The changing face of the A.T

imported
#1

Hello to all !! Not sure what kind of reaction I’ll get from this post, I know I’ll definately get one though. First off, please disregard my own personal situation as regards this post, I’m after a general feeling, not a personal attack.

I hiked from Springer Mtn, GA to Kinkora, TN. I’m gonna be hiking from Kinkora to Damascus sometime after traildays then parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Here comes my problem. I’m not sure if i was just so incredibly unlucky or what, but I managed to be hiking alongside, in front of and behind some real *******s. I mean, I was questioning on a daily basiswhat the hell some of them were even doing in the woods. I know, i know…move on, don’t stay in the shelters. I didn’t, I stayed in 4 shelters over that 420 mile stretch, that includes the smokies. I just couldn’t believe it, especially one night in the smokies where the shelter was full, there were 8 of us tenting and another 6 turned up after dark. Thry were so loud and inconsiderate of anybody else it made the experience unpleasant for me, and alot of the other hikers there I imagaine.

Even after doing big miles, small miles, zero days, multiple zero days… I couldn’t ever seem to shake the ******* brigade, about 20 of them. I think maybe I was hiking the wrong trail for any kind of true wilderness experience? Or is it the trail that’s over populated? Has the trail got a name for a 2000 mile long party? It sure seemed like it to me. Don’t get me wrong, I like to party and have a good time, but not at the expense of someone elses good time. Is it me? Am I the *******? I seriously questioned this before being reassured by the good people that this isn’t the case. It seems to me alot of hikers out there this year feel the same way as I do. What has happened to the A.T? Please, please, help me out on this one!!

Cheers

Cheers

#2

http://www.glock.com/pistols.htm

:boy

Dude

#3

Some people are just naturally annoyed more by unreasonable behavior than others. Those who tolerate it well will accuse you of being “uptight”. The rest of us will mostly nod in agreement without saying much.

I find that sometimes I can “get my mind right” and enjoy and tolerate incredible amounts of nonsense. Other times I have to walk away. But I never walk away when it’s just me. If you can’t get your mind right, then you must hike your own hike.

Cool Hand Luke

#4

Ross,

Why don’t you wait a week or two after traildays and start going SOBO from Katahdin. You definately won’t deal with a party crowd and will have way more solitude. You won’t find people packing booze thru the maine woods, too damn heavy!

Seems like you just fell in unfortunately with the wrong crowd (or around them). I started march 1 last year and found that by staying at a consistent pace got me towards the front of the pack of hikers. Not to make judgements about anyone, but most of the hikers I was with from Virginia to Maine were more serious hikers. Not to say that no one tipped back a beer or two, but everyone’s focus was on being out in the woods not in town. Maybe a new group of people or being alone will do you some good. IMO being with the right crowd can mean the world on the Trail.

I hope you work things out and see ya at Trail Daze.
A-Train

A-Train

#5

It is your trip. do with it as you choose. Everyone goes to the trail for their own reason. Don’t be a hater b/c someone is different than you. You can camp alone EVERY night if you want to.

By the way, your boy Baltimore Jack has hiked more miles than most. He’s also drank more beers than most. He parties.

I go to the woods to howl at the moon, and the sun. anywhere else they’d think you’re crazy. should I be denied? :cheers

Bandito

#6

I found that early on there were a bunch of folks that just wanted to hike from party to party. Then, after Trail Days, a number of them would take a few days “to go home and see the folks” and we’d never see/hear of them again. By Trail Days the novelty has worn off and they’re realizing that this long distance hiking stuff is hard work. After Harper’s Ferry the crowd thins even more and it will continue to thin out. By the time we reached PA we were with some of the best people you’d ever want to be around. But then again, that was 10 years ago. Can’t wait to get back to Maine for a reunion hike in September. I’d suggest hanging in there a little longer and see what happens. Good luck.

Bohemian

#7

Cheers, Get off the AT and jump on the PCT. The PCT is too rough for most “asp-holes!”

