100 Hiker Challenge

[Taba]

I am a professional hiker with several long distance trails on my resume. I was the 13th hiker to finish the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in North Carolina last year. It was either last year or the year before that the Appalachian Trail finishers hit the 10,000 mark. I am challenging 100 of those hikers or any hiker to join me on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail this year. It is a wonderful alternative to the Appalachian Trail and about 42.8% of the total distance. Once you have done the AT what's next. Grab your backpack and come out with me. I will be hiking the MST both directions this time from May to November. It will take 3 months to go each way. I have written a thru-hiker's manual for the trail so I know the trail and know where to go in town. Hiking the MST is a different experience that everybody should enjoy.

Help me help the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. I would love to see at least 100 people out for this challenge.

Taba

[theinfamousj]

Can I count if I section hike it around my school breaks? What section do you recommend for a four day/three night trip?

[4eyedbuzzard]

What exactly is a professional hiker?

[Lilred]

What exactly is a professional hiker?

I want to be a professional hiker. Does it pay well?

[cupid]

I think that as long as you think you're good at hiking you are a "professional" hiker.

[Feral Bill]

I think that as long as you think you're good at hiking you are a "professional" hiker.

Nothing wrong with being talented, experienced, etc, but professional means paid.

[The Weasel]

I want to be a professional hiker. Does it pay well?

It's kind of like being an investment banker, without the perks.

TW

[TD55]

I want to be a professional hiker. Does it pay well?

Only if you have a job at it, like being a guide or testing gear, or doing something that pays you for hiking. For sure, the first requirment is probably being able to not ?alk in circles and get lost.

[Rentman]

Here ya got a guy wanting to promote an fairly untraveled Trail and all ya want to do is pick apart his meaning of "Professional", gotta love WhiteBlaze.........................

[OldStormcrow]

What exactly is a professional hiker?

Hmmmmm......much money in that? Perhaps I've been going about this all wrong.....

[4eyedbuzzard]

If you're selling a trail guide, seems to me that would more make you a professional writer, or an aspiring one. Nothing wrong with writing and selling a book or trail guide. When I hear someone describe themselves as a "Professional Hiker", though, it tends to bring to mind the following image...



Just FWIW...

[sheepdog]

If you're selling a trail guide, seems to me that would more make you a professional writer, or an aspiring one. Nothing wrong with writing and selling a book or trail guide. When I hear someone describe themselves as a "Professional Hiker", though, it tends to bring to mind the following image...



Just FWIW...

Hey is that Willma Flintstone in that pick i nick basket?

[Taba]

Can I count if I section hike it around my school breaks? What section do you recommend for a four day/three night trip?

Yes, you count. I was the only long-distance hiker on the trrail that I know of last year. Anybody who does any length of the trail counts. I would be happy to see 100 section hikers. At least people are seeing what a great journey the MST is. If you don't mind water crossings the Harper Creek is a beautiful area. You go from Ripshin Ridge to Beacon Heights. It's 25.87 miles and has great water and excellent camping.

Taba

[Lone Wolf]

I am a professional hiker with several long distance trails on my resume. I was the 13th hiker to finish the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in North Carolina last year. It was either last year or the year before that the Appalachian Trail finishers hit the 10,000 mark. I am challenging 100 of those hikers or any hiker to join me on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail this year. It is a wonderful alternative to the Appalachian Trail and about 42.8% of the total distance. Once you have done the AT what's next. Grab your backpack and come out with me. I will be hiking the MST both directions this time from May to November. It will take 3 months to go each way. I have written a thru-hiker's manual for the trail so I know the trail and know where to go in town. Hiking the MST is a different experience that everybody should enjoy.

Help me help the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. I would love to see at least 100 people out for this challenge.

Taba

what makes you a "professional" hiker? somebody pay you?

[Pokey2006]

And are they taking applications? Cuz I need a job...and I think I'd be pretty good at that professional hiker thing.

