One Leg Wonder's at it again!

imported
#1

Trying a scam a buck by writing a book. He tried to scam everyone that he was a thru-hiker until enough hikers called him on it. He skipped most of the smokies, half of Virginia, 100 miles of Maine, the Whites, and the entire state of Vermont. But yet, he is planning on writing a book. He set himself as a charity in order to receive money while getting paid by Social Security. Now he is writing a book. I wonder how many lies he is going to come up on that one before other thru-hikers call him on his lies again.

More lies

#2

The best selling Appalachian trail book was written by a guy who only hiked 800 miles. At least he did not lie about it. I really dont like the idea of “hiking for charity”. I worked two jobs for two years to save for my trip. I understand that certain causes need our support. I dont think that charitable donations should support CEOs salaries or a persons six month vacation.

Chef

#3

the best AT book i’ve ever read was written by someone that didn’t even hike at all, and not to mention Bill Bryson as chef mentioned

clong

#4

As long as he writes about his adventure and what it means to him, and someone else wants to read it - well, what is wrong with that? He deserves a lot of credit for hiking as much as he did. He will garner more respect for his accomplishments if he doesn’t misrepresent the facts. So write your book Scott, I’ll read it.

to each his own

#5

If he stays true to his experiences on and off the Trail, this is something I’d probably want to read. Surely he knows his book will be scrutinized, so I’m expecting the truth. Actually, I’d expect the truth anyway.

Re: “setting himself up as a charity,” could you be more specific? Has he incorporated as a 501©3 corporation? If not, how is he doing this as a “charity”? First-hand, solid information please, not conjecture.

Having met Scott twice, I don’t get what the animosity toward him is all about. Has he reported a complete hike that was incomplete to the ATC? Is it because he had the support of a family that was closeknit enough to sacrifice in order to help? I met them–no way were they coerced. OK, so he had support–he still put in the miles on a great deal of the AT, more than most, under circumstances that would have made many of the people on this site run home crying to mommy. What am I missing here?

Despite political efforts to curtail all of our rights in recent years, as of today it is still legal to write a book. The marketplace will decide if it’s a successful business venture.

Skyline

#6

It is one thing to call someone a liar face to face, but it is another thing to call someone a liar and hide behind a tree.

Leif

#7

I met Scott on two different occasions last year while doing magic. Once was in the Smokies when his leg broke. He was pretty banged up but as soon as he got his parts in he was headed back out. He told me he had missed parts of the trail. I talked to him at Trail Days and he said he had missed the last half of the Smokies. He never once tried to hide the fact that he had support or had missed miles. I don’t know where these stories come from. When I talked to him he was honest and up front about his hike. I’m like you Leif, the people who post some of these comments are hiding. They probably want have the courage to hike the trail with two good legs much less “one-legged.” Hike your hike and leave the others alone.

Papa Smurf

#8

Hopefully, I will realize a dream and hike the AT in seven years. When I do, I had planned on somehow tying that in with fundraising for a worthwhile charity I have been involved in. http://www.operationaware.org I would receive no benefit from anyone contributing to that organization. Any negatives to involving a charity in that fashion?

Ratherbehiking

#9

I think involving a charity in your hike is a great idea. I think the controversy comes in when some people advertise that they are raising money for charity when they are, in fact, raising money for their hike with some money also going to charity. I’m not saying One Leg did this; I don’t know the guy nor do I know what his hike was like. I am also not saying that raising money for your hike with some also going to charity is a BAD thing…i just think you should be extremely clear with those you ask money to that THAT is what you are doing. If they still want to give money, then great. If not, well, that’s their choice.

Leki-Less

#10

When I saw Scott at the Gathering last October, I asked if I could help him and his family out with a few bucks. It was obvious they weren’t living luxuriously. He wouldn’t take my money outright, but did offer that they had some t-shirts made up to commemorate his hike and he would sell me one.

I doubt that there was a whole lot of profit in that sale, but I was impressed that he would choose to supplement his income in this way rather than simply holding his hand out.

Skyline

#11

This post has been removed because it was in violation of rule number 3:

Deletion may occur if posts contain an invalid e-mail address, even if the content of the message does not violate rule number two.

More Lies

#12

Nice work Leif and Zipdrive!! WOO-HOO!! Score ONE for the Good Guys!!! An invalid e-mail address, eh? Sounds like it was probably a pretty creditable post then.

More Truth!!

#13

Maybe before we pass any type of judgement one way or the other we should just wait and see what he actually writes.

One of the things I really enjoyed about the trail was how tolerant everyone was towards others. Out there it did not matter what your social economic position was or even what you wore - it was about enjoying the hike - your hike in whatever manner you decided to do it. So lets give the guy a chance before we pass any type of judgement.

Crockett

#14

Bill Bryson’s hiking partner was made-up. (Tell me if I’m wrong < ? > …just what I heard). I think a lot of what went into the book was for effect, but then you knew reading it was meant to be humorous.

Jukebox

#15

I also met One Leg twice on the trail and I sugest to anyone, try doing what he did before criticizing.

pipesmoke

#16

Katz was not made up. He was actually interviewed by Katie Couric on the Today show after the book became popular.

Chef

#17

He was southbounding at the time, and still had the hardest part of the AT ahead of him. I had heard that he had quit, but there he was.

As if hiking the AT wasn’t hard enough…

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