I was wondering if anyone’s heard what’s happened to Wingfoot and the revamping he was going to do with trailplace.com which was supposed to be up and running by this past July 4th? (I hope I’m not displaying bad manners by bringing up his site on this fine site; I found trailjournals a while back and actually like it much better than trailplace.) Thanks for any info. you might have, was just curious…
Sandi
Sounds tupical for this guy. Last year he gave potential journalist the run-around for 5 months with postponment after postponement before he eventually decided not to do journals. that’s fine, it’s his life, but don’t lead others on for so long. Maybe the whole thing is too out of control for him. (I hear he is a bit of a control freak) Anyhoo, no word from anyone on the trail about the site.
Bramble
Wingfoot makes very good points that I agree with about 90%. Unfortunately, as of the last I read in the Trailplace forums, he believes that last 10% disagreement outweighs everything else. I write this as someone who hopes to one day take significant time off and hike the AT, and has perused Trailplace and Trailjournals for many years, but who has never before participated in any hiking forum other than rec.backcountry.
Being strict about ideology cannot lead to progress or happiness, except in the minds of strict adherents (witness Israel/Palestine or staunch hikers/socializers debates).
Trailplace was/will be a great source of information and a place to work for the betterment of the trail. But chastisement of those who disagree, usually about minor points that only a strict adherent would consider significant, will only lead to alienation and abandonment of the points that he is trying to get across.
The censorship Wingfoot engaged in, while legal, is abhorrent. It paints those who protect the trail in an extremist light, and therefore they are not worthy of consideration by the general populace, who dictate what goes on in this country and the world.
Moderation goes a long way, and can even attain extreme results over time, if that is what people desire.
ToolUser_
I really loved that site for most of the exchange of information. But often there was a mentality of my way or the highway. During the election he even deleted quite a few posts that were not abusive, pornagraphic, or vulger, they were just from pro Bush supporters. I even remember when he decided to not have journals when he deleted posts mentioning this site and then put a filter to keep out the word journal.
My guess is he finally decided he didn’t want to do it anymore. He often mentioned that he spent hours doing the site and it cost him a fortune while he seemed often irritated by any critisism. This leads me to wonder if he still plans to do a Guide anymore.
The main reason I went to his site was the forum. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a forum that is as easy to use or keep up with as his around. This forum is nice, but I liked the basic set up of Trailplace better. That and this forum doesn’t seem to get the traffic of Trailplace.
BTW, you can get a peek at what would have been or what may yet be by going to http://www.thru-hikers.com. I check there occasionally to see if any progres has been made.
SGT Rock
Unfortunately I haven’t seen a forum that is as easy to use or keep up with as his around. This forum is nice, but I liked the basic set up of Trailplace better. That and this forum doesn’t seem to get the traffic<<
SGT. Rock, I’d have to agree that I too personally prefered the layout of the trailplace forum to most forums I participate in now. Regarding the traffic on this forum, yep, it’s a little slow most times, but it’s a relatively new forum too. I think the mentality that one does not participate because there’s not as big a pool of participants in any particular forum is going to ultimately keep any forum(s) from really getting active and interesting. My observation is that the mass exodus from trailplace forum has resulted in the offspring of many mini forums, which most are struggling to accumulate a large active pool. It would be good to hear how trailplace forum was in its early existence. My guess would be a few readers/writers who established roots and egged on discussions in a message board mostly stuck prematurely in the doldrums of conversation. Eventually it got going and the going got good before catostrophe!
To get a good message board, I think we’ll all have to faithfully put up with slow times in young forums we believe would serve the community well in the future. If you see fit, I think either Zip or Leif would welcome an email of recommendations for this discussion board’s lay-out etc…
Sweeper
FINALLY I understand why people at trailplace’s forums were spelling journals-- “jurnals” near the end! I figured it was an in-joke or some folks were spelling-challenged, and SGT Rock has thankfully cleared up the mystery!
I also was amazed at the amount of activity at that forum compared to this one. I’m fairly computer-illiterate so would have a problem making suggestions on how to make this forum as user-friendly as trailplace’s. I did like how there were those different categories-- “Life on the Footpath”, “Life In Trailtowns”, “Food”, “Gear”, etc., not the correct names, but you get the idea.
The threads were really easy to access, too, with latest post posted first, and then responses indented underneath. I hope this doesn’t come across as critical (and I did fill out one of Trail Journals feedback surveys a while back) because I love this site and think Leif and Zipdrive are doing a great job. I just miss the activity that trailplace’s forum had.
Sandi
Since I’ve recently just clicked on to “Latest Posts” rather than specific “Rooms”, I forgot that the responses are indeed indented and in order, and that there are more specific Rooms than just the Trails (“Gear”, “Food”, etc.) Sorry about that!
Sandi
You are right about fledgling web boards. Traffic picks up typically because of regulars in my experience. There is a favorite board of mine I’ve been hitting for years that has turned very non-backpacking at times, but we all have a good time there. I started going to that site when only a handfull of hikers were going there and we mostly talked about backpacking related topics. Some of the “old Timers” are as familiar to me as the guys I work with every day.
