[pct-l] purity

[patch at aidshike.org (Dr. Patch O'Malley IV)]

Oh, I disagree, though there are always exceptions to the rule. For me, 
it wasn't always about hiking the entire PCT, every step of the way. I 
just didn't know if I was going to be a purist for hundreds upon 
hundreds of miles. Whenever the question of skipping trail came up I 
sided with taking the trail cause I couldn't decide if I would later 
care. Eventually, I just became a purist because I had been one for so 
long just to be safe.

People hiked with me for hundreds of miles without knowing that I was a 
purist, and I'd bet some people are surprised to read this now. There is 
a spectrum of purity, and the more vocal ones (ahem - greyhound) are 
always going to be the ones that set the reputation.

All that said, I do think the terms could use renovation. I'd rather not 
say I am a pure hiker - that part is BS. I'd rather have something less 
biased, like a "completionist" or "100%-ist" or something, though that 
would make everybody else a non-completionist...that doesn't 
work...maybe an "obsessivist?" No, that term doesn't really work either, 
cause not all "purists" are actually obsessed. Huh. Perhaps the best way 
to say it is, somebody who'd rather not skip trail along the way.

-patchers



Matt Geis wrote:

>I had to laugh at the idea that by the time a hiker
>hits Warner Springs, he or she will not yet know if
>they are  'pure.' 
>
>In my experience, 'pure' hikers know right away who
>they are.  Not only that, but they make sure every
>other hiker within three days walk knows as well. 
>Also, if you're unsure about it, there's probably some
>'pure' hiker nearby ready to tell you that you didn't
>hike the entire trail, thereby making you impure.
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
>http://mail.yahoo.com 
>_______________________________________________
>pct-l mailing list
>pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>unsubscribe or change options:
>http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
>  
>