Stormbringer's AT Betting Thread

“Odds of Stormbringer doing the entire AT: 100-1

Odds of Stormbringer getting past the Whites: 87-1

Odds of Stormbringer making it past Rocksylvania: 79-1

Odds of Stormbringer making it to Shenandoah National Park: 60-1

Odds of Stormbringer making it to Virginia: 50-1

Odds of Stormbringer getting to Smokies: 35-1

Odds of Stormbringer getting off Springer: 2-1”

“Don't be hatin'!”

“Geo - that's cold.”

“Besides, you forgot making it past the first major road crossing at Woody Gap.”

“Odds of Stormbringer (or the more familiar 2poops!) being on lizs' Yellow River State Forest hike April 2????

5-1”

“I'll have $10 on him getting to the smokies please. Them's pretty good odds.”

“I have faith in him... $200 that he gets off springer”

“Good point Y2. I'd like to put $50 on him getting to the smokies. Are you covering all bets, geo?”

“yeah - if we get enough cash staked then we can take turns to walk behind him with a cattle prod :o).

Personally I really hope he enjoys it however far he gets.”

“Odds of 2poops being back next week. 50/50”

“If the boy can make it to the trailhead, he'll be OK.
Gforce is with him, Gary will keep him in line for a bit.
Ol' 2poops has done Springer to Neels Gap a couple of times.
I think he'll go all the way.”

“Odds that 2poops car will move from TT household to trailhead to illegal backcountry campsite to TT household, etc, etc.

1:20”

“I'm not covering any bets, just posting odds.

Actually, those odds probably apply to virtually anybody who attempts a thru hike on the AT. It's not a dance through the park by any stretch.

If he makes it all the way, I'll be among the first to congratulate him.

I think if they make it past Virginia, the odds of making the entire trail increase dramatically.

If they make it through Rocksylvania, they're just about a lock.”

“be a nicer personage if he completes his mission...personally...I hope the trail kicks the $hit out of him, so that he'll be a better humanoid.”

“be a nicer personage if he completes his mission...personally...I hope the trail kicks the $hit out of him, so that he'll be a better humanoid.”

“Cool, this could add to my retirement! I'd like to wager $1,000 against on every category.”

“If he makes, all you naysayers should be forced to listen to "The Darkness" for a year straight.”

“"I believe in a thing called hikin' love,

2poops couldn't make it with a shove...."”

“you guys gotta give him the benefit of the doubt... he's been planning this for a while, he's not just going to give up after quitting his job and preparing for so long. i have faith in him... if not for the whole AT, than for a lot of it.”

“If he makes it, continuously, I'll never post here again.”

“Actually Scorchie, he got laid off and decided to hike it before finding another job. I for one am rootin' for the kid. A thru-hike is something I'd like to attempt. I'm not sure if I'd make it or not so I definately give props to anyone that tries and makes it a good distance.”

“Dub, he didn't get laid off. He took a buyout from his company.
Go on, take the money and run.....”

“Was my dream eons ago, doubt that I could do it now. Best to him.”

“Scott will make it, I know he will :) I am sending him surprises at every mail drop :)”

“Layoff, buyout, same thing except they pay people to volunteer to leave instead of just giving them the boot with no severence.”

“I had a lot more confidence before he mentioned that his longest hike was a 5 day quite a while back.

And didn't he also say somewhere that he wasn't starting at the beginning because he's already done the first part? Maybe not, I'm not going to look. Someone will correct me I'm sure.”

“if he accomplishes the goal. I wish him strength of heart and will. He shall be tested in many ways...the path shall not be easy. He will meet many people on the way, some of those people will be allies, others enemies...he must be wary.”

“either way, congrats to him. the people on here who are negative about him finishing, that's their opinion, but until i see you get off your butts and do it, don't criticize. he obviously has the motivation to start.. therefore that's step one.”

“Stormbringer is a pretty strong hiker. I hope he can go the distance but if he falls short I still give him lots of credit for giving it a shot.”

“exactly”

“I say this is a mean thread. Look at how many people posted that they wanted to do the AT at some time and didn't, at least he's trying. I have to admire that.”

“Most of the stuff on the thread is tongue-in-cheek, I think. At least my is. And NO, if you read this 2poops, that's not MY TONGUE in YOUR CHEEK! just to clarify...”