I also have noticed the multiple boards popping up, and even see some familiar names comming up in many of them. Happily I go to them all, but I still haven’t found the one board I most happy with. This one has great journals (loved yours Sweeper), and AYCEs site does excellent gear reviews and articles. Heck, I even put a message board on my homepage.
Anyway, all this message board stuff is to kill time between hikes and help get some ideas for the next. I’ve got a bad case of “AT Feaver” and won’t be able to get a fix anytime soon. So off to some message boards and off to the journals.
Thanks Leif and Zipdrive!
SGT Rock
Well, if you can believe wingfoot (and, generally you can)he’ll be back on line around labor day with the new sites, beginning with the thru-hiker’s forum. I guess he’s like many who create unattainable deadlines for themselves, who knows.
By going to the old Trailplace . com you can access the only site in the group that is actually up and running, a hikerjournal written by Brenda “Happy” Kerr, currently just entering New Hampshire. Enter through the Kid’s Place link.
As a matter of personal curiosity I’ve recently subscribed to that mailing list, but have found the traffic to be essentially more of the same stuff that I’ve read for the last couple of years, by essentially the same people.
I’ve questioned the ethics of some of the shenanigans with the censorship and unusual word filters over the time I’ve used trailplace, but largely because of the actual useable content of the forums found it acceptable to just delete the nonsense and go on to the useable stuff.
I’ve found over the years that even though I don’t necessarily agree with another person’s point of view (and often times I don’t) I can still make use of many things discovered in less than desireable situations (eg: being dictated to and forced to comply with rules I don’t necessarily agree with…you know, kind of like everyday life…school, work, government. etc.)
So…I guess I’ll still look for the Trailplace sites to come back some day (but I won’t hold my breath) and I’ll regularly visit here at Trailjournals and hope the list traffic continues to pick up, and throughout it all I will be thankful for ALL the webmasters who give of their time and resources to provide places like this for us to visit.
Hacksaw
Hacksaw
Thanks Hacksaw for suggesting that. I just joined the mailing list.
Have you recoverd? Have you been getting back on the trail again?
SGT Rock!
Hey, SGT Rock!
How’s it with you?
Yes, much improved, thanks!
I’m going up to the Springer Lot Saturday mornong and do the 20 miles to Woody Gap with my sister this weekend. Looks like a mild weekend with a slight chance of rain. I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to try and locate the new shelter they’re putting in around Blackwell Creek. Anybody know where it is?
Hacksaw
Hacksaw, sounds like you get up to the southern terminus quite often, how many times would you say you’ve hiked springer? Have fun on the hike and let us know about this new shelter. -Sweeper
Sweeper
I just hiked that area last month, but of course you know that since you gave me the lift. I stayed by the foot bridge one night and I didn’t see anything that makes me think they might be building a shelter there, but a little further south on the trail was a side trail that looked well used and had some logs stripped of bark at the junction. I assumed it was something the Rangers used because I found some 7.62mm brass and a few grenade simulator caps there.
Where did you hear about them building a new shelter?
SGT Rock!
Hey Sweeper, Hey Sgt Rock,
Sweeper, as you may recall, I live very close to Amicalola Falls, and I hike, I Shuttle, and I’ve been around the area for about 35 years. I guess I’ve actually walked up to the summit of Springer maybe 30 or 40 times over the years. From both the north and the south (I’ve probably done the approach trail 2 dozen times over 30 odd years).
Sgt Rock, the shelter near Blackwell Creek will be located on a one mile trail relo to the shelter site and the work should be completed this coming week for a Sept 8th opening. If my memory serves me I read about the recent work and the trail relo on Hobocentral in a post by Sawman, trail maintainer par excellence! I’ve known that the shelter would go in this year since early spring, but the GATC had been trying to get it done for a while. The one at Gooch Gap will be dismantled after this one gets on line.
BTW, you’re likely to find most any kind of Army stuff in the woods around there. That’s a big time training area for the Ranger Newbies from Camp Merrill.
…and, I had to cancel the weekend Hike. I got this new grandson coming that just can’t wait another week to be born, so I’m out west for a week.
Hacksaw
i’m amazed at the amount of hikers who bad mouth this guy but yet still carry his book on the trail.i don’t know this guy from a hole in the wall,and could’nt even tell you what he looks like.judge not lest you be judged
uncle sooda
okay, the guy has a pretty good book. We did use his book the whole trip. some stuff is extraneous and misleading, but it had more details than the data book and had the mileage info that the companion doesn’t have. There were several errors, but that’s to be expected. Having participated and read much of the forums and met him in person and heard stories from other hikers and hiker hostel types, I’m afraid his reputation is well earned. Oh well, you meet all kinds…
Bramble
point well taken now try to move on with your life and focus on more positive things . the trail is a great place and we all are responsible for keeping it that way please stop whining and start hiking .it’s a darn shame that the trail doesn’t escape the needless bullshit of everyday life try and take the good with the bad for if you don’t you may not enjoy life as well as if you did this was never meant to be , man’s supposed to dwell in harmony, but because of selfish ways, man creates things to shorten his days, causing discomfort and strife, WHAT A LIFE!,WHAT A LIFE! causing dicomfort and strife, these are signs of the end of time
uncle sooda