Why do so many people dislike Wingfoot?

imported
#1

Seems to me he does a great service. Why do so many people hate him?

xiix

#2

Hate’s kind of a strong word…he has done a great service and his book is great. We used it on our thru hike. He’s just not the most personable guy to deal with. He alienated a lot of people a few years ago on his website and those who’ve met him in person have experienced the pleasure of being talked down to from the almighty, all knowing Wingfoot aka Wingnut. But hey, many intelligent people are a little wacko, right?!

Bramble

#3

Same stuff, different day. I asked a question on Trail Place, got dissed pretty hard, never went back. Agree there’s a lot of good stuff out there. He’s been an ardent advocate and tireless activist for AT issues. I just need somebody who can laugh. For me, this is a better site. I get Smilies here!:lol

Jim2

#4

Some people think they have a right to say anything, anywhere, anytime. WF has some very peculiar rules & regs about what you can & can’t post on his site. Wanna talk about smoking weed, cell phones, or other technology on the trail, you’re looking for trouble. Trailplace is about “Traditional” thru-hiking as defined by WF himself. That makes some people crazy.

Trailplace also got very political during the 2000 election debacle. Anyone saying anything nice about G.W. got bounced. That pissed alot of people off too.

I had a journal on Trailplace in 2000, met WF when I went through Hot Springs, and helped with the Kidsplace site in 2001. Then I had a disagreement with WF, and that was that. Oh well…

Little Bear

#5

In previous years, Wingy has incorporated the mileage info from the ATC’s Data Book into his Handbook. It’s a little known fact that Wingy doesn’t pay the ATC a single red cent for using their data.

Wingy’s 2003 Handbook has a new layout - and the first half of his book is a clone of the DataBook’s information and format!

I think the ATC should consider suing him, and should never allow him to use the DataBook’s information for free ever again. I pay dues to the ATC, and am tired of having Wingy profit from them.

:mad

Neel’s Pap

#6

All I can say is he sure helped get me to Maine. Don’t you have other things to worry about? Why am I even…:lol

THA WOOKIE

#7

I heard WF’s book has changed in the last few years. I can tell you that I really liked the 1998 version. I used it in 1999, and found it to be way better than the ATC’s Companion.

Regarding data book information: I contacted the ATC a few weeks ago and asked if I could use trail mileage from the Data Book when I put my journals into book form. The response I got was that there are no copyright issues as long as I don’t basically make an exact replica of the data book pages. The man who emailed me said I could use the mileage data with no problems.

yogi

yogi

#8

Wingfoot is a festering blight on the AT. He has found a way to suck money out of hikers and has many spies on all AT forums. They need to know what he is. This is not gossip it is fact.

Green Jay

#9

http://web.archive.org/web/20001110122300/http://www.trailplace.com/

Thanks archive.org for showing this. Al Gore for president being endorsed? WTF?

xiix

#10

I think the ATC should consider suing him, and should never allow him to use the DataBook’s information for free ever again. I pay dues to the ATC, and am tired of having Wingy profit from them.

there was a big blowout about this on the AT-L, inside the cover or one the first page, there is actually an acreditation and thank you note from WF to ATC on using the milage info. permission was given.

its above board, so dont get your nickers in too tight a twist. :tongue

MadAussieInLondon

#11

Yes, Wingfart has written a flippant “thank-you note” in his book after the ATC graciously provided Wingy with the Data Book mileage information for free. The difference this year, as you know from reading the at-l and posts from the Databook’s Editor and Brian King of the ATC, is that Wingy does not have permission to copy the entire book or it’s format. You might think that’s “BS” and “ridiculous”, but thankfully many others do not.

Yes, some people on the at-l (namely two persons from Wingy’s Trailplace) tried to “heap crap” on me. It’s obvious that a few don’t want people to know that their ATC dues help support Wingy and his “Center for AT Studies.”
“Troublemaker”? Well, at least that’s one thing you got right…

Green Jay

#12

i never accused you or anyone of being a troublemaker green jay. just stated that he acknowledged where the milage info came from. people seem to think he just ripped it without permission.

i dont own, nor plan on owning any of his stuff.

i also agree it shouldnt have been a one way street with the ATC, but thats their own business dealings. I dont know how its all conducted.

i’m also not a member of the ATC (the web form does not accept international addresses), hence, dont sit in either camp.