“tango, i agree”

“Best of luck to 2poops! I don't care what all you dorks say, you're all just jealous!

If he makes it through Rocksylvania, I'll buy him a new pair of boots!”

“He just wasn't hiking the Approach trail to Springer, he's hiking backwards for three or four miles to get the Springer Mt, the beginning. Then he's starting out, actually I think today is his first official day on the trip.

Hike on Stormbringer!”

“64 degrees and sunny on Springer right now. Good Luck, Stormbringer!”

“I figure if I'm betting against him, it would help him, it would certainly help me.

Good luck”

“It's not mean spirited at all. Hiking the entire AT is a real test of will and fortitude. Many more attempt than finish.

No, I have not attempted it, nor would I. I have hiked for periods of 10-days to two and a half weeks, and I know it becomes a mental and emotional drain after awhile.

It is true that even attempting it is commendable, and indeed that one can learn something about themselves if they attempt to do it and fail.

And I'm wishing Stormbringer no ill will. I posted encouragement on his thread, and hopefully will be able to join him for a day or so in Pa.

As I said earlier, those odds pretty much apply to anybody who attempts the trip.

Hiker burnout is a very real thing. After so many continuous days on the trail one gets tired of being dirty, sweaty, and eating bland food. One wants a soft, warm bed. One wants rest.

If he's foreseen these things and prepared for them by planning down time, then he has a shot at completing. If not, he's in for a rude awakening at some point, probably sooner rather than later.

I have doubts he's prepared for it, because he said his previous long hike was five days. Five days leaves a body wanting more. Two to three weeks is a more accurate gauge.

Also, Stormbringer said that after five days he was tired of being dirty. That is telling.

An AT through hike is not the idyllic lark some imagine. Yes, there are great days when you are one with nature. And there is grand scenery to be taken in.

There are also days when blisters have blisters, when muscle spasms in the middle of nowhere stop you cold, when the elements seem lined up against you, when you push on cursing things.

That's why completing a through hike is such a big deal. And that's the challenge that Stormbringer faces.

Wish him well? Of course. But it's a tough hike.”

“Totally agree with ya Geo.

Is 2scoops hiking solo (sorry, I'm not up on the latest Trailyak). The mental game of hiking solo can be even more powerful than the physical aspect. Even 2poops,.. er, StormBringer will be happy to see other people on the trail after a week by hisself!”

“There are so many people setting out from Springer in March that solitude becomes an abstract notion. They end up getting to know people who hike at their own pace that they either hike together for days on end or leapfrog back and forth.

Trail registers in shelters pretty much define the experience, and probably more reliable than people's recollections after the trip ends. There are humorous, and sometimes not very humorous tales recorded in those registers. All in all, if you have a good sense of humor, it stands you well.

Stormbringer does have a sense of humor.”

“Once again, agreed. But the herd thins out as you start getting farther north. And I would make a stretch and say it's different starting with a defined group versus meeting people along the way, whateveh!

Make it all the way to PA rocks and the boots are yours!!!”

“I would think one of the keys to completing a thru hike would be weather you can deal with yourself for long periods of time.
Scott is a strong hiker but I've seen him get pretty irritated just listening to someone else snore in a shelter. Not only can he deal with himself, but can he deal with other hikers cramped up in shelters night after night.

If I ever tried the AT and cut it short, it would probably pushed too hard instead of pacing myself and wore my body out.”

“Hey, I never hiked with 2scoops, but you gotta' love his ambition. I e-mailed him on trailjournals wishing him a safe, enjoyable hike. Wish we could all join him on his journey.”

“I hope he makes it.”

“Euw' cahn dew iht! Rob Schneider, Waterboy voice”

“...start rant...

I admire 2poops for even starting.
Scott and I have hiked the lower section of this trail together and I consider him a friend.

You few naysayers are just proving yourselves to being small, petty, jealous, a$$holes, with obvious inferiority feelings.

You few naysayers can kiss my hairy a$$.

...end rant...”

“Is he back already?”

“Guess that how some arsehole are! Talk about people when they are not around. Tiny Nuts, as well as minds. Get it! IMO! Yo bear!”

“Geo thanks for explaining your thoughts. I think if I were starting the hike (which I have no ambition to do) this thread no matter how tongue in cheek or meant to be funny would be hurtful to me whenever I read it. Just my feelings. I'm done.”