Since Hydro Heidi yellow blazed 40 miles in Pennsylvania, she don’t count.
Hal Turner
Who was the first AT thru hiker this year in 2005?
system
#2
Take your snarkiness to the nearest local landfill, Hal. There’s no room for you at the inn.
Bozo
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#4
Hal,
Here’s an excerpt from my journal. This is the list through my summit. I believe Thicket was the first NOBO this year.
Regards,
BDD
"A special congratulations to all the thru hikers this year who complete their treks. Those who are complete as of today (14 July):
Thicket
Robin
E
JByrd
Just Mark
Hydro
JuiceKey
Ron NTN
Mountain Dewd
Webb
Sippi
Diesel
Bass Master
Big Daddy D-the 14th thru of the year and aggregate number 23 to climb Katahdin this year (they also list people who walk smaller distances,
sectioners, etc.).
Big Daddy D
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#6
SO Heidi, are you still trying to pretend you thru-hiked the AT or are you going to go back to PA to finish the 40 miles you skipped.
Hal Turner
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#8
Jeez, had no idea the competition for thru-hiking was so tough! Thought it was all about the journey not the miles. Spoken from a non-thru hiker;)
Courtney
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#9
You betcha, sister. The AT is the natural habitat to some of the biggest egomaniacs on the planet. Heaven help you if you challenge them on any level. Among the fastest hikers, a thru hike is a ruthless footrace, a primal contest, thinly veiled behind a sweet smelling haze of artificial mannerisms and half truths. There’s always competition: for motel rooms, for food, for the tops of mountains, for most charming, for most clever, for most experienced, for lightest gear, for novelty of habits, for best looking, for miles per day, for fewest showers, for most wildlife seen, for most earnest attitude, for the most righteous indignation at the suggestion that the AT is NOT a continuous group-sing of Koom-Buy-Ah around the fire every night. The group dynamic of the AT is perverse and transient in nature, at best. On the other hand, you will likely make friends for life with great people who share your level of competitiveness or noncompetitiveness. But yes, the AT is a super competitive place. The ones who really crack me up are the ones who claim and isnsist otherwise.
Competitor
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#10
“pretend” I thru-hiked? Sure. I didn’t apply for the certificate and I can’t think of anytime I said I hiked the entire appalachian trail. My journey is complete the way it is. I feel like it was a sucess and a pretty damn good time too!
The truth is, I was really burnt out on hiking the trail at that time in my hike. If I won’t have skipped ahead, I think I would have gotten off the trail. The miles will always be there to “make up.” If they ever get walked, it will be on another thru-hike, not a seperate hike.
p.s. Hal–I skipped 1.5 miles of trail near the Fontana Dam area. So bring that total up to 41.5 miles.
Hydro Heidi
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#11
Heidi, just remember it was your hike, no one elses… thanks for sharing it with us, and Congratulations on the AT and the JMT!!
Leif
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#12
From a died in the wool (where did that turn of phrase come from?) hard-core purist on the AT in 2002, I blue-blazed like crazy on the JMT this summer and loved every minute of it.
GO HYDRO HEIDI!!! Tell it like it truly is!
Cap’n
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#15
cap’n (the purist that he once thought he was) did some serious blue blazin’ on the JMT. heck, that kid was hiking off trail on the second day. i know because i was there and i encouraged it and it was awesome. and, i do encourage it and it is awesome. and, everyone should try it at least once.
it’ll change your life.
grizzly adam
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#16
Let me tell you something young lady, you may laugh and think it’s okay to cheat and take shortcuts because it’s only the AT, but you won’t be laughing when you get to Hell. For just as a many small drops of water fill a bucket, a life of mockery and sin leads the unwary to eternal damnation. There is no shortcut to purity, and sinners do not pass Go or collect $200 or enter Heaven. Make yourself right now, repent of your transgression, and sin no more.
preacher man
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#17
Thanks to Preacher Man for reaffirming my belief that Bible thumping zealots are among the craziest, most obnoxious, dispicable, hypocritical and dangerous people on the planet.
booger
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#18
“p.s. Hal–I skipped 1.5 miles of trail near the Fontana Dam area. So bring that total up to 41.5 miles.”
Hahaha…right on Heidi!! Good for you!
For everyone else…although perhaps she isn’t an official “2000-miler,” as defined by the ATC, there IS no official definition for “Thru-hike.” And I say we KEEP it that way. Let a thru-hike be an EXPERIENCE rather than an accomplishment. I say, hell yeah Heidi thru-hiked. I know people who didn’t even finish HALF the AT that I wouldn’t argue with if they said they were a thru-hiker.
Leki-Less
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#19
Has Hal thruhiked? Does he even have the slightest idea what he is talking about? 40 miles? Wow, I think Heidi should cover herself in honey and jump in a fire ant hill. I mean, there is no possible way that the other 2135 miles provided any sort of fun, friendship or source of accomplishment. We all know the greatest miles on the trail are in PA! Hal, go hike the trail and then judge.
Nokia