[pct-l] The trail personality (was ADZ thoughts)

[Bill Batchelor]

You know what is funny about the introvert idea?  Often the trail draws
introverts for obvious reasons, and then they find their voice here.  I met
a really nice guy this weekend on the trail named Phil.  He is a section
hiker that hopes to finish all his sections this year (to me, he is a really
slow thru hiker with a flexible schedule).  He said he was not very social,
a bit to himself.  Yet, he and I had the most delightful chat right there in
the middle of nowhere after a 10 second introduction.  We talked about the
trail, water, gear, foot wear, etc.  Honestly, we just genuinely got along
like friends.  I know this is only anecdotal, but I suspect this is not an
unusual experience.  I'll bet you there are many people on these trails that
consider themselves reserved, but find expression on the trial.  I could go
on about the reasons why this is the case, but I suspect most of us already
know why.  So I will leave it at that. 

BillyB (YTNH)

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Steel-Eye
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 7:39 PM
To: jape at nethere.com; pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] ADZ thoughts

Good evening,

There is evidence to suggest that the majority of hikers on the AT are not
outgoing and social individuals, i.e. extroverts.  Roland Mueser's book,
Long-Distance Hiking, refers to psychologist O. W. Lacy's ongoing analysis
of AT hiker Myers-Briggs test results.  The Lacy data support the conclusion
the 75% of distance hikers are introverts, while the U.S. population in
general is about 50% introvert.  That would mean that there are three times
as many introverts on the trail as extroverts.  Does that apply to the PCT?
I don't know: I will guess it does.

Steel-Eye,  Myers-Briggs Type INTJ


----- Original Message -----
From: <jape at nethere.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 1:22 PM
Subject: [pct-l] ADZ thoughts


> Another is that hikers, by-an-large, are type A, gregarious, outgoing and
> social individuals.  I personally like people with this nature, and
> they're
> easy to find because they tend to clump together.
>

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