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MtnGoat
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PostMon Jul 09, 2018 9:08 am 
fun article!
Quote:
Overall appearance: Lean, muscular, without extra bulk. “That gaunt look is the reason bears hide their own food in trees when thru hikers are in the area,” says Chelin, whose trail name is “Steel-Eye” and is known around the world as the man who has been hiking the PCT since 1965. After one of his end-to-end hikes on the 2,663-mile trail, he pulled on his jeans he had left at home, buttoned them up and watched them fall to his ankles. Faces: Dirty in spite of well-intentioned spit baths. Men have shaggy beards. Women go without lotions or makeup Legs: Slim, tightly corded. Women’s legs are almost as hairy as the men’s.
(Sadly, Steel Eye left our mortal coil on July 1)

Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. - Will Rogers
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DIYSteve
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DIYSteve
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PostMon Jul 09, 2018 3:22 pm 
I usually smell a thru hiker before I see 'em

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neek
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neek
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PostMon Jul 09, 2018 6:45 pm 
They don't smell nearly as bad as all the tourists at national parks.

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Malachai Constant
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Malachai Constant
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PostMon Jul 09, 2018 7:28 pm 
Some horse riders told us, “they look like bums but have really expensive gear”.

"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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coldrain108
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coldrain108
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PostMon Jul 09, 2018 7:50 pm 
neek wrote:
They don't smell nearly as bad as all the tourists at national parks.
That horrible stench of perfumed laundry detergent. Something I always notice as soon as I get close to the trailhead after just a few days of backpacking.

Since I have no expectations of forgiveness, I don't do it in the first place. That loop hole needs to be closed to everyone.
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jackchinook
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PostMon Jul 09, 2018 9:19 pm 
I've picked up several of them in Mazama hitching over the pass in the fall. Indeed their odors are impressive. But their stories of their experiences shared over the 3h drive to Mukilteo or Lynnwood or wherever they're hoping to be dropped off usually make up for it. Usually.

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Matt Lemke
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Matt Lemke
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PostSun Jul 15, 2018 1:17 pm 
I picked up 3 just driving back from Chelan yesterday! To my surprise, they all had fairly cheap gear

The Pacific coast to the Great Plains = my playground!!! SummitPost Profile See my website at: http://www.lemkeclimbs.com
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Jake Robinson
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PostSun Jul 15, 2018 6:42 pm 
Old crinkled Smartwater bottle

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wildernessed
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PostTue Jul 17, 2018 8:03 am 
ditto.gif Abused Smart Water bottle with a Sawyer filter on top.

Living in the Anthropocene
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Token Civilian
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PostTue Jul 17, 2018 9:30 am 
The fact is that you will smell a thru hiker long before you spot them. Of course, they say the same about non-thrus - the perfume, deodorant, scented laundry detergent, etc. is the give away. biggrin.gif

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coldrain108
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coldrain108
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PostTue Jul 17, 2018 9:39 am 
Jake Robinson wrote:
Old crinkled Smartwater bottle
I carry one of those with the sawyer attached. No thru-hiking for me thank you. And after only a few days I smell like a rancid sweat sock...it is how I get solitude, that and loud, frequent flatulence. Seems like some cool costume or other attire theme is a dead give away on the PCT. I call it "a parade of one".

Since I have no expectations of forgiveness, I don't do it in the first place. That loop hole needs to be closed to everyone.
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Randito
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PostTue Jul 17, 2018 2:23 pm 
Matt Lemke wrote:
To my surprise, they all had fairly cheap gear
Not all thru hikers have trust funds!

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Bernardo
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Bernardo
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PostWed Jul 18, 2018 8:39 pm 
You get a biased sample in Washington. We only see the ones who've made it a long way. Generally, you can tell by their compactly organized kit, they've been walking for a long while. It is amazing the variety of equipment and pack weights. It would be cool to see a regression of pack weight to success.

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Malachai Constant
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Malachai Constant
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PostWed Jul 18, 2018 9:52 pm 
They are on the PCT or a connecting trail wink.gif

"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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Randito
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Randito
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PostThu Jul 19, 2018 7:17 am 
Bernardo wrote:
It is amazing the variety of equipment and pack weights. It would be cool to see a regression of pack weight to success.
FWIW: Along first 100 miles the "French route" of the Camino de Santiago even the small villages have large clothing donation boxes for collecting excess clothing and gear. Of course the Camino is vastly different than the PCT. One can hike the Camino with just a light day pack and a credit card and have a glass of locally produced wine for just a euro with your meal. As well as shower and wash your clothes.

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