I had a great night sleep and woke up feeling ready to go. I was happy I had put up my tarp as there had been a few drops of rain during the night. It wasn’t enough to make anything wet. But, if the tarp wasn’t up I wouldn’t have slept well wondering if a heavy rain was coming.
It was a mostly cloudy and windy sort of day. There were no views really. Just a “normal” day out here I guess.
Again I passed a bunch of northbound hikers. I asked a couple their start dates and they were both at the very end of March.
Only one guy stands out in my mind. And it was because I’m not usually a fan of super needy people. I haven’t encountered too many of these out here. But because today was such a normal kind of day, this interaction stands out. So allow me to share the stories of a few needy hikers I have met along this 1600-mile way. There have been others. But, if they are polite and skilled at getting their needs met, I love to chat and help however I can.
The first I can remember was in New Hampshire. This guy was a NOBO and we said hello on the trail. It was getting late in the day and he asked me if I had seen any tent sites up on the mountain I had just come down. I thought for a second and told him “no,” I had not. The plants along the trail had been dense and scruffy with no good tent sites in the past few miles. And I told him that.
“Are you sure?” he asked and looked at me skeptically. I told him again I didn’t think so. I hadn’t noticed any good tent spots recently.
“Well, how about places to pitch my tent ON the trail itself?” He seemed confident there was something and I just wasn’t trying hard enough. I told him by my memory the trail seemed rocky and muddy with no open flat spots that I noticed. Again he started to ask a variation of the same question but I stopped him. “I didn’t notice anything, but I wasn’t really looking for that. I’m sure you’ll find something, even if it’s not perfect.” Then I turned and left before he could press me further.
Just yesterday I met a section hiker with a similar question. And, don’t get me wrong: we ask each other all the time for needed information about the trail ahead. But, my needy friend asks like this: “Were there any good tent spots at Davis (such and such) Campsite?” I had no idea what campsite this was. “I’m not sure. Where is that?”
“Well, you passed right by it. It was the one with a ruined shelter.”
Me: “Hmm, I didn’t see a ruined shelter. I’m not sure which site that is, but there are lots of good places to camp coming up.”
“You didn’t? (Disbelief) Well you passed it. And I just want to know about that one because it’s the one I was planning to go to.”
Me: Hold on, let me check the Guthook App (trail guide). What was the place called?
“Oh I have Guthook’s. I know what it says but I just wanted to know from you since you passed it.”
At this point, this line of questioning has gone several exchanges beyond the norm. This guy needs a tour guide and I’m just not doing a good enough job at it. And we just met, in passing, a few seconds ago. All I can say is “sorry, I can’t help you with that one.”
Usually we want to know:
- how are the water sources up ahead?
- did you notice any good “stealth” (unofficial camp) sites recently?
- resupply (food) options up ahead?
These are the top three questions for people coming the opposite direction. And if they don’t know, they don’t know. You can just ask the next hiker. Maybe they will know.
So, back to today. Needy hiker story #3 crossed paths with me today and was sort of blocking the trail so it was harder to escape. Keep in mind this was a full-on adult. Older than me, I think.
Me: hi, how’s it going?
Hiker: hey man, how far is it to Marion from here by car?
Me: blank look (I’m standing on the Appalachian Trail, nowhere near a road)
Me: um, Marion by car?
Hiker: yeah. How far is it?
Me: I have no idea
Hiker: you don’t know? Marion? Virginia? How far to there by car?
Me: I really don’t know
Hiker: Really? It’s like the next town up from here
Me: I uh. Well, I’ve been hiking like 300 miles and I don’t know how to get there by car. But you can get there from the Partnership Shelter. There is a city shuttle that runs like three times a day.
Hiker: oh, I thought you were a local
Me: blank look (what gave you that idea?)
Hiker: cause I just need a zero day and I want to get there faster
Me: well, the shuttle’s not that far away. I just left that spot this morning. You could be there tomorrow.
Hiker: I know where to get the shuttle. I have Guthook. But I just want to get there sooner. I have hiked like 18 miles today over these rocks and everything. That is a LONG day.
Me: yes, that’s a long day. If you’re getting burned out maybe just dial the miles down a bit. Take it easy for a couple days then take the shuttle to Marion. That’s the easiest way out.
Hiker: I just wanted a faster exit. I need to know how to get there by car from one of these cross roads.
Me: oh you have a car?
Hiker: no, I just want to get there faster than the shuttle. I need a zero day.
Me: ok. Well, good luck
I honestly don’t know how these people will make it. Firstly, these are not in any way emergency situations. And secondly, none of them were charming enough to pull off this type of neediness successfully. They either need to up their charm level significantly, or do what most people do: use the guide and map to do their own research. Then ask a polite question on trail to help fill in the blanks.
Ok, thanks for listening to (or reading) that little rant. It truly was a very good, normal kind of day.
