Other NOBOS, just curious where on the Trail you were the first time someone told you that you were behind schedule and “you’ll never make it to Maine”?
The first time I heard it was on the Trail just before Three Ridges, Virginia. A friend of his then added that every hiker needs to be in Harpers Ferry by July 4th or the’ll never finish by Oct. 15th.
0101
Doc’s Knob, some frootloop on a section hike said our packs were to big. He also insulted woman, men, the Pope, Ramen, Charlie Brown, Oprah, me when I said his boots smelled like tuna.
Also at Jim and Molly Denton Shelter. The other version is “you can’t be thru hikers, you’re carrying a doll” by a hiker I won’t name. The mentioned doll was Raggedy Ann, a fav of our friend Linley that died from breast cancer before our hike and to whom we dedicated a fundraiser that pulled in more than $20,000 for the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation in her name. R.A. had her own trail clothes and staff that I made.
I was temped to say to her, “Well, since you don’t seem to have any [breasts]you wouldn’t understand the significance”…but Bramble kicked me first. Mean peole suck. (Sorry, L’Di.)
Bushwhack + Bramble AT '01
I was told that from the get go. “Kinda late aren’t ya?” By PA we were ready to shoot the next person that said it and by Maine we were just plain tired of hearing it. I can’t tell you how many people I tried to educate on the Oct 15th myth of “Katahdin closes”. Yeah, we were told that anyone coming through Harper’s Ferry as late as we did (July 19-21st) is on the cusp of just finishing. I often wondered how all these people knew this: did they track those that came through on that date every year and find out later if they finished? Oh, and then my personal favorite “you’re going to have to flip flop” No, I’m not…and no I didn’t.
Good topic, I don’t see this mentioned that much, but it sure bugged my buddies and I. Last Oct (04) I ran into a late group of thru’s in Grafton Notch and deliberately told them I wouldn’t say that to them, they had time, it was beautiful weather here in October and have a good hike!!
BB
When I first told my family (eight brothers and sisters) many thought I wouldn’t make it two days. Some of my sibling even started a betting pool on how many days before I’d be asking for a ride home.
Now with a month and a half to go before my thru hike I am well prepared and have been on many shake down hikes. I think that people think that because hiking the trail is an imense challenge that I won’t make it, but I think that is exactly why I’ll be standing on Katahdin.
Moleman
Moleman, just had to respond, b/c I am also 1 of 9 children. I thru-hiked last year. I always said, anyone can thru-hike. All you need is time and a good attitude. Oh and I guess luck, that you wont get injured. But that’s the most important advice I could give anyone who’s starting off… maintain a positive mental attitude, sometimes that seems harder than putting one foot in front of the other.
Oh, and try to sample a microbrew in every state.
-Loki
Loki