This is a technique used by those who cannot go
long periods of time without certain devices which they are however
unwilling to carry, most notably technological devices. It consists of
a box full of stuff which is sent ahead to one’s next
anticipated stop, where it is intercepted, utilized, and then
“bounced” ahead again.
Blue
Blazer
This term, for me, will always denote the
attitude and methods of the elusive group of trail experts known as
Hobocentral. Used in this pure sense, it refers to what may be
considered a way of life to these interesting individuals. Here I would
prefer that they speak for themselves. It is, however, widely used in
reference to those who have no qualms about taking shortcuts, are
slackers in general, like to see lots of off-trail sights, and who
don’t have time issues or bother with schedules.
Blue
blazes
These are trail markers in the form of vertically
oriented rectangular paint blazes which are, well, blue. They denote
side trails which split off from the white-blazed Appalachian Trail,
sometimes reconnecting at some distant juncture.
Drop Box
A
useful tool utilized by an increasing number of
thru-hikers, this is simply a box of food and supplies which is
typically assembled prior to the hike and then sent by a close friend
or significant other to the hiker while he is engaged in his trek. It
may be addressed general delivery to that hiker, and mailed to a
small-town post office somewhere.
Purists
These come in a wide spectrum of severity, but are
simply those who maintain that for a hike to be a thru-hike, one must
walk only on white-blaze paths, double back to cover any missed
sections no matter how small, and never engage in any such sordid
practices as blue-blazing, yellow-blazing, slackpacking, and so on.
Sound reasonable? Bear in mind the fringe elements who actually aspire
to touch each white blaze, deny thru-hiker status to others whose
standards aren’t quite as rigid, and regularly forego basic
amenities at rest points. Some also decline to take Zero-days and
eschew fun.
Section Hiker
These are hikers who may not have the good
fortune to be able to thru-hike, but are doing a sizable chunk of the
trail at once, usually at least a couple of hundred miles.
Slackpacking
Sometimes, one wonders how much trail could be
covered (and how much ease could be enjoyed) by walking without the
encumbrance of a backpack. Known amongst thru-hikers as a
“gateway practice” which may potentially lead one
down the dark path to wuss-dom, this appealing mode of hiking involves
having a friend shuttle your pack by car down to where you plan to stop
walking for the day. Meanwhile, you breeze along with nothing at all to
carry excepting perhaps a light lunch for the day.
Swamp Ass
Um, this one is almost self-explanatory. It refers
to the downside of remaining unshowered and sweaty for long periods of
time, and can even become painful and tender. Some hikers carry baby
wipes, and for good reason.
Thru-Hiker
This term refers to he or she who intends to hike
the Trail from start to finish in a single trip. Its exact definition
is hotly contested between purists, slackpackers, and blue blazers. If
you decide to call yourself one or the other of these, make your
decision carefully; it will stick with you forever.
Trail Angel
Ah yes, the apple of every hiker’s eye,
who comes from out of nowhere to offer trail magic to the weary, the
footsore, and the badly-in-need-of-booze. Bless these people. If you
ever have occasion to backpack long distance, and you run into one, you
will instantly understand why they are called angels.
Trail Magic
This is unexpected help from strangers from off
the trail, many of them former hikers or trail enthusuiasts.
Thru-hiking is no small feat, and aid is rendered in the form of
unexpected presentation of cold beer, free food, or offers of other
assistance such as access to laundry or shower facilities, or a ride
into town. It often occurs in a completely unexpected time and place,
and usually right when you need it the most. It has the effect of
uplifting one's spirits, reinstating one's faith in human nature and
generosity, humbling one whose actions are historically not so
consistently selfless, and sometimes, of saving one's hike from the
very brink of disaster.
White Blazes
These mark the Appalachian Trail, and are
essentially a vertically oriented rectangular white paint mark; they
may be found emblazoned on just about anything, and serve the worthy
function of assuring hikers that they are not lost.
YellowBlazing
This is something of a gag amongst thru-hikers;
it refers to the practice of hitchhiking or roadwalking in order to
skip portions of the trail, and is named after the rectangular yellow
paint marks which decorate the median of a road. Follow them as you
would a white or a blue blaze, but don’t tell the purists.
Zero Days
These are, quite simply, days in which no actual
walking gets accomplished. They may be taken anywhere and for a variety
of reasons, the most compelling of which for me were always fun,
injury, and hangovers.
This blog is intended to be a partial record of my 2006 attempt at thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. I will update it as often as possible from the trail itself. Special thanks are due to Greg Lovinski, without whom this blog would look really stupid.