[Taba]

Ok I guess I should explain what I mean about being professional. Let's break the word down professional is someone who works a profession. A profession is an occupation. An occupation is something you do to occupy your time. Yes, professional does mean that you have to be good at it and have an impressive resume. I have chosen to occupy my time with light-weight long distance travel since 1988. I have ridden my bicycle over 40,000 miles and have hiked over 4,000 miles on long distance journeys through 36 states and have been to 49 of them. Every year I spend 4 to 10 months traveling somewhere, somehow. I have found a way to use my 20 years of experience to author the "Thru-Hiker's Manual for the Mountains-to-Sea of Trail North Carolina." I have sold a few copies already and with the help of a photo-journalist from the Raleigh News & Observer who created a documentary of my hike, we have helped to bring more attention to a relatively new trail.

"Thru-Hiker" means Goal Achiever. I don't get paid but I get rewarded. I could be the guy too tired from working in the factory to get out and enjoy any part of life. Too worried about paying the bills with the wife and 3 kids. I don't see myself doing that. I get stir crazy if I stay in one place for more than a month because I know there is something I would rather be doing somewhere else. I like to visit places and sometimes I will stop for a few months. I enjoyed Hawaii for 3 months at the end of my journeys of 2007. It is in my heritage to be nomadic. Since the early 1900's my family traveled with the Ringling Bros. as the trapeze performers called "The Flying Ward's." I became a Flying Ward when I learned how to skydive. I now have 75 jumps.

So to answer the question "What makes me a professional hiker?" By occupying over 3/4 of my time to hiking and working other jobs to pay for hiking and by trying to help others by writing books for them to follow that clear up any confusion for long distance trails, I think I am qualified to make that statement. If you don't like "Professional Hiker" how about "Professional Nomad." Either way my resume and the quality of my work is that of professional status. People retire after doing something for 20 years. I am just beginning. This is what I do to sustain my life and like I said I don't get paid but I get rewarded. Maybe someday I will find out how to get paid.

[Lone Wolf]

So to answer the question "What makes me a professional hiker?" By occupying over 3/4 of my time to hiking and working other jobs to pay for hiking and by trying to help others by writing books for them to follow that clear up any confusion for long distance trails, I think I am qualified to make that statement. If you don't like "Professional Hiker" how about "Professional Nomad." Either way my resume and the quality of my work is that of professional status. People retire after doing something for 20 years. I am just beginning. This is what I do to sustain my life and like I said I don't get paid but I get rewarded. Maybe someday I will find out how to get paid.

nope. nothing professional about walking with a pack. no training needed. it's just a recreational activity. you're a hobbyist is all

[jrwiesz]

...Yes, professional does mean that you have to be good at it and have an impressive resume...

I'm a registered nurse, I belong to a profession. I have a "license to practice"; it doesn't mean, I have to be any good at it, or have an impressive resume. Just sayin'.
Enjoy your work on exposing the MST to more fellow hikers.

[ColdFire]

lol this thread is still going? this forum should be renamed whiteflame.net

it's just too hard to wish the guy luck with his goal and be done with it? but noooo... pick a part every aspect of it from specifics to logistics to geographical accuracy and let the flames fly!!! LW maybe you didnt get close enough to death to really realize what a great new lease on life you have. why dont you get off your high horse and try to be a decent and helpful person and encourage ppl to help Taba out with his goal? and restless? totem? *** are you nubs thinking?

i saw a thread on here awhile back that someone said you people really need to get out more and quit being such pompus ass's on this forum. take the advice and do everyone here a favor.

now please all feel free to pick apart my grammar and punctuation and whatever else you want and prove my point right.

and btw good luck once again Taba

[dreamsoftrails]

If you don't like "Professional Hiker" how about "Professional Nomad." Either way my resume and the quality of my work is that of professional status. People retire after doing something for 20 years. I am just beginning. This is what I do to sustain my life and like I said I don't get paid but I get rewarded. Maybe someday I will find out how to get paid.

You need to become a professional raft guide. You will actually be getting paid while you enjoy something outdoors, and there are rafting venues all over this land, and all over the world for that matter. your mecca should be the zambezie in africa.