Trailplace forum discontinued

imported
#1

I think WF has cracked under pressure. I never thought a list could be so damaging. I learned a lot from the discussions there. All the different viewpoints were refreshing. Above all, everyone who was a regular was also a friend of backpacking. There are not many friends of backpacking, but we as a group are quite the stewards of the wild lands we frequent. There are those who are the bad apples, but I have always found that if one is willing to carry all that in, they care about keeping it clean out there.

concerned

#2

Yes the threads did get a bit heated lately. It just shows the simple rule of public speaking. Never discuss these 3 things: 1: Politics 2. Sex 3. Religion
It appears that his politics were the problem. I like Wingfoot and his former site, however I wish he could have just run an OPEN Forum and not just have a forum pertaining to his views only. Open discussion is great, having different views is great. Critizing others for their views is Wrong. Heck he even had this website and others filtered out. Geez like he was afraid for others to know this one exists or something. Anyway to everyone new to this Forum, Welcome and please discuss lots :slight_smile: Just remember the big 3.

Jim Deane, Rebel with a Cause !!

Jim Deane

#3

I dropped out of his web page. I agree he is not wrapped very tight. If you disagree with his view of the trail he cuts you off. I saw where he made up a rev. something or other to try to prove he was right and I think he made up a story about a girl who quite the trail after two days for the same reason. Without the Journals I have no reason to go to his web page.

“Fletch”

#4

Fletch,
It’s good to see a familiar name here. I use to read the Section Hiker’s Forum every day on the Trail Place website. Then just last Monday it was gone. It was a place I could be on the trail, even though I was seeing it from my cubicle. I do hope other frequent contributors from that forum will migrate to here also. Fletch, what state are you in?
DayHiker

DayHiker

#5

Darn, I just deleted a long post. Must have been a lie 8)
I said that I was not concerned about him “cracking under pressure” for I feel the cracks were already there. It could be that he came apart at the cracks. He is so single minded that I feel he actually became a liability rather than a benefit to the environment and the AT. I do know that his views and his rantings and ravings during the recent election did come to the attention of Government. Perhaps he has heard from them and decided not to incure more problems. For whatever ends, we have an Administration, and we had all better learn how to best get what we want by working with them rather than opposing them without exception. Although I believe in the AT, and that there should be wilderness areas, I also believe that some of us lose sight of the fact that public lands and tax revenues belong to all of us. That there has been and can contrinue to be management of the land for the benefit of all without “destroying our wilderness experience.” We also need to remember that much of the funding that benefits us comes from sources other than the Federal Government or is collected by the Federal Government already earmarked for specific purposes. The Robertson-Pittman Funds come to mind. We are not ever going to revert to a primitive society, and the vast majority would strongly oppose it. We better learn how to get as much as possible by cooperation, or we will actually get less. If that sounds less than idealistic, I admit it is. But, it is realistic!

Trailblazer75

#6

I am from Mass. and live about 45 miles from the AT. I am a section hiker who has hiked over half the trail since I started in 1989. I am either hiking, working on trails or wishing I was there.

"Fletch

#7

I looked at Trailplace for the first time in months to see what was meant by the posts above. It announces a new system that will be in place by July 4. Looks like we were wrong, and he has survived. Maybe the changes will be an improvement, but if he is going to continue limiting free speech, I don’t want any part of it. His point of view is not the only point of view!

Trailblazer75

#8

I agree with all comments re: Wingfoot and Trailplace. Wingfoot is a vast resource and he cares deeply about the Trail, but posting political messages under the aegis of “Admin” taints everything that follows. At that point, the website becomes less of a forum for discussion and more of a piece of propaganda. Some people seem ready to criticize but unwilling to hear other viewpoints. I was told my views were “anathema” not only to the website, but to the Trail. Not cool.

Happy ending. I found this awesome site, and have bookmarked Spur’s, Sweeper’s, and Hmmckhnger’s journals. If my boss catches me, I’m a dead man, because I love to wait like two weeks and then read a slew of entries (at work :slight_smile: ). Many props go out to Leif and Zipdrive for keeping it real.

Sunny days and light rains,
MattM

Matt McLaughlin

#9

Glad to see I was one of the journals you follow. Don’t get nervous when you read I’m off the trail. It is only TEMPORARY!!! I will return no later then 6/16, if I have to crawl!!! Take care. (Sounds like WF lost it totally while I’ve been out on the trail. Sad.)

hamockhngr