Well, he'll hate this at first, but as social as he is I expect he'll get into it over the long haul.
My 2002 Long Trail hiking partner Clyde Dodge is tackling the AT again, after sliding down a little mountain called Katahdin on his 2006 start, and walking 10 miles to Abol Bridge on a broken leg.
I wanted a place for friends to gather and give him a hard time about his hike. He's on this forum as "rcli4," is cranky as hell, STUBborn, funny, loyal, tells a good story and will be walking south (South? I mean, SOUTH?
) on June 4, after a kind shuttle from Teej of White Blaze.
Re: Maine in early June: They tell me what the black flies don't pick apart, the skeeters will. Luckily, Clyde can bathe his scarred hide in those icy-cold, chest-deep, snow-runoff, spring-melted fords in the 100-Mile Wilderness. For relief, you know.
I don't know whether Clyde will choose his trail name (He has been "MAF Man" and "Right Turn Clyde" on previous hikes), or whether he will let one find him (note to new name: stay upwind).
As I see it, Clyde's Achilles heel (in hiking terms only) is his homesickness. He dearly loves his family, and his two grand babies think he hung the moon. His daughter will be flying in to the Long Trail Festival to be sure the kids get some quality time with Grand Dad. (Note to Clyde: Shower) (Note to kids: stay upwind).
However, he assures me his wife Sandy informed him that he could not come home until he's walked to Springer. "She's tired of hearing me talk about it," he says.
In any case, if you see my Long Trail partner anywhere along the way, extend a hand (and stay upwind).
Happy Trails, Clyde! Have the best hike that ever was.