[pct-l] Vagrancy Issues, calve muscles & combat boots

[nitnoid1]

I can attest to going Reinhold's going UL to the extreme. My son and I saw him at Soldier Lake in the summer of 2007, i think, with a homemade pack that appeared to be more fanny pack than backpack. My sleeping bag would have trouble fitting in his UL pack. He was on his way to Whitney via the mountaineers route. 

The Incredible Bulk




On Nov 28, 2012, at 11:20 AM, Reinhold Metzger <reinholdmetzger at cox.net> wrote:

> [pct-l] Night Hiking in the Mojave / Vagrancy Issues
> 
> Joan,
> What you saw was a "HEAVY TRUCKER."
> Heavy Truckers are "Old School" and are known to carry oversize,
> heavy packs to be prepared for anything they may or can reasonable
> expect to encounter on the trail.
> When I hike with my wife or the Scouts, I am a "Heavy Trucker" because
> I want to be prepared for anything I can reasonably expect to encounter
> on the trail...in other words, I don't take any chances when hiking with
> my wife or the Scouts.
> However, on my "solo" JMT "fast-packs" I am willing to take chances and
> go "UL" to the extreme.
> 
> And yes, I do look like a filthy, scroungy rat on those fast packs and
> could very easy be mistaken for a "hobo" or "homeless"
> 
> Now "SWITCHBACK",...you could never mistake for a "hobo" or "homeless."
> Switchbacks wears the finest and most fashionable garments available.
> I mean Switchback looks like he just stepped out of a fashion clothing
> store, all perfumed up and spick & span clean.
> BTW....Switchback also does not have that malnourished look....he appears
> to be well nourished.
> 
> Say Joan,....Would you pick me up if you saw me, all grubby and scuzzy
> looking, but with well developed calve muscles?
> 
> Seems like the girls are very fond of calve muscles.
> 
> So, if you guys want to increase your chances of getting a ride from a girl
> that fancie calve muscles,...."wear combat boots."
> Nothing turns women on like "hairy legs in combat boots"....especially if
> you have well developed calve muscles.
> 
> JMT Reinhold
> Your hairy legged trail companion in combat boots
> ---------------------------------
> Joan wrote:
> I once drove by an FT thru hiker thinking he must be homeless because
> his gear was so oversized and shabby.
> Then I saw the muscles in his
> calves and turned around and picked him up.
> Just one more way to differentiate the homeless from hiker trash.
> (In all fairness, his pack weighed more than 60 lbs.)
> 
> Joan
> -------------------------------------
> Reinhold wrote;
> Yes,
> It is very difficult to tell "hiker-trash" from a "hobo" or "homeless."
> I mean, let's face it, what is the difference between sleeping on the
> trail somewhere for 5-6 month or sleeping in an alley somewhere?
> Not much,.......except you will never see a self respecting "hobo" or
> homeless" wear "Gortex".
> Another way you can tell a "hobo" or "homeless" from "hiker-trash"  is
> cleanliness.
> Homeless seem to be much cleaner.
> Homeless" also seem to look less malnourished and don't have that wild,
> deranged,far away look in their eyes, like "hiker-trash" does.
> So you see, unless you know what to look for,it is very difficult to tell
> a "hobo" or homeless" from hiker trash...they are the same breed of cats.
> One prowls around in alleys,.... the other prowls around on trails.
> 
> JMT Reinhold
> Your JMT prowling alley cat
> -------------------------------------------
>  BF wrote:
> ....have any of you PCT thru hikers ever had any //problems with being
> confused being homeless during your travels on and off //the trail? /
> ---------------------------------
> Radar wrote:
> I was viewed as a 'hobo' by the driver who picked me up outside Mojave
> on that same trip.
> Some people don't seem to even comprehend what backpacking is never
> mind the more esoteric experience of long-distance hiking.
> Radar
> 
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