[at-l] Earl Shaffer's hike

[Renee Swicegood]

Amy, I was raised Christian and I still find the judginess pretty 
unnatural.

My two cents on the judginess is like my two cents on hiking - everybody 
is different and what motivates them is different.  I'm assuming that 
those referred to as purists feel passing every white blaze is an 
important part of the joy of hiking the AT and it leads to the sort of 
satisfaction Felix describes.  For others, the blue blazes (and the 
vistas, falls, etc. on them) are more important than passing all the 
white blazes.  If you hike from GA-ME or ME-GA along white or blue 
blazes, IMO you have hiked the entire trail.  If you complete one of 
Warren's van adventures, you have still hiked from GA-ME and I assume 
his students / clients get joy from that method.   Your mileage may vary.

She-Dino

On 7/4/2011 8:10 PM, Amy Forinash wrote:
> I don't get why everybody is so judgey.  It's not like the Guinness Book is out there keeping a record on every hiker.  We like to hike.  We go hike.  You might intend to do the whole trail in one go, and you might even actually do it that way, despite weather and injuries and illness and stuff back home.  And if you do, I bet you get a huge sense of accomplishment.  (Which, yay!) But why would I care if you did it that way?  (In other than a "go, you, that's awesome" sort of sentiment?)
>
> Guess I was just raised wrong.  Maybe if I were raised Christian it would feel more natural to me to rate other people's leisure time activities.   I think I am on the other side of a cultural divide here.
>
> I like to hike.  See y'all on the trail.  Unless you're going to judge me, in which case I'll be on the blue blaze.
>
> -amy
>
> _