How long have YOU been on TT?

“It occurred to me, after my recent re-introduction to TT, that in viewing the welcome replies, there weren't as many as I thought there might be... you know, not as many "old timers" as there once was... (See my recent thread seeking Mel)

I've been a member of TT now for, oh, about 8 years... I found myself here where TT, in its infancy, was my primary resource for information on backpacking - a new hobby/sport/adventure for me - regarding my plans to hike the JMT the following year. I met Mel online early on, and she was a huge source of information, guidance, advice, tips, you name it... she was an awesome help, and, through that initial foray into the unknown, we became friends... at least, we were "online" friends.

Through Mel, thebackpacker.com, and TT in particular, I learned a great deal about the people who possess a unique passion for this activity, and about myself. It was through them - the old timer's, if you will - that I gained the most, and, ultimately, have them all, each and every one, to thank for it. They showed me the greater path to a more enjoyable process, one which would remove as much as possible the burdens of inept and uninformed experience, and replaced it with sage and effective wisdom, as I learned the how's, why's, and all that other stuff about eating well, packing light, sleeping warm, and walking upright after 5 days of no TP...

I miss them.

These mentors, these guides to a better wilderness opportunity now seem but distant memories, and seem to have been replaced, at least in part, by like-minded comrades who seek their own opportunity to be heard, whatever their voice, and at times, overshadow those who still speak with the reverence of those who discovered TT in the beginning.

Still, TT has become a forum for more than just backpacking. TT has become a place to gather with friends of all makes and models, people who've found a common thread in their love for the outdoors, and for sharing it with others who they feel assured - and rightly so - that their thrills are welcomed with the glee of children on their first trip to Disneyland.

I can't say that I'll be here as much as much as I once was (credit Toby Keith for THAT one), but I'm back, and will be occasionally to sit in, listen, and, perhaps, greet a few old friends.

If you're one of them, post your HOWDY here, and let it be known, you're a TT veteran. That's likely a halo few others will be ble to wear!

Thanks! Great to see you all!!

MJ
last edited: 4/05/06 9:10:39 PM”

“I've been on TT now for two and a half years. I started out as nashville hiker and when I came aboard, I was a green hiker, just getting into the hobby. Through TT, I met many people and have gone on many hikes and have learned many, many things.

Nowadays, some of my best friends are TTers.”

“Veteran? maybe, not nearly as much as you.

I just passed my 4 year anniversary here.

I haven't posted nearly at all recently, but I still lurk nearly everyday, I have to click on trailtalk and see what's going on.”

“I've been around since 3/24/01

I do remember obi wan canoli and story's about the TT trips with Mel. I also seem to recall a couple of the other true old timers stopping by in the last couple months, but my memory fails me.

I've met some incredible people here, hope to meet some more. This is more than a backpacking site, it's more like the pub down the street where friends gather after work. You don't always agree with everyone, but they are always welcome.


last edited: 4/05/06 9:22:55 PM”

“Unlike other boards, Matt doesn't post information regarding the number of people logged on at any given moment (Which I prefer incidentally. I like the non-commitment of lurking surrepticiously). I suspect there are a lot of us, like Simer, who lurk but don't post, whether we be current regulars, oldtimers or newbies. I am just curious on any given day how many people log on. I bet the number is a lot higher than we might guess.





Oh....I did my first post in November or December of 2003, but I lurked for a few months before that.”

“I have been on for about 5 minutes tonight”

“Dose anyone still keep in contact with bpbaby? I haven't been able to get in touch with her for over a year.”

“9/13/99.... Hey Obi!!”

“Lets see, i was lurking for a while, then finally posted back in October of 2003. So, not really an old timer, but i do remember a lot of TTers from back then that no longer post.”

“Around 4.5 years or so for me - don't remember exactly.,,,”

“Since it's inception.”

“Since 6/5/99, before my first backpack trip in September of that year. Folks from here helped me choose gear and gather courage to do that first trip solo.

Thanks, TT!”

“I have no idea when I first started lurking and posting. A Long-time ago.”

“According to my profile, I signed up in June '01. I don't remember how long I lurked before or after then though. I can say that my best hiking trips have been TT trips though.”

“Hi Obi,

I lurked for quite a while, then joined in 4/23/99 and now I am back to lurking.”

“Yea, I can't remember. Sometime in 97 I think. My handle was Walking Stick at first.

Gentle Ben is a real blast from the past. Anybody remember "There's Something About Mary.....Jane" and good ole Wanda?”

“11/14/02”

“I joined on 12/9/01. There are quite a few people that posted then that no longer post. Most wouldn't recognize TT. It has changed a lot.”

“...this coming Sunday. I've made many good friends here. Some people stick around, others fade away...

One of the things I noticed seems to be the changing dynamic of the crowd. But I guess that's just the way things go. Unfortunately, we've also lost many a friend from TT because of some stupidity or sensless hostility or other.

