Does anyone know any thru-hikers from the late 1970’s? Say '77 to '79? I work with a guy who says he hiked in the late '70s but I am a little skeptical of his claims. Can anyone help me out?
Darth Pacman
Late 1970's thru-hike
system
#4
Hey Bluebearee,
Sloetoe thru-hiked in 1979. Northbound. He was something like nineteen years old as I remember him saying at a fun party at his house in Indy.
Datto
Datto
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#5
Hey Datto,
My friend was 18 and just out of high school, from Maine. Changed his life, or rather he’s ‘never been the same’.
BB
Bluebearee
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#6
I thru’d in '77, '78 and '79. I am also a professional polygrapher. I also do not feel that other’s achievements diminish my own.
I am,
The Man
The Man
system
#7
Darth Pacman, Back in the day (late 70’s) there were not the travelling bands of hikers that we have today. There were few thru-hikes completed. Alot of those hikers were anti-social. To locate anyone that hiked with him or knew him would be slim. I doubt that he had a trail name which is usually an easy way to identify hikers. The trail was completely different in the late 70’s, there would be no way to quiz him on hostels or shelters. I believe the AT headquarters was still located in Washington, DC at that time. You might ask him if he ran into any other hikers or stayed at any current hostels. Much like veterans that claim to have fought in Vietnam and in certain battles, sometimes you just take their word. He may have hiked it like Bill Bryson. If you think the guy is lying, move on.
Bilko
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#8
Hey Man, you wrote: “I also do not feel that other’s achievements diminish my own.”
Man, “other’s” is singular while “achievements” is plural. Put the apostrophe after the “s” if you want to make “other” plural.
CORRECT: “I also do not feel that another’s achievements diminish my own.”
CORRECT: “I also do not feel that others’ achievements diminish my own.”
FYI.
Grammar Coach
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#10
Bilko mentioned that some hikers were anti-social in the 70’s. It was different back then and hikers were not anti-social but many in recovery, a term, like Post traumatic Stress Disorder, not really even part of speech. I section hiked some then and it was a solitary exper. Personally, I miss the 70’s and early 80’s of trail life but am glad that others have been able to hike the AT,due in large part to technology. The hospitality and compassion hikers receive on and offtrail now is very similar to how our society was during the 70’s-something the hiking community has been able to maintain and build on. Whatever the year or season, enjoy all!
mike
system
#11
I don’t care one way or another about anothers thru-hike. But I have worked with multiple thru-hikers and meet hikers from other periods in trail history. We have always shared stories and talked about the experience. It’s a life changing experience if you finish the trail or just hike a long ways on it. Even more so in the 60’s and 70’s due to the lack of the high tech equipment available today. Finishing the trail is not something you generally mention in passing. You may tire of telling the stories but the experience still remains.
Darth Pacman
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#12
yeah!..there’s a little piece of livin’ history!..how fun it would be to hear more of his experience on the trail back then!..maybe he’s just a little shy …or humble!
maw-ee
system
#13
Darth,
Tell us of his claims, and those of us who hiked in the late 70’s (or early 80’s in my case), can comment.
Conan
Conan
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#14
What raised a flag was when he said he hiked the trail in 3 months. I know it can be done and is regularly done today by speed hikers but this is a rather new change in the hiking world. Given the weight of gear and the pace of life most hikers would have taken 5 or 6 months to finish their hike.
Darth Pacman
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#15
Just to go on a bit of a tangent, I have the Roledale set from the early 1970s. It is a cool way to look at some of the early pioneers of AT hiking. They have Earl Shaffer, Gramma Gatewood, Eric Ryback, Dorothy Laker, etc.
One of my favorite ones is about a 1969 thru-hike of the AT. The person had a detailed equipment list of 14 lbs! (White gas stove included!). I use his list for my light weight workshop to show that lightweight backpacking is nothing new.
Finally, this person did the trail in 100 days!
Not to say that your co-worker did it in 100 days. I agree, highly unusual for the time. But it is on the edge of the possible.
the claim
system
#16
This thread has become real interesting. While it is relevant that the focus is now, everyone(except for one , Earl Schaffer) followed behind the footsteps of another in completing the AT. It is profound to complete the AT in any decade and not to diminish the achievements or growth of anyone. The hiker who professed to haven completed the trail in the 70’s may not be legit,but that’s ok. He has become a source of agency or symbol of how Ego and identity can become immerged into exper. Definitely, I take pride enjoying the past,well at least make an attempt to, but enjoy the moment, always aware of those who preceeded me. Take care, 2 Spirits
mike