[Cdt-l] CDT Integration

Fri Jan 4 19:14:55 CST 2013

Peter - Your question has far greater implications than most people here realize.  We discussed this several times on at-l while it was still a serious hiking forum - which means a long time ago.   To make this short - it's a cultural thing.  And it's a survival problem for all the long trails.  Many cultures would never think of going out "into the woods."  In part because that 's where the "animals" live.  And in part because one lives in a tent, gets "dirty", etc - and in their culture only the poor live like that.  Even in the States, that culture persists - and propagates.   And propagation is the root of a problem that has been and continues to be ignored.  Right now the "non-integrated" are minorities.  That is NOT a permanent situation.  When they become majorities, why would anyone believe that they will not be represented in government?  And why would anyone believe that they will vote to continue funding trails that they and their people will never use?   Demographics are inexorable and unavoidable.   So your question may have been a lot of other things, but it is not inconsequential.   And my answer to your friend is that he would be welcome on the Trail.   Jim

http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/
 From: petersustr at gmail.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2013 11:17:53 -0700
To: altongbay at aol.com
CC: cdt-l at backcountry.net; dthibaul07 at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] CDT Integration

My question originated from one of my friends (black guy) who was joking around that he didn't want to be the 'where's waldo' of the CDT if he joined me this summer for a section.  All in good humor, not trying to start anything :)

Peter "CzechXpress"
Follow me as I prepare to hike the CDT in 2013-   Couch2CDT.com and @Couch2CDT on Twitter

On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 10:21 AM,  <altongbay at aol.com> wrote:

bet he was surprised to see you and Judy coming out of the woods

-----Original Message-----

From: Bob Sartini <bobsartini at gmail.com>

To: David Thibault <dthibaul07 at gmail.com>

Cc: cdt-l <cdt-l at backcountry.net>

Sent: Fri, Jan 4, 2013 5:49 am

Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] CDT Integration

When we first moved to VT many years ago. We went off into the woods exploring and  "got turned around". We approached a house to find out where we were.  When we told the owner we came through the woods he said " I've lived here ten years and have never been in that woods, there are animals out there". he was white from NJ. So I doubt it's a race based thing but certainly urban people have "nature deficit disorder"

On Thu, Jan 3, 2013 at 9:43 PM, David Thibault <dthibaul07 at gmail.com> wrote:

There definitely is a lot less minorities then there should be.  I have run into a few Hispanic women but hardly any males,  I think it might be a cultural thing.

I do remember a guy on the AT calling the urban youth groups "hoods in the woods" programs.  

I thought it was great that these folks (mostly kids) got the chance to head out into the woods for a few days.

I remember talking with one guy (teenager) as I walked into an AT shelter with a bunch of berries I'd picked on the way in - he asked in a surprised way "You can eat those?"  He had been walking by them all day and never considered you could just find things to eat in the woods.  

I also remember a Marine I met many years ago telling me the first time he ever left New York City was at age 18 - to go to Camp Lejuene in North Carolina - and how it really freaked him out to be in the woods surrounded by trees.  He said his unease started on the bus ride there and lasted for months.  

Having grown up hiking, camping, and fishing in the woods I was blown away that he was completely on edge being in the woods.  He told me he though animals were going to attack him every minute.  

We need more minorities in the woods - the trails (wild areas) need all the friends/support they can get....

Day-Late (white middle aged guy)

black and maybe 5% Asian and I can't recall meeting anyone that I

understood to be Hispanic.  On the AT I've met dozens if not hundreds of

"urban" youth groups out for a week or so. 

>

> We've all noticed when we go outdoors that every white middle aged guy

> goes outdoors but not enough minorities.

>

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