About Me
Name::Tsnake From::San Antonio, Texas, United States
See Myspace profile, link on blog sidebar View my complete profile
This is a technique used by those who cannot go
long periods of time without certain devices which they are however
unwilling to carry, most notably technological devices. It consists of
a box full of stuff which is sent ahead to one’s next
anticipated stop, where it is intercepted, utilized, and then
“bounced” ahead again.
Blue
Blazer
This term, for me, will always denote the
attitude and methods of the elusive group of trail experts known as
Hobocentral. Used in this pure sense, it refers to what may be
considered a way of life to these interesting individuals. Here I would
prefer that they speak for themselves. It is, however, widely used in
reference to those who have no qualms about taking shortcuts, are
slackers in general, like to see lots of off-trail sights, and who
don’t have time issues or bother with schedules.
Blue
blazes
These are trail markers in the form of vertically
oriented rectangular paint blazes which are, well, blue. They denote
side trails which split off from the white-blazed Appalachian Trail,
sometimes reconnecting at some distant juncture.
Drop Box
A
useful tool utilized by an increasing number of
thru-hikers, this is simply a box of food and supplies which is
typically assembled prior to the hike and then sent by a close friend
or significant other to the hiker while he is engaged in his trek. It
may be addressed general delivery to that hiker, and mailed to a
small-town post office somewhere.
Purists
These come in a wide spectrum of severity, but are
simply those who maintain that for a hike to be a thru-hike, one must
walk only on white-blaze paths, double back to cover any missed
sections no matter how small, and never engage in any such sordid
practices as blue-blazing, yellow-blazing, slackpacking, and so on.
Sound reasonable? Bear in mind the fringe elements who actually aspire
to touch each white blaze, deny thru-hiker status to others whose
standards aren’t quite as rigid, and regularly forego basic
amenities at rest points. Some also decline to take Zero-days and
eschew fun.
Section Hiker
These are hikers who may not have the good
fortune to be able to thru-hike, but are doing a sizable chunk of the
trail at once, usually at least a couple of hundred miles.
Slackpacking
Sometimes, one wonders how much trail could be
covered (and how much ease could be enjoyed) by walking without the
encumbrance of a backpack. Known amongst thru-hikers as a
“gateway practice” which may potentially lead one
down the dark path to wuss-dom, this appealing mode of hiking involves
having a friend shuttle your pack by car down to where you plan to stop
walking for the day. Meanwhile, you breeze along with nothing at all to
carry excepting perhaps a light lunch for the day.
Swamp Ass
Um, this one is almost self-explanatory. It refers
to the downside of remaining unshowered and sweaty for long periods of
time, and can even become painful and tender. Some hikers carry baby
wipes, and for good reason.
Thru-Hiker
This term refers to he or she who intends to hike
the Trail from start to finish in a single trip. Its exact definition
is hotly contested between purists, slackpackers, and blue blazers. If
you decide to call yourself one or the other of these, make your
decision carefully; it will stick with you forever.
Trail Angel
Ah yes, the apple of every hiker’s eye,
who comes from out of nowhere to offer trail magic to the weary, the
footsore, and the badly-in-need-of-booze. Bless these people. If you
ever have occasion to backpack long distance, and you run into one, you
will instantly understand why they are called angels.
Trail Magic
This is unexpected help from strangers from off
the trail, many of them former hikers or trail enthusuiasts.
Thru-hiking is no small feat, and aid is rendered in the form of
unexpected presentation of cold beer, free food, or offers of other
assistance such as access to laundry or shower facilities, or a ride
into town. It often occurs in a completely unexpected time and place,
and usually right when you need it the most. It has the effect of
uplifting one's spirits, reinstating one's faith in human nature and
generosity, humbling one whose actions are historically not so
consistently selfless, and sometimes, of saving one's hike from the
very brink of disaster.
White Blazes
These mark the Appalachian Trail, and are
essentially a vertically oriented rectangular white paint mark; they
may be found emblazoned on just about anything, and serve the worthy
function of assuring hikers that they are not lost.
YellowBlazing
This is something of a gag amongst thru-hikers;
it refers to the practice of hitchhiking or roadwalking in order to
skip portions of the trail, and is named after the rectangular yellow
paint marks which decorate the median of a road. Follow them as you
would a white or a blue blaze, but don’t tell the purists.
Zero Days
These are, quite simply, days in which no actual
walking gets accomplished. They may be taken anywhere and for a variety
of reasons, the most compelling of which for me were always fun,
injury, and hangovers.
This blog is intended to be a partial record of my 2006 attempt at thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. I will update it as often as possible from the trail itself. Special thanks are due to Greg Lovinski, without whom this blog would look really stupid.
About Me
Name::Tsnake From::San Antonio, Texas, United States
See Myspace profile, link on blog sidebar View my complete profile
