write about in my journals: (1) trail romances (2) bad things about other hikers. If I have something bad to say about someone, I either refer to them as “another hiker” or I create a new name for them.

yogi

#7

Yes, it happens. Usually in town, and within the privacy of the people involved (trail gossip, after all, travels faster than the fastest hiker out there). Of course, there are a few happenstances that occur in the woods.

There are also a few real relationships that develop as well. Just don’t tell your friend to expect either.

nobody

#8

Yogi is right, I know of 3 instances off the top of my head of a couple hiking together where a romance has blossomed but since they had on line journals, it wasn’t “announced” so the casual reader (or boyfriend at home) wouldn’t necessarily think it was more than platonic. That’s the downside to having a public journal, if a hiking buddy is pissing you off, you know darn well when they get home from their hike they’ll be checking out your journal (just cause they knew you) so you have to be careful about what you say. Most times it’s not that you’re eternally pissed off at them, one of those situational things. But it does tend to make the journalist not expose real feelings at times.

Ross, his name is Six String. I think he thru-hiked in 97 and met his wife on the trail and then went back in 01 and did a substantial section with Toast. They (he and Toast)were both working @ NOC in '02, great guys, totally supportive of me as I came through there, I saw them at Trail Days that year and sent them my summit picture.

Bluebearee

#9

Well, his name is faux pas here, but W**gfoot once made a good entry on this issue, which I dare to copy-post here. I agree with it completely. xtn

“Sex during a thru-hike”

"Misconceptions about sexual activity among thru-hikers abound in some circles, especially in the fantasies of some younger male hikers and non-hiking types before they actually reach the Trail. Some seem to think the woods are full of libertines. Truth is, most thru-hikers exhibit and express very little desire for sexual activity during a thru-hike, at least in normal on-Trail situations (town rules are sometimes different for the more party-oriented thru-hikers). The standing joke about sex on the Trail is that, at the end of a strenuous day of long-distance hiking, everyone is too tired and too dirty to be interested. That is not to say that romance does not blossom and liaisons never happen, but usually a good campsite, tasty meal, and relaxed fellowship with Trail friends are more important and satisfying goals to the people who thru-hike. In practice, the thru-hiking community operates as a big family, with men and women thinking of each other primarily as brothers and sisters and fellow hikers rather than as potential sexual partners. Most thru-hikers value this sense of “family” above all other aspects of the Trail experience. Male thru-hikers, who usually outnumber female thru-hikers in most situations, should be extra careful with language and conversation so as not to make female hikers feel uncomfortable or threatened. "

airferret

#10

I think to myself, “How many cute girls have you ever seen on a trail?”

“Hmmm,” I think to myself.

“Well, only one…,” continuing to deepen my thoughts,
“And she was very special!”

Girls on the trail are great…

Dawgtrekker

#11

Romance good, donuts good. Aside from that the “family” thing is way tight. I have just a personal relationship with a group of from the AT as my wifely wife becuase we pretty much almost died one night together. We saved each others asses, we shared pain joy etc. We are brothers/sisters and always will be, male and female. We would eat a bad burger for the other. We spent 6 months together and lived to tell it over and over and over again. Only a thru hiker knows this feeling of family.

Bushwhack

#12

It may happen; in fact I know of some couples that met on the trail and have gone on to live happy lives off it. But I won’t reveal names. Its their choice to come forward.
As for meeting members of the opposite sex, after being out for 5 or 6 days or more; its cool to walk in the shelter and see a female hiker or 2. it makes life a bit more normal. someone else to talk to; new perspective; etc. But they are still hikers like everyone else. And I especially enjoy dinner parties in town; makes sitting back and talking about life; putting things in perspective; its cool. maybe im just weird. Course you treat a female hiker like a sister and they are going to appreciate that i think.

Big Boy

#13

Hiking the trail is like a Dead Concert that keeps moving with just a touch more sweat. I was surprised at how many pretty girls were on the trail. I was just as surprised that most of them would talk to me. Well, at least until they got to know me.

Virginian

#14

It seemed as if most of the guys on the trail I knew generally fancied a couple of the same girls. The difference is that hardly anyone acted on it or made anything of it, because of the group. When your out there you’ll realize the importance of group dynamics. Your hiking buddies and yourself feed off of one another and all play an important part. For two people to announce that they are a trail couple after being in a group would change the group dynamics completely and probably ruin the group. Not always, but most of the time. I don;t think this would be true obviously of a couple who started the trail together.
I knew of a few couples who met on the trail, it is possible. In one case they “fell behind” every one else for the rest of the trip. Although I suppose there is some corollation between being in love on the trail and not wanting to rush the miles.

A-Train

#15

The other half of the Six-String Hillbilly’s (Issac) martial unit is Luna, and they did indeed get togther on the Trail. Great story - they met in NC and got married in the Grayson HLs. They helped give me my trail name - two exceptionally fine humans. Glad to hear they are still super positive and close to the Trail.

Papillon

#16

First of all, I would like to say that I do respect privacy and would also not refer to fellow hikers by name if they had pi**ed me off. Just like the 3 hikers ahead of me on the AT who left all trash in the firepits, of which myself and my hiking buddy cleared up as they went along. In those situations, yes i completely agree.

As for six string and Luna…they were excellent. Only knew them for a few days on the JMT but still remember Six string playing bluegrass to everyone round a roaring fire with real cowboys sipping at hidden whisky bottles. A thoroughly decent couple whom i sure won’t mind a special mention on this site. Hope i bump into them on my AT 04’ hike.

Ross - London,England

#17

What’s your friend’s name? I’ll be out there in '04…:rolleyes

DAWGTREKKER

#18

If you are a single chick looking to hike
the AT and get some booty, then you will
have no problem. The exact opposite goes
for the men/boys of the trail. Though
from time to time some of us do get a bit
lucky without having to pay for it.

Peace,

Snack:cheers

Snack Attack

#19

I doubt there’s much chance for most men to get any, because of the numbers (15:1, higher?) But like SA said, if you’re an attractive chick the world will be your oyster (or at least the AT).

p.s.: Isn’t there a trail somewhere with 15 girls for every guy?:wink:

steve hiker

#20

To reduce those odds the male hiker will need an edge on his fellow hikers, if he wishes to succeed with the ladies…

I love being English. :happy :cheers

Ross-An Englishman