The thread started by 351 Winchester "Stranger in the woods" got me thinking about things, and I just wanted to provide some food for thought here:
Last year from March 29 through October 6 I hiked the entire 2,178 mile Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine. Most of the trail requires that you have to walk or hitch-hike down a road that crosses the trail to get to a town for resupply.
Now, hitch-hiking is somewhat of an art form. You have to position yourself in an area where the car has both time to see you, and room to pull over. It's better to have your sunglasses off so they can see your eye's (makes most people feel safer, and in some cases guilty = better chance of getting a ride). I also carried a Buck Vanguard, that came off the outside of my bag and went into one of the side pockets. Sometimes on tough roads, pointing at the car and doing a little dance will actually make the person laugh and stop when they otherwise wouldn't.
Now, some people are used to seeing the hikers and will pick them up because they know exactly what they are trying to do. Some people will even insist that you come stay at their home to spend the night, take a shower, and feed you - it's unbelievable how generous some people are - it gets me misty thinking about it.
Remember, I would be in the woods for sometimes more than two weeks in between showers. I was a minority in that I was one of the thru-hikers that actually shaved which helped with appearance, but even then it would sometimes be two or three weeks in between, and my beard grows fast. I don't know how long you've ever gone without showering, but after a week or two when its really hot out, your sweat develops this vinegar/ cat urine stench that's really awful. It was also the wettest year on record in parts of the East Coast, so more often than not I had been walking in the rain for days, and thus also had to hitch hike in the rain.
All of this, and people still picked me up. There is no way I could have done the trail without them.
I will say to ALWAYS trust your instincts. I ran into my fair share of people on the trail, and in trail towns who were up to no good. I always positioned my self defensively with these people, and separated myself from them however I could.
However, appearance isn't everything, we must not forget our bond as Americans, and especially as human beings. In no way am I advocating naivety, or not trusting your instincts, but with a world that's increasingly less social, making a kind gesture can go a long way.
My hike was the single greatest experience in my 25 years of life. I created bonds with people (both hikers and people in towns) that will never break.
I guess I'm just trying to say that sometimes our taking a chance is what makes humans different from animals. Chance and risk are necessary to create relationships. A fully paranoid, close door world only perpetuates further hostility and fear.
Where I went:
What I looked like:
What I saw:
The people I would meet:
Sometimes I even got a hug!
Last year from March 29 through October 6 I hiked the entire 2,178 mile Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine. Most of the trail requires that you have to walk or hitch-hike down a road that crosses the trail to get to a town for resupply.
Now, hitch-hiking is somewhat of an art form. You have to position yourself in an area where the car has both time to see you, and room to pull over. It's better to have your sunglasses off so they can see your eye's (makes most people feel safer, and in some cases guilty = better chance of getting a ride). I also carried a Buck Vanguard, that came off the outside of my bag and went into one of the side pockets. Sometimes on tough roads, pointing at the car and doing a little dance will actually make the person laugh and stop when they otherwise wouldn't.
Now, some people are used to seeing the hikers and will pick them up because they know exactly what they are trying to do. Some people will even insist that you come stay at their home to spend the night, take a shower, and feed you - it's unbelievable how generous some people are - it gets me misty thinking about it.
Remember, I would be in the woods for sometimes more than two weeks in between showers. I was a minority in that I was one of the thru-hikers that actually shaved which helped with appearance, but even then it would sometimes be two or three weeks in between, and my beard grows fast. I don't know how long you've ever gone without showering, but after a week or two when its really hot out, your sweat develops this vinegar/ cat urine stench that's really awful. It was also the wettest year on record in parts of the East Coast, so more often than not I had been walking in the rain for days, and thus also had to hitch hike in the rain.
All of this, and people still picked me up. There is no way I could have done the trail without them.
I will say to ALWAYS trust your instincts. I ran into my fair share of people on the trail, and in trail towns who were up to no good. I always positioned my self defensively with these people, and separated myself from them however I could.
However, appearance isn't everything, we must not forget our bond as Americans, and especially as human beings. In no way am I advocating naivety, or not trusting your instincts, but with a world that's increasingly less social, making a kind gesture can go a long way.
My hike was the single greatest experience in my 25 years of life. I created bonds with people (both hikers and people in towns) that will never break.
I guess I'm just trying to say that sometimes our taking a chance is what makes humans different from animals. Chance and risk are necessary to create relationships. A fully paranoid, close door world only perpetuates further hostility and fear.
Where I went:
What I looked like:
What I saw:
The people I would meet:
Sometimes I even got a hug!
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