Unveiling the Lore of Long-Distance Backpackers
Delve into the unique culture and folklore of long-distance backpackers, a group of hikers who embark on extended journeys with only what they carry on their backs. Explore verbal and material lore, legends like the Murder Shelter, customary practices, and hiker slang that form a rich tapestry of traditions and shared experiences among these outdoor enthusiasts.
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Long-Distance Backpackers Russ 13 Brittany Champagne, Colton French, Justin Fowler, Kyu Kim, Andrew Ogren
Background The group, long distance backpackers, include hikers that live off what is in their pack and spend the majority of their time hiking for an extended period of time. They often include people called thru-hikers, or backpackers that attempt to complete the entire trail over a year-long period, but can include any group of people who backpack in the outdoors. We collected items of folklore such as jokes, games, symbols, beliefs, traditions, and food recipes. Backpackers spend a lot of time hiking and camping together, which leads to a development of their own culture and folklore. In addition, knowledge gets passed down from hiker to hiker, before and throughout the journey by word of mouth, internet forums and writing. Over time, a wealth of information, traditions, culture, and inside jokes have been formed.
Informants John T. Brady - Dartmouth Student 19 David Hague - Dartmouth Student 21 Scott Bohn - Dartmouth Student 18 Katie Harris - Dartmouth Student 19 Stephanie Everett - Dartmouth Student 19 Kyu Kim - Dartmouth Student 18 Ben Ferguson - Dartmouth Student 15 (Works at the Lodge)
Collected Folklore: Verbal Lore: Verbal Lore: Material Lore: Jetboil Shelter Logs Ramen Burrito Recipe Crampons Myth of the Murder Shelter Trail names Elevation Profiles Hiker Description Slang Customary Lore: Customary Lore: Garden Gnome Superstition of Missing Parts of the trail Trail Magic / Trail Angels Contact Game Food Foraging
Legend: The Murder Shelter I was hiking alone one dreary day in Virginia. My goal for that night was to make it to a hostel, a place to stay right along the trail, and I had heard good things about it. I was soaked with rain, I was tired, I was exhausted. I grabbed the shelter log book, which keeps track of other people who have passed through the shelter. All of the comments in the book said, Welcome to the Murder Shelter. Maybe if it had been a bright sunny day and I was hiking with other people I would have spent the night there, but alone on a dreary day I was definitely not going to stay there. Being alone while hiking, I was not interested in being murdered by the ghost of this guy, or by a copycat killer. - John T. Brady 19
Common Hiker Slang Nobo Sobo Flip-Flop PUDs White, Blue, or Yellow Blazing
Trail Names: (Nicknames) Mainly a nickname given to you; occasionally can self-assigned Biscuit - warm, buttery and American Chai(nsmokers) - loved the artist, went to a bowling alley, name got cut off Gargoyle - ran in front of the group and perched on a rock, when the group caught up to him he looked like a gargoyle
Bismark: Legend Well-known hiker on the AT (legend in the hiking world) 2 types of ppl: looking for something, running away from something - Kyu Later discovered his name was James Hammes Was Under FBI investigation Burning Down of his own home (w/ wife inside) Ultimately accused of embezzling over $8 million
Creation Myth: Land of the Giants Jotunheimen National Park, Norway the 'Land of the Giants' How the mountains were formed is based on mythology. The giants and giantesses in Norse mythology are rumoured to be the creators of the mountains. The giants roamed the Earth and it was said that their craters created the mountains that we climb at the National Park. I remember one of the numerous giants associated with this creation was named Ymir.
Proverb: The trail provides Used to describe form of trail karma Gifts come to you in ways and forms you would least expect Examples: Foot hurts: instead of foot ceasing to hurt, you could find a walking stick Lost tent stakes: find extra tent stakes at next shelter
Joke: Leave no trees Leave no trace - a motto used by hikers and backpackers to preserve the natural beauty of the outdoors, and to leave a place as you found it Leave no trees- a joke used by trail maintainers, employs a pun of the above phrase
Trail Magic/Trail Angels Trail Angels are identified as individuals, usually at an area of high traffic, that provide gear or support to hikers passing bye Often retirees or people who live close to the trail There was this guy in NH who had propane tanks and a kitchen set up to make omelettes for hikers. He goes through about 90 dozens eggs at the height of the summer when many people are passing by. Someone who provides a sense of relief to hikers that tend to be exhausted
Rituals: The Priest Shelter Priest Shelter Video .mov David Hague 21
Food Foraging (Food Recipes) Violet Petals - PBJ & Violet Petals Wild Leeks Mushrooms - alongside the trail Berries - blueberries, cherries, mulberries Also, Ramen Bombs
Equipment: Crampons Used especially during winter months to gain traction on ice. Wear gators with them Thick sleeves that go up to your knee to prevent crampons from tearing your pants Dangerous element Broken bones Winter/Early Spring