Then again, people's lives change too, and some just don't have as much time to spend in front of the TT-loaded web-browser...”

“ahhhh... Gentle Ben and Wanda.

Memories...!!! LOL”

“Let me check..........Please hold..........”

“Let me check..........Please hold..........”

“Probably 4 years or more...don't remember. Too bad thebackpacker don't have a counter and a "join" date under the poster's name.

My first ever discussion on any thread/forum on the internet was here.....I think it was a dog or gun on the trail issue. :o)”

“My first post...
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/7509,-1.php

MtnSteve...I haven't heard from bpbaby in years. I still have the pack I bought from her.”

“Let me check..........Please hold..........”

“Love Those TT hiccups! Been here for 2yrs or so.”

“Thanks Wind Walker...we spent quite a bit of time emailing and talking on the phone. She talked about riding her motorcycle out west. Perhaps.....”

“2 or 3 years I think. Oh crap...make that 4 years in October!!!!
last edited: 4/05/06 11:03:36 PM”

“Apparently since 8-29-01.

I remember you, obi wan, from my early days here. Don't post much any more myself but have made friends here and have had some absolutely wonderful hikes with TT folks.

When I bought my tent from BPBaby, she was getting out of backpacking, can't remember, maybe she was getting a motorcycle? (Anyhow I still use that tent, and thankfully after a few years the cigarette smell was finally gone, lol!)”

“12/27/00”

“LMAO, Fritz, I too bought an old bpbaby tent. ;-) It smelled.... LOL. It's a Sierra Designs Nightwatch. Good tent, if a bit heavy.

AND... I bought her Jack Wolfskin pack, still using it today.”

“obi - Good to see you back. Our trip with Mel was certainly memorable and still gets discussed around the campfire (or camp stove).

Lot's of old timer lurk without posting much. Plus people sometimes change names and you may not recognize them.

I can't remember when I first found TT, but I started "Phil's Photo Page" in May 1998 and I had been around a while before that. I went on my first TT trip in March 1999...camping in Joshua Tree with Freedom and Stork.”

“I remember obi. I always thought that was a great handle to use.

1/22/01 , for me.


Why does Sarge say he's been here since TT's inception but his profile says 04? I guess he's trying to fuel the troll speculation some more.”

“Obi, great to see ya back around! Been here for just over 6 years.”

“I can not remember when I first posted, guess 98. I have used several names also. I miss some of the ol'timers. Mel was a hoot!”

“steppen - you retired yet?”

“welcome back obi, i remeber ya!
I was under another name but I started around 6/01
I only asked a few questions under that name.”

“I've only been here for a few weeks.

I don't hike.

I swim, bike and run. The swimming is quite difficult to do and keep my cigarette lit.

Cheers!”

“It will be 3 years for me in July.”

“about 1 month, can't believe I've been missing out on all this great info. Never used a computer much until I bought a laptop for my business. Hope to meet some fellow hikers soon”

“then I became ST in 2000.....”

“Wow, what a great and accurate description of TT obi! I'm a relative newbie to TT. I joined in July of '05, first as timecline, now thriftyhiker. I used this website for trip ideas and advise for about 6 months before I even discovered TT.”

“I found this place in the fall of '97 and posted a trail hike shortly after which dates it.

My first TT trip was early December '98 with Idiot Bob.

Tom Terrific was my original handle but after hiking with a guy whose real name is Tom, a couple of times, I changed to something closer to my real name.

My second TT trip was FYAO II(Jan '02) where I met Pennsy, AmyG, Dare, Adventurist and his lovely wife.

Since then I have met hundreds!

I must credit TT with getting me to The Adirondacks, I wish I lived closer.

I've been backpacking since May '73......I gotta dig up those pictures!

My kid used that same '73 down bag that I used then just a couple of weeks ago.
The old torture frame packs are long gone
and we now use more modern and lighter gear.”

“Hmmmm.. I've been here around 9-10 years??”

“my first trip was with 13 people that I had never ever met before. one being goretex (LMAO)”

“LOL your so old you dont remeber!”

“Hey Adventurist!!!

Hey hey, your name used to be like, Feenamint or something!!

Yo, Mafleleap!!”

“The reality is there is a lot of hateful name calling and bullying on here. There is a lot of religious bigotry as well. I think if you guys are going to give an assessment, you need to be honest. There is a lot of great things about trailtalk, but the name-calling and bigotry is out of hand. By the nature of the site, there is a lot of left-wing environmentalist and naturalistic beliefs on here as well which is great, except other opinions are often silenced. I love this site because there are some great people on here, but there are a lot of things that are just pure hateful that often ruin the fun.”

“I've been gracing your-all's presence for 5 years this June 15. Send presents.”

“Your presence has been a gift nearly as precious as your tales of barfin', lyra!”