are backpackers' strange people??

“I am kind a luring around a couple more yahoo boards, and sure hope none of them is a member here on this board :) sorry if you are...

anyway, one of them is a female board, ya know all female talk. (you even get screened if you join)I don't post much there because they all seam to be hmm, well very strange. At least most of them.

Something that really started to tick me off: One of their comments was "when I saw your pic I though you don't look like a hiker"(NOT my pics, they where refering to someone else). It wasn't mentioned in a bad way, but I started to wonder. What do you all expect a backpacker/hiker has to look like? Makes no sense to me. Just because I dress fairly up-to-date when I am not hiking I am not worthy??

Just ain't getting it!!!”

“A rhetorical question, right?”

“Yes. Next question.”

“People tend to be overly clannish, as though they are the only true Chosen People. The rest of us can only scratch our heads and wonder what it must be like to breathe the rarified air they breathe and have the wondrous and vast intellect that permits them to be so discerning.”

“Isn't that funny?! Like there's a certain uniform or style a "backpacker" must wear.”

“you're talking to a freaking foreigner Violin. What in the heII means "rhetorical"? Can't find the darn dictoniary.... dam”

“A question that really doesn't need answering...it's just kinda known that backpackers are weird.”

“LOL. yeah, you're right, but then their is "weired" and "weired"...”

“Just in case your question isn't rhetorical, Gemini, I will tell you...a "rhetorical question" is one that is asked without expectation of an answer. Usually the question itself is intended to communicate some message, it is a form of rhetoric.”

“OK, so I am a little slow... :)”

“It's okay Gem. Your English is undoubtedly a lot better than our German.”

“Your answer was more acurate anyways Fritz. ;)”

“Dear Gemini,

Of course we are weird. Most folks I know, when talking about my choice in sport just don't get it. "Why not just walk around in your backyard," they say.

It's interesting that we backpackers are supposed to 'look' a certain way, but my guess is that the stereotypical backpacker is lean, tall, leans toward vegetarian meals, rides their bicycle a lot, takes pride in their backyard gardens, is an environmental activist.. etc.. etc..

I will say this. In regards to what a backpacker 'looks' like, or what 'sort of person' they are? I have found them to be some of the best people and good friends I have ever known in my life whatsoever.”

“I guess I wanted more of an reply why some backpackers think the way they think. So yes in a way it was a rhetorical question.”

“So does one have to first be weird in order to become a backpacker or does backpacking make you weird?”

“I know I don't look like a hiker. So what? :) Any way the bpers I have met are way cool. They seem to be the most down to earth (ok SOME are "spacy") and they generally care about fellow hikers.”

“i know, we need one of those hippie shirts that say, "Backpackers Are People Too." LOL!

i thought everyone WANTED to be weird...”

“Backpacking made me the ULTRAPecker I'am today.”

“That's wierd, i got the same thing, well not me, my friend... i showed smurf a picture of her and he said that she didn't look like a backpacker, but i guess it comes as a bonus, lol.

What does a backpacker look like? grungy, dirty, matted hair, sweaty... even off trail - or at least have that back woods look, ya can't just be a normal office worker to be a backpacker... right?”

“That is what I look like in the office Simer”

“lol - bad timing on that one then”

“i dye my hair fluorescent red and have an 11-month-old son who rides on my back for every hike i take - he even goes on backpacking trips. i wear hiking sandals, not boots. i KNOW that everybody i run into on the trails thinks i'm:

a) a freak
b) inexperienced
c) crazy

a SAR volunteer once told me "you know, with hair like that, i wouldn't think you were the outdoors type."

whatever. i kind of enjoy it. let 'em think what they want.”

“Perfect timing if you ask me ynamiynami.”

“four seconds... damn!”

“HA!!”

“LOL tarbubblebaby, it is refreshing to see someone who is really comfortable doing there own thing. Going backpacking is often a way to get away from all the critical people with their "everyone else is wrong" attitude.”

“You say that like it's a bad thing.....


"Normal", now thats WEIRD!”

“Lyndy! where the heck have you been?
:-)”

“Hi Toots! I've weaned myself off of my daily addiction to TT and just stop in occasionally when I'm not hiking, homerepairing or yardworking.”

“first coffee and now this? what the hell.
;-)”

“Except lately I've developed an addiction for CNN.”

“How the heck are you anywhey? Busy with the job and monkeys?”

“Hey Lyndy, we missed you! :)”

“Hi Twigeater! We had freezing winter and then suddenly it was late spring and we were outside constantly. Then it got cold again but today looks like we are warmer out. Lots of yardwork to do. Something big knocked over our woodpile so I have to restack it.”

“yeah, they're a real handful...but someone's gotta do it! so you actually know how to do your own home repairs, Lyndy? i'm jealous! i wish i could do stuff. our faucet's been dripping for weeks...we just turn it off underneath, LOL!!”

“I used to work at an EMS store. The managers would of course play music through the store. No problem there. However, usually it was reggae (sp?). I mentioned it to them and was told that all backpackers liked that. Huh? Customers sometimes would ask me to change the music because it annoyed them so much.

I think that most every backpackers are very laid back easy-going folks. Otherwise we are not stereotypical at all.”

“LMAO@ynamiynami. That was perfect timing.

mtnsteve: I have to agree on that one.

tarbubblebaby: Nothing wrong with pink hair. My daughter had them for a while. I think it's great that most of us don't give a dam(n) what everybody else thinks.

simer: you have to realize that this coment came from a backpacker. I understand that everybody else thinks we are weird, but a fellow backpacker?That really surprised me.

so far I met various types of people. I really never thought, gosh she/he doesn't look like a backpacker. Isnt' backpacking more a mental thing? (now don't start reading in between the lines, I did NOT say retardet!!!) AND YES, I KNOW I SPELT IT WRONG!!”

“When I meet other backpackers on the trail if they’re not carrying or wearing the right labels then their weird and not worth my time.”

“just thought about this: the OTHER board has a female section, did you ever check into this one? discussion about the word "sechsy" (spelt it wrong on purpose because I don't know if TT will edit) refering to hiking cloth. Now what's the big deal about that?

Dress in whatever you are comfortable. If you feel comfortable hanging your boobs out, more power to ya. It's kind a the same as the comment on the women's hiker forum. It all referes to on how you dress. Seams like it to me at least.”

“boobs hanging out?... what trail is THAT on?.. heh.. I need to plan a trip quickly!”

“Backpacking as a fashion statement.

I see models strutting it down a runway ...

Her pack perfectly complements her chiffon top and nylon shorts. It comes in fusia and taupe. The matching hiking boots are by Versace with laces by Dior.”

“Given the way I dress at work, and the fact that I have all my teeth, most of my co-workers have a hard time believing that I actually hike, let alone backpack.

By the way Gemini, I'm sorry but I have to ask, who is that woman in your Andrews Balt/Forney Creek album, (img06) with the ripped sleeping bag? She makes my knees go weak.”

“MadRiver, she is married :) It's a friend of mine.

Towndawg, I would like to watch your face if you would hike with one of the women of this specific female forum when they wear skirts and no undies while hiking!! ( I am just reading their board)”

“I imagine his face would have a really big smile on it ;o)”

“lol.. I'd be like one of those dogs chasing the '#&%!$ in heat'.”

“It would make getting up a hill much easier if those women were a few paces in front ;o)”

“i know I am getting in trouble if someone from "that" board will read this thread. Oh well....you all on my side to back me up right??”

“Yes, Gemini started this thread! Check it out!

(See Gem, I backed you up!)”

“i knew I would get this exact answer, just never thought it would come from you geo...sad, sad, sad. :(”