Elitism in the Backpacking Community

[Firedog]

Good sumation Tim. Now lets go ramblin in the woods.

[dogwood]

I love having good gear, but can't always afford every new item that i see.  In fact, if i bought the most new and improved of everything, i'd be broke!
Having good, comfortable footwear, sleeping comfort(bag and pad), and shelter from the elements are my most important things for focus.  I love to talk gear with folks that i meet on the trail because of the wealth of knowledge received.  Talking down to someone, because of their gear choices only makes you look like a snob. 

[WolfVanZandt]

Frankly, I'm a Luddite so new technology doesn't really impress me much. I simply like something that works. If it works, I'm happy. I would like to learn how to make stone implements.....

[MoBill122]

I sort of like the way " Mags "  wrote his little spill on HMHDI or HIKE MY HIKE - DAMN IT !
You can find that on White Blaze somewhere...lol.

Can't believe I'd ever be called an " elitist ", being half my gear is from WallyWorld.... LOL 

A couple of weeks back I met two hiker's at Stover Shelter on the AT just north of Springer Mtn. 

Midnight.....  weighed in at Amicalola Falls with a 96lb pack, and I think he told me he was still still packing 67lbs at Stover.  I didn't say a thing, just shook my head... I figured he had been told by enough of the other hikers to lighten up.  I certainly didn't think it was my place to say much the next day, when he managed to keep up with me all day... I must really be SLOW !

Doc Holiday - Now, this guy was a completely different story.   Sizing him up... I wondered what he was doing out there on the AT.   He had on Ked high top tennis shoes, a 3-Man dome tent, a $20 NASCAR sleeping bag, wearing blue jeans...and a blue jean jacket.  It was 35-40 degrees that night.... he had a cold restless night... and really didn't need to tell us all, that he had froze all night !  I handed him a cup of coffee... looked him in the eye...and said "  Doc... you know, they say in two nights it will be in the low 20's, with snow up here in the Georgia Mountains "       His reply was " Thank you...  I just needed someone to help me make the decision to go home " I'm leaving if I can get a shuttle out of here "   He offered all his gear, etc...  but I honestly don't think he had anything the thru-hikers wanted .   He was even carrying CAN food !

 I think I did right and would do it again.  I just re-enforced what the man was already thinking in his own head.... he was out of his comfort zone... and he needed to go. Was no need to give him a gear lecture or whatever... he had already lectured himself I suspect. 
 
  I look at the gear other people pull out and I mentally take note of items I will need to " trade-up " to in the future.   Don't think I've ever been around someone who down-graded what I carry in my pack...  its my 35lb load to bear, and I'd personally don't give a flip what they think.   I'll upgrade as I can afford to do it.... probably as long as I'm able to walk the trails.

  I'm not an AT thru-hiker.... but I've earned my first 500 miles a year hiking the trails all over AL & GA.  People like Gene Espy have my respect.....  not those showing up at Amicalola with $5000 worth of new gear. ( Especially the ones that throw that gear away before they get to Franklin  )

  Walk the walk, before you Talk the talk....   most who have walked a long trail, don't run their mouths... unless you ask them for help... then they will genuinely help you best they can.

  Just my rambling thoughts on the topic...

[Joshua Szulecki]

Walk the walk, before you Talk the talk....   most who have walked a long trail, don't run their mouths... unless you ask them for help... then they will genuinely help you best they can.

For the most part I would agree with that statement, with some qualifications. The "true-believer" hikers you meet out there, the ones who practically live on the trail, they meet your assesment 100% of the time. You know the ones I mean. The gods of the trails. The Jesus-bearded man who emerges from the mist type. The rest of the long-distance hiking community is lightly sprinkled with those who have travelled long distances, but it hasn't helped their personalities. Gear-snobs are not the only elistists in the hiking community. There are distance-snobs, difficulty-snobs, etc... I'd wager everyone has met at least ONE seasoned long-distance hiker who either is a distance-elitist who looks down on those who haven't racked up some tier of distance, or who looks down on dayhikers, through-hikers, weekenders, and other short-distance hikers. Usually, these people have underlying personality issues, so the behavior is to be expected, but still... I know several who fit the bill (nobody around here), including one who completed a full AT hike. No group of hikers is immune from the scourge of elistism.

That said... I think the sourge is worst with regards to backpacking, specifically because there is a gear element that is so much more emphasized in addition to the accomplisment element.

But then... We really are beating a dead horse here.