Idealism - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

It seems to me that most people who post on this forum are idealists while a small percentage are realists. Both, however, are quick to offer an opinion; the idealists seek to change minds while the realists seem to offer sound advice. I noticed this in my first post a week ago. My question is this: On the trail, are there many hikers who question others’ integrity in such a way as to try to make their own beliefs more poignant? I’d hate to get on the trail and find that many hikers feel their reason for hiking is “better” and are quick to offer their beliefs while patronizing those who are only seeking an adventerous experience. Damn someone who is quick to judge and is even quicker to dismiss.

roberto

#2

Roberto: I think that you’ll find most hikers are pretty cool and laid back while on the trail. There really is a spirit of “hike your own hike.” You’ll get great advice if you ask for it, but for the most part, other hikers will not offer unsolicited, negative comments like you sometimes see here. The main reason that you see some nasty or self-aggrandizing comments here is because the people who post on web forums (whatever the topic, hiking included) tend to be the most vocal–and for good or bad, the most opinionated–of the general population.

For some unknown reason, a few posters to this site think that every discussion, no matter what the topic, is the ideal place to bring up off-topic comments pertaining to their own obsessions. If you try to challenge people like this, they’ll just be more hateful in their nexts posts. Either ignore them entirely, or just let them know that you disagree and will do it your own way.

In political life, they say “politics stops at the water’s edge.” You’ll be pleased to find that in hiking life, the negativity is left behind at the trail head.

Bachelor

#3

I never had a problem with other hikers questioning our motives for hiking. We all seemed to agree it was a goal. Most people with questionable motives seem to drop out and ended up in a trail town and never leave.
I

Darth Pacman

#4

What? I feel I’m realistic about my idealism. I never heard a single comment about the integrity of someone’s reason to hike. People were curious at times why different people were hiking. But is was just that, curiosity. I think your concern is unfounded. The seven months we were out we didn’t have problems but with one hiker. And when you spend seven months on the AT you see a large number of hikers. Just hike your hike!

Papa Smurf

#5

Almost everyone who posts here is a cityslicker. They’re voicing the views and frustrations of city life while hoping to get back to something simpler (taking the role of armchair psychologist here). That’s what draws most of us to b’packing and this site, the seeming simplicity and purity of life on the trail. Once there, however, the realities of the trail will quickly temper the hard edges of their/our internet posts.

Neels Pap

#6

I’m sure most people are cool. Last year I was hiking in Virginia while the thru-hikers were coming along. Most were cool and shared stories and it was a lot of fun!!! We hit a shelter once around 2 pm and we just wanted to stop, rest and get some water and a thu-hiker was napping. We were quiet as possible, but what an attitude he had. This thu-hiker needs rest!!! He barked a little (luckily didnt bite) and we ended finding a beautiful spot to camp away from the shelters. My origional post may not have been worded correctly. I not worried about hikers thinking my reason for hiking is wrong, i just dont want to be on the trail with a bunch of people who think that because they hike they are better then people who dont. (I’m still not making myself clear) I love positive people who have nice things to say. Thanks to those of you who have responded and keep offering me advice. I leave SOBO around the 20th of june and can not wait.

roberto

#7

You ask anyone who as any extended experience on the AT, and they’ll tell you compnaionship was one of their main motivations for continuing. Majority of people you’ll meet are positive and keep their opinions to themselves unless it has to do with what toppings to get on their next pizza.

I think your concern has some validity though. My thruhike seemd to augment the ignorance of others. For example, I was turned off at people who gawked and pointed w/o asking questions. I admit I felt negatively about them and often said so. For the most part though, everyone I encountered was a class act person, whether out for a day hike, in for the long haul, or offering us a ride into town.

The people you meet should be the least of your problems.

Grimace

#8

What Grimmy said. Nope, never came up. “You Nobo?, me too…I hope.” “So are we doin 20 today or what rockstars?” “Raindog, I’m never listening to you again…and it was 26, but then when can a lawyer count.”

Bushwhack

#9

Most of the cityslickers here who go off on idealistic rants walk around most of the day with a cock up their ass. It makes them uncomfortable and cranky, and they take it out on the internet. :x

Neels Pap

#10

A what up where? Gasping in shock! Quit holding back and tell us what you really think.

hafdome

#11

Roberto, most people I met on my 2001 hike were idealists. Those crazy loons were trying to walk 2,000 miles in a half-year. Some of them were a little vocal, but most -in almost every case- showed a lot of respect to other people who have different world views and beliefs. That’s surely one of the best things about life on the trail. People out there generally don’t try to interpret reality for you. I think there’s a lot of respect among the thru’s in that regard on and off the trail. Also, people are so laid back that they learn to “shrug it off” pretty easy and not take things so seriously. But realists? Hell, most of those people are at home reading Bill Bryson or are busy drawing arbitrary social lines on the internet. :cheers

THA WOOKIE

#12

I’ve never thought of myself as a cityslicker. I’ve spent most of my life cleaning out barn stalls or picking up hay. And have never lived in a town of more than 15 thousand. Living in rural TN would not make me a cityslicker, would it? I would get my money back on those Psychology classes.

Papa Smurf

#13

Sorry, I don’t think living near a town with a population of 700 qualifies me as a “cityslicker,” either. Generalizations about groups of people are pretty pointless, really.

chipper '02

#14

Roberto has only been on the sight for a week. Yet his OPINION is that too many of us have opinions. Go figue. Oh and by the way “Neels Pap”, you need to actually hike the trail brfore you try to size up whos on it.Or who’s on this sight. Damn librals

Virginian

#15

“It seems to me that most people who post on this forum are idealists while a small percentage are realists. Both, however, are quick to offer an opinion; the idealists seek to change minds while the realists seem to offer sound advice.”

Colter