Alfalfa

#8

ive been out here for a month, i am at dennis cove now. its been roses, man. there is one jerk staying here, but hes about the only one i have met. there was a huge obnoxious party crew at the noc, but since they dont do so much of that hiking stuff, they were easy to pass. same at miss janets. dont lose hope! there are still great folks out here, lots of them! i did the trail in 99 as well and cant say much has changed in the general character of hikers. you were a bit unlucky it seems. if you can get a week ahead of damascus by trail days, you would be with the general crue i am with now. let it be known that i am reasonably tolerant of moderate ******ism. if you are a bit more touchy, then southbound is the way for you. and so it is that people can be the best and worst part of the at. good luck bro.

milo

#9

The party crowd, it can be a good thing or bad. As you go north, they fizzel out. Mostsly due to running out of $$$$$, some just get tired of doing it. If you hike faster, you will run into another crowd, slow down and you will keep running into the same ole one’s. In short, the farther north, the less they party like in college. They do tend to bunch up in towns and the shelter before or after town or easly accessiable by road. It’s all part of the hike man so just keep on keeping on.

Karma

Karma

#10

That’s a my favorite song. The trail is full of Vainity. That’s why some are impressed with Jesus today even. That’s what gave him away. NO vainity. Forgetaboutit, we all got it. Some are just consumed with vanity. And that’s your problem to, think about it as a helping soul. Not to get all defensive with there goes that EGO again feeling. See now? I’m telling you so my 05 hike we watch out for this worthless instict that we don’t need to better ourselfs at work or play with it. Stop the insainity. You can do it. To me its woodstock all over agian, I don’t understand, see?

Greg

#11

I’ve noticed a lot of this in the last few years, people who seem to be hiking the trail just to get to the trail towns and party. It does seem like they tend to fizzle out somewhere in Virginia, probably a combination of the Virginia Blues and the summer heat. Don’t sweat it too much. I’d take an extra zero, or skip a town or planned zero and move past them, if it’s really impacting your experience.

bitpusher

#12

Ross,
These folks will most likely get off the trail in Virginia, or be spread out by that point. Keep this in mind. With all the planning you did and the excitement you had about this trip, remember that those folks you are talking about are not likely to be around during the rest of the hike.

Bankrobber

#13

Hmmm! Could you repeat that? I think I missed something.

Gorrila

#14

Shelters are a great convenience when it rains or is very windy but they do attract a crowd. There are many places to camp before or beyond a shelter. The trade-off is a lack of conviviality and fellowship for a solo experience that offers quiet peace. If one plans it right it is possible to stop at a shelter to eat the evening meal and then march on to another place to camp for the night some miles ahead (or even 1/4 mile ahead).

The problem is exacerbated if where one wants to congregate holds other attractions such as a morning view or a clear sight to the starts at night. Still peace is a worthy goal and having come all the way across the sea to experience the wilderness it might be justified to abstain from the experience of a party for the benefit of solitude.

The benefit of hiking beyond the Shelter provides a lack of late comers whose goal for the day is the shelter. It also provides for a peaceful morning when early risers tend to forget that others might like to sleep in a bit longer.

HYOH and enjoy it immensely. Keep in your sight the goal for which you strive.

Skylander (Off the Trail because of a bum knee)

Skylander

#15

There’s only one thing you need to know when out in the woods and you come across a group of D!cks. “Just duck and cover.” Whom ever it is you don’t want to be around will walk on by as you spend a nice 1/2 hour to full hour taking a nap or calling the parents, or pitching a tent, whatever you call it now. And just remember its all in your mind, its amazing how people will listen to your veiws when you show some respect and let them know how you feel. But just remember, majority rules
good luck

Goof

#16

I’m saying greg don’t understand, right? How come everyone else can do it?And next year I will finish to.And does greg live on the A-T? yea. but where? And god loves all his creatures so stop with the cursing us. OK? And I was going to send everyone a pop up for betting against me cause you can’t fool me, I know people and their vanities and and how much they can drink.But your right it takes hope away from the weak of mind. I should said instead, the trail is always been overcrowded this time of year and there is nothing I can do about it,and now you see I’m not the crazy one for carring a 1 pound water filter. right? I hear it 10 times a day all day, people with personal problems.

