Quote Originally Posted by Gambit McCrae View Post
yes? I think you are trying to make a point that thru hikers contribute to sustaining business? Meh, I would debate that. I have never seen a thru hiker pay for a ride. Or buy gear from an outfitter(I understand that this does happen) but not enough that it keeps their doors open. Hostels - Yes, thru hikers pay for hostels when they do not do work for stay. But I would say that section hikers, used for semantics, are a much larger contributor of funds than the average thru hiker. After all, I would say that most thru hikers come TO the trail with a very large quantity of what they need, as in they are not buying new items to replace what they brought.....I digress...
Thread back on topic.
This is a silly virtue signalling debate. Thru-hikers are no more or no less virtuous/useful to society than, occasional hikers, section hikers, weekend hikers, or non hikers for that matter.

Try to be a decent human, according to your own standards, no matter where you are... or don't.