MadAussieInLondon

#13

OR WHATEVER YOUR NAME IS…

WAAAAAH!!! :bawling WAAAAH! :bawling

One Timer

#14

Why don’t you come clear here and admit your part in starting all this BS? You posted this on the AT-L, and the ATC subsequently admitted that they have given WF permission to use their mileage figures. Right or wrong?

Then the dispute moved on to whether WF copied the databook format which goes beyond using the mileage figures. That is between WF & the ATC. You then tried to throw gas on the fire, obviously hoping WF would get into a big scrap with the ATC and get kicked off the trail or something. People on the AT-L justifiably heaped all kinds of crap on you for prolonging this ridiculous conversation.

You ARE a troublemaker - nothing more. You are NOT the ATC.

One Timer is right. You don’t like Wingy, get a towel.
:bawling :bawling :bawling :bawling :bawling

Weezel

#15

Wingfoot is not an original. He was in the right place at the right time. Darrell Maret started the Handbook. I’d like to know WHO widely recognizes him as THE expert on AT thru-hiking.

Lone Wolf

#16

I think that this kind of post is great.

See in every organization, activity, or for that matter anything that ever exists or takes place in this great country that we live in there is always two or three roles that are avaliable to be played.

First off we all know and agree that the ATC it self as an organization is full of a wealth of resource and influence in all different types of media including books. They have to remain a not for profit organization because it is better for scraping up tax dollars to help maintain our trail for us. The ATC playes the role of the innocent, always etablished organization that has progressed along to where it is today because of the influence of its members. (Kinda compare this role to our big not for profit government)

Then there is the role that Wingfoot playes and the people who help him or hate him. Kinda think of wingfoot like one of those DOD contractors that is owned by a distant cousin of the sponsor of the contract to land them the big bucks. Or like the family member of a local political figure who owned the property that was used to build a minor leage baseball stadium with tax payer dollars only to eventually employee both the politician and the distant family member in expensive salary roles for carrying around the key ring to the place.

See people all over love people like Wingfoot because they offer an alternative to the problems. In this case the problem is how to successfully hike the AT. People hate Wingfoot because he is making money off of our obsessions. People love wingfoot because he is an advocate for many trail issues that no one else has the time to devote to. People hate wingfoot because of his apparent demeaner and communications techniques or as some people put it is crass approach to certain issues.

I have never met the man. All that I know is what you others here post about him. The point that I want to make is that no one here makes any of you patronize or listen to any of the media that he says or sells. It is your choice to spend your money if you feel that what he has to offer you is worth it or not. For me I bought a few of his books just because they were avaliable. Would I buy them again, maby, maby not. Regardless of a persons demeaner, or there motivation to make money off of others who demand there service we are all on the trail for the same reason. Take some one and the information that they have to offer you for what it is worth to you.

We all “enjoy” the trail and what it does for us.

The definition of “Enjoy” in that statement is up to you to decide.

twofiddy

#17

Just FYI, these messages by ‘Weezel’, ‘Green Jay’, and ‘Neels Pap’ are edited posts from Whiteblaze.net. Looks like some wise-guy was having fun with cut&paste.
TJ < T.J. aka Teej on Whiteblaze.

TJ

#18

i’ve met him…and talked on the phone with him…have no problems with him…like a lot of others i hear things about him…i just choose not to live my life wrapped up in other peoples rumors…all of the materials out there on the A.T. are guides and nothing else…take from them what you feel that you need…there is a lot of great stuff in all of them…there are only a few LAWS that have been enacted concerning trail use…escape from all this rumor crap and just go hiking for the pleasure of it…and be safe…:smokin :cheers

fausa

#19

I second whoever said his book sure helped me get to Maine.

Next time though, I think I’ll use the Data Book, just to save a few ounces.

-Me:boy :girl :oh

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