Greg

#17

Thanks for the suggestions to go out and hike the PCT or CDT, or maybe even do a SOBO. I think if I were planning the A.T trip again I would do a SOBO. I also understand that most of the jerks leave the trail at Damascus or in Virginia.

I wanted to bring up this topic to see if anyone else had similar experiences or felt the same way about the A.T in general. I had a few private responses that seemed to echo this feeling.

Apart from some of the people, the trail itself has been awsome. I have always camped away from shelters and always left camp early so as to be alone for a few hours in the morning. The A.T is truely a magical place, it’s just a bit of an interstate these days. But true, I’ll shut my mouth and disappear off into the CDT wilderness without moaning to much about the A.T. I chose to put myself in that situation, just didn’t expect so much company.

Cheers

Cheers

#18

the Warblers nobody like them they sit in the feeders and won’t leave. But did you know, the birds always fight for a place but all come back every morning anyway. Different birds different people. You know its like I’m saying I was a bird I don’t like your blue Jay music, but what can we Gold finches do?
I live on the A-T overlooking a big pond or lake while I type this with a Giant bald eagle nest behind the lake.And like your saying, you know better to ask where I am on the net. So I know whats gone on dude. I bought some poppies yesterday. After this weekend that whole group you talk about will be back home to work. They planned this hike for months to. I was going to tell you to get a hammock and come back and sleep in the rocks with us. But then where would we go, see? It will all be over by end of Memorial Day. And then they start to come back in around the June till full mass on July 4th till what ever kind of year it is? Check out OT journals, give him a call he got nobody he say’s he see’s all day for days. I wouldn’t quit man. Go with the flow a few more days and see if Trail Days don’t change everything, I’ll bet you, unless you break a leg or something. Since you say its a highway that would be I40, I81, you want to get up with that light in the sky 4:45 today on that trail and snooze in the sun on some cliffbar and hike till dusk. That messes everything up see???:pimp

Greg

#19

This has been a definite concern of mine in the past 2 years as well. When I first started reading about and planning on one day doing a thru, the stories I read and the ones that inspired me were those hikers who were hiking for one of these reasons: 1) a spiritual journey: many were out to find their faith again, or just to seek God, or maybe to fellowship with His creation. 2) a wilderness experience: a lot of folks were simply looking to connect with nature in an intimate way most people never get to experience. 3) for adventure: a lot of hikers were looking for a way to challenge themselves physically and mentally. 4) simplicity: to learn how to live with less

For me, it was all four. And I suspect for a lot of people it was one or more of these reasons.

I think that there are still those who hike for these reasons.

Now, I think there is a fifth category that is growing and that is those who are simply seeking a good time. A good time is fine, but if one ore more of the other reasons isn’t there then I suspect the fun won’t keep them going all the way.

I have been dissapointed when reading these sites in the past year as it seems that there is a large group of new hikers who are intolerable of those who hike for the reason #1 (a spiritual journey). You can see it in the flipid responses when this topic is brought up.

I only hope that this doesnt hint at a permanent change in hiker mentality on the AT.

I do hope that the 05 crowd can turn the AT thru-hike experience around and back to what it was designed for. What do I want from my experience?

–quiet
–fellowship
–adventure
–growth
–and yes, a good time

Hike your own hike, sure. But not at the expense of what the trail was created for. Take a break from drinking for 6 months.

Just my $.02

Kyle

Kyle & Lisa

#20

Ross, all of the above can be summed up in one phrase; Respect for Others. Unfortunately that seems to be a vanishing quantity these days. The jerks you mentioned are not the norm in my experience but “when it rains it pours.” I’ve been there before and it’s not fun. Sometimes its like dealing with any other issue on the trail, you just manage it and try to move on. I agree it seems like a “motorway” sometimes (by the way, I drove the M11/M23 last month and survived!).
I hope you understand that most hikers and Americans in general deplore this type of behavior. Hope the rest of your hike goes better. Best regards, RT

RockyTrail