[pct-l] the crazy ones

[Freiman, Paul]

Amen.  I no longer have the back for going 30 or more miles.... or going 360 miles in a day on a bike.  Those days were exhilerating.  I really enjoy the trail no matter how many miles I go, but shame on anyone for thinking poorly of the crazy ones, just because that is not how they like to hike.  HYOH.  Dream of something and then do it.  The challenge within is a wonderful thing to fulfill.

Capt Bivy



Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 4:00 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] New speed records & the crazy ones
> Brian,
> You are so right....I am also proud to be considered one of the ''Crazy
> Ones'' and would have loved to meet ''Earl'' and shake his hand and tell
> him
> how much I admire and respect him for starting this
> ''Crazy Revolution'' or shall we call it ''Evolution''?
>
> It seems not much has changed since ''Earl'' started this ''Crazy
> Evolution'' except the ''Ultra Light''
> evolution has made the ''Crazy Evolution'' even crazier..........We
> ''Crazy
> Ones'' still get slammed
> by the ''Purists'' for hiking to fast and not enjoying our hike.
>
> They just don't understand us......but we ''Crazy Ones'', we understand
> each
> other and that, to me,
> is really the only thing that matters.
>
> JMT Reinhold
> One of the ''Crazy Ones''
> ----------------------------------------------
>
> Flyin' Brian wrote:
> A banner year indeed. It looks like the CDT yoyo may be claimed as well.
>
> Being called "crazy one" is a real honor IMO. The forerunner of us all,
> Earl
> Shaffer was called "Crazy One." When he became the first documented
> thru-hiker of the AT in 1948, he faced skepticism and criticism that we
> can
> scarcely imagine today. People's first reaction was that he couldn't have
> thru-hiked the AT because it was impossible. After he overcame the
> skeptics,
> the critics jumped in. He faced so much criticism for hiking "too fast"
> that
> his trail name became "Crazy One." Earl died in 2002 before I summoned up
> the nerve to introduce myself, and I really regret not doing so. He
> inspired
> thousands to follow in his footsteps.
>
> Sometimes the only difference between crazy and visionary is perspective.
>
> Flyin' Brian