Wingfoot

“WD brutha what an intro, LOL! Dayum whayer on urth do I begin?? First I wanna say hiya to Ginny, a fellow thru-hiker, did ya ever meet Wingfoot? Za matter of fact, I thank '92 was WF's last year doing a full thru-hike, if even he completed it that year. Up to then he'd done it 7 times, so mebbe '92 twern't a full thru-hike year for him. Ginny what's waitin' on him in Atlanta? Interesting..... I gots me an idear, but I ain't saying here, hehe.

TownDawg, ya got a great man to admire, that's for sure! Yaknow one beer ain't gonna do this ....

be right back...”

“Un K .. gots me anudder Carony! TownDawg I spent a cupla rest days with him in Damascus directly after Trail Days on my '92 thru-hike. (OH! Before I forget, his book and the maps ARE INDEED all you'll need for hiking any or all of the AT.) Trail Days is THE prominent AT celebration every year. It happens in Damascus VA about the time many thru-hikers are coming thru, and many others hitch up to or down to the 3 day festival, then hitch back to their hike-point afterwards ... blablabla. Anyhow, I was about 3 days behind actually hitting the festival, and unlike my thru-hiking friends, decided not to hitch past 50 miles or so trail. (Them sukku's didn't even return to their leave point, but each to his/her own hike, eh?) Wingfoot had a very big shindig those 3 days of course, and took a cupla rest days that happened to coincide wit mine. So we budded together them 2 days right swell. He signed my '91 AT Handbook, which of course got my rox off! If any of you don't know who this man is, in the AT world, he IS A GOD. He took me to the tiny townhall and showed me some original doc's of Benton MacKay's .... supercool. And then to a Five&Dimer or antique kinda store, I cain't member now, and pulled out a wooden showcase box that held an actual pair of Gramma Gatewood's old-style basketball shoes that she'd used on one'a her 3 hikes back in the 60's ... of course TownDawg I bout screamed in all my elation. And if all that twern't enough, he gave me a pair of boots that I used on my last 700 miles of my thru-hike that year, and climbed Katahdin in! They were lightweight Hi-Tec KingsPeak's. I got pix to prove ever dang bit of this too, hehehe. He needed to do something Wednesday after Trail Days, but I needed to git goin', so we parted and ... that wuz that.

Now some facts for ya TownDawg. Not to bust your bubble here, but you ain't the press, so don't email'em, and don't call'em. DO however feel free to stop in and get your book signed, nuthin' would please him more. About everything I've seen on the thread thus far is accurate. Nig is correct ... he got a big head! But I shore don't blame him. And over all, he is a serious character about the AT. Naturally, the man's so full of stories it's amazing, and he tells them with great zeal, easily he could be an adventure/comic writer if he so chose. TownDawg he most certainly will have a beer, or pitcher, and dinner with you, if he can. I'd suggest you buy, he does deserve it.

Some of yuns' wanna know his ability to do what he does ... well Mr Wingfoot is the original patent holder for Thor-Lo socks. I don't know if the many diffit kinds of Thor-Lo's are his, but the first one is, and the royalties do fill his pockets. He's friendly but pretty direct, do take his advice and don't challenge it, the AT is his passion. But if he takes to you, he really takes to you. Wonderful compny! He is very, very, very experienced at backpacking, and don't really take kindly to differing opines; I concure with what's been stated here previously, hehehe. Last point, hmmmm, I don't have many desires to get my arse sued right off my tiny bod .... so I'll put it mildly, and let it be at that. He lives an alternative lifestyle. Now, altho I'm a Suthun Boy, I feel as long as it don't affect me, or hurt others, I don't really give a flip.

Wingfoot most certainly has my greatest respect for his achievements for the AT. He single-handedly has done more for the AT than Benton MacKay, Myron Avory, Gramma Gatewood, or any ten other ppl you wish to list! I hope the PCT can find it's very own Dan "Wingfoot" Bruce one day!

TownDawg, ya needs to e me your tele and tell me how to put up a pic or 2 here on the thread. I've more'n I know whut to do with, hehe. I'll give ya a hollar.

Oh yeah, WF ain't too keen on Wingnut.”