[pct-l] How do you tell a "Homeless Bum" from "Hiker Trash"???

[hiker97 at aol.com]

Unsupported JMT Snow Bunny Reinhold writes: Say gang, How do you tell a "Homeless Bum" from "Hiker Trash"?  The other day I saw what I thought was a real grubby looking homeless bum at a McDonalds, so I bought an extra hamburger for him. After giving him the burger I noticed he was wearing a real modern hi-tech, internal frame pack with all the bells and whistels. Afterwards I started thinking, was that a homeless bum or was it a hiker? Everybody knows that after a few days on the trail it is hard to distinguish a bum from a grubby hiker.  So "HOW" do you tell a homeless bum from a scuzzy, grubby, on the trail to long, homeless hiker??? It appears that homeless bums are cleaner,better dressed and less malnourished than scuzzy, grubby, on the trail to long, homeless hikers. 
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Switchback replies:  This is so simple.  Just ask him if he knows what duct tape is.  End of story.
 







-----Original Message-----
From: Reinhold Metzger <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
To: PCT <pct-l at backcountry.net>; patti kulesz <peprmintpati88 at yahoo.com>; Hiker97 <hiker97 at aol.com>; Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>; Georgi Heitman <bobbnweav at gmail.com>; Deems <losthiker at sisqtel.net>; MONTE DODGE <montedodge at msn.com>; Ground Pounder <groundpounderbill22 at verizon.net>; joseph kisner <lostonthecrest at hotmail.com>; zaqueltooocool at gmail.com
Sent: Sun, Apr 18, 2010 2:34 pm
Subject: How do you tell a "Homeless Bum" from "Hiker Trash"???


Say gang, 
How do you tell a "Homeless Bum" from "Hiker Trash"? 
 
The other day I saw what I thought was a real grubby looking homeless bum at a McDonalds, so I bought an extra hamburger for him. 
After giving him the burger I noticed he was wearing a real modern hi-tech, internal frame pack with all the bells and whistels. 
Afterwards I started thinking, was that a homeless bum or was it a hiker? 
Everybody knows that after a few days on the trail it is hard to distinguish a bum from a grubby hiker. 
 
So "HOW" do you tell a homeless bum from a scuzzy, grubby, on the trail to long, homeless hiker??? 
 
It appears that homeless bums are cleaner,better dressed and less malnourished than scuzzy, grubby, on the trail to long, homeless hikers. 
 
JMT Reinhold 
Your snappy looking trail companion