[pct-l] maps/thru-wallets

[Kris De Wachter]

i'm a bit sad becouse i have to start hiking to canada soon whit a pack from
a frend en only 6 dollars in my pocket .Amerika is so expensive en so litle
sponsors. kris

2010/3/28 <twolegs at roadrunner.com>

> Scott "Postholer" wrote:
> <...and I'll rant some more. The Kick-off folks are selective about who
> sells
> <warez and I'll bet it's a tight circle. My *fellow* low-life carpet
> baggers
> <target their customers when they are at their most enthusiastic. Really,
> <what better moment to get your product under a hikers nose than on the
> <*first day* of a 2,650 mile hike. Serendipitous? Of course not, strategic
> <product placement. But of course, such a concept has never been uttered by
> <those that ply their warez at the KO.
>
> Okay Scott!
>
> Whew, at first I thought I was merely getting into a peeing match with a
> skunk, but actually this is turning into a valuable ... teachable moment!
>  You, dear fellow, are about to learn something!  I have been to five of the
> last seven Kickoffs, and that is five more than you ever have.  So I
> actually know something, unlike ... ahem ... you.
>
> It is an extremely rare hiker who shows up at the trailhead, let along the
> Kickoff, on the FIRST day of a 2,650 mile hike with no equipment.  Maybe
> it's happened but ... if it did, then thank heaven the KO vendors are there,
> right?  Not all hikers arrive on their *first day*, either ... many have
> started early and gotten rides back to the KO after being on the trail for
> one or more weeks.  So none of them have "warez" (try spellchecker, honey)
> gotten under their noses on their *first* day.  However ... any thruhiker
> who has already purchased gear from one of those extraordinary vendors who
> is having any difficulty with it can get it fixed, exchanged, or whatever it
> takes to set it right.  This is a great service to thruhikers. Yes indeed, I
> imagine the KO folks are selective about their vendors.  There aren't very
> many there and the ones that are are very special people (the KO isn't a
> #$&^@* swap meet for heavens sake, it's an educational program and the
> vendors, while impor
>  tant, are just a small part of what goes on).
>
> You might be surprised to know that thruhikers are outnumbered at the KO by
> organizers, volunteers, vendors, Forest Service and National Park folks,
> PCTA folks, section hikers, past year hikers, future year hikers, family,
> friends and assorted well-wishers ... all focused on helping the current
> thruhikers get off to a good start.  The vendors actually spend a great deal
> of their energy getting their "warez" under the noses of next year's hikers
> and any year's section hikers who are not on the first day of their hike ...
> and it is a genuine service to all of these people to actually see the
> specialized lightweight equipment made by the good folks at Gossamer Gear,
> Six Moon Designs, ULA, Henry Shires and others ... learning about it, trying
> it on, comparing, etc., and also meeting hikers there who are using, or have
> in the past used, various of these shelters and backpacks, etc.  Hikers get
> lots of information, advice, and face time with the designers, whether they
> buy or not.
>  It's a genuinely valuable learning experience that works both ways.  The
> vendors get good feedback from their products' users that helps them refine
> their designs.
>
> I am a section hiker ... over the past seven years I've completed 1300
> miles. It's been extremely helpful to be able to see the equipment that I've
> been reading about online, to help me choose what will work for me.  I've
> used a Shires TarpTent (when hiking with my husband), and also a Gossamer
> Gear SpinnShelter for solo backpacking, and it's so much better to see it
> and touch it and try it and talk with the makers, than to just blindly pluck
> it off the internet.  I'm proud to have supported these guys by making my
> purchases, because they have totally supported me with excellent products
> and service.  I am just in awe of them and their accomplishments.
>
> I have to admit it majorly gripes me to hear you sneer at these guys the
> way you do in your cheesy "Thru-Wallet" story.  You contribute what you do,
> and they contribute what they do.  Why do you have to make such a nasty
> stink?  ARE YOU JEALOUS OF THE ATTENTION THEY GET????   You too provide
> valuable services to hikers ... no one disputes that ... but then you
> tarnish everything you do with this danged attitude of yours, especially
> about something you know nothing about.  What in the world would really make
> you happy?  For all the trail angels, water cachers, equipment makers,
> guidebook writers, KO organizers, and various assorted hikers' wellwishers,
> to just vaporize so only YOU are left to be the Grand Pooh Bah of the PCT?
>  Get ... a ... danged ... life ... willya?
>
> Happy Trails,
>
> Two Legs
>
>
>
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