Media exposure and nature

[tednottodd]

I'm wondering if it's possible to discuss the affects of increased exposure of hiking and nature activities because of movies like "WILD" and whether this particular movie will have a positive, negative or no affect on the PCT and hiking in general. If the moderator feels this is inappropriate, or will be too much of a hot button topic I understand. I'm really interested in others thoughts though. I would hope that the discussion does not center around the merits of the movie or the book, I'm really more interested in the increased exposure aspect.

[tednottodd]

My personal feeling is that it will have a short term increase in the numbers of people on the trail, but that the over all winner will be REI in sales of gear. I would not however increase my long term purchasing if I were them, because I think after the initial surge in participation, I think the general upswing will level off like gym memberships in March.

[adamschneider]

So what you're saying is, the REI used gear sale could be pretty sweet in the near future.

[Charley]

My trail trips in the last year have been marked by a noticeable increase in the number of solo female hikers, as well as an increase in the number of majority female parties and entirely female parties. On the PCT several times this year, I saw lots of women!

Overall I think this is a BIG positive. I wasn't a fan of the book. I thought I was getting a book about the PCT; instead I got another feelings-oriented memoir about someone I don't know who had a life that doesn't really intersect with my interests or values. That said, I think that the greater the number of women on the trail is a great win for the environment. The more people out there enjoying the woods, mountains, and deserts, the better protected those lands are.

These things do go in waves. I remember my grandparents really got into backpacking in the 70's (they live in the Southern Appalachians near the AT). They went on a number of trips and then just stopped completely. They still remember the trips, though, and it informs their own environmentalism.

In short, "Welcome to all the new hikers!" My personal journey into the mountains may be very different form Ms. Strayed's, but hers is no less valid, and, over the long run, she's probably inspired more budding outdoorspeople/environmentalists than I ever could.

[vibramhead]

I thought I was getting a book about the PCT;

If you want to read a great book about hiking the PCT, I heartily recommend The Cactus Eaters, by Dan White. It's the story of a young couple with almost no hiking experience who set off on a PCT thru-hike together. It's part comedy of errors, part love story, and part adventure. A really good read.

I actually enjoyed Wild as well, and I agree that it's a great thing if the book encourages more women to try hiking solo. I think the number of backpackers out there is waning, and with that decline I fear that public support for wild places will drop.

[justpeachy]

I think the number of backpackers out there is waning, and with that decline I fear that public support for wild places will drop.

I don't necessarily think that backpacker numbers are declining, I just think that backpackers are consolidating themselves at a few popular places that are not too difficult to get to. People have a lot of demands on their time, and Americans don't get that much vacation time, so people who only go backpacking once or twice a year all end up going to the same easy/beautiful/popular spots. I have no facts to back this up; it's just from my own personal observations.

I agree that any increase in general hikers or PCT hikers as a result of the book/movie will die back. Sure, some of the people who took up hiking because of the book will stick with it, but I think most won't.

[drm]

and with that decline I fear that public support for wild places will drop.

I saw a presentation last year by somebody who had done a lot of surveying and found that the attitude that the public needs to use and visit the wilderness to support it to be wrong. Lots of people who never leave the city nonetheless supported wilderness with statement like (paraphrasing) "I just feel good that it is there" or because they want to support habitat for wildlife (which they had no intention of hunting). It may have been true 75 or 100 years ago when conservation was just getting started, but the culture has shifted.

[Stefrobrts]

I don't know about the movie will portray, but reading her descriptions of what all the hiking did to her body and her feet did not make me want to run out and do a through hike However, it was nice for a change to read a story where a woman goes on an adventure and only has one scary incident and a whole lot of good experiences. So often, as a woman, primarily what I hear is 'don't go anywhere alone' and the last thing anyone would encourage you to do is go hiking or even walking by yourself. Frankly I'm sick of it. I don't always have a male around to escort me. My husband is not particularly into hiking or outdoors stuff. I regularly walk with my dogs, and it was really nice to read a story of a woman going on a long adventure alone.

Like the others, I think this might encourage a few more women to strike out on their own, but I doubt many who are inspired by the movie will stick with it long term. After all, this was not an ode to the beauty and wonders of the wilderness, but a story of a personal journey for a woman who needed a major reset to her life and happened to find it in the woods.

[forestkeeper]

A buddy of mine told me about the book 'Wild', that it's a good read. For the last ten to twenty years, I've had the plan to hike the whole PCT before I die. And this summer I've gotten to the ten to twelve mile limit every weekend. But I need to get to the twenty or thirty miles a day limit, don't I? I will have to be a Sean, Eric or Mayhem (among others) to be where I need to get to.But the majority of the thru hikers I see are in their teens and twenties. I think theradpotato (Joe) must be in his early thirties, whom nearly finished the PCT. I'm 49. I'm nearly max'd out on my vacation time (I get four weeks paid every year). I will need all summer long, right?

[-Q-]

My trail trips in the last year have been marked by a noticeable increase in the number of solo female hikers, as well as an increase in the number of majority female parties and entirely female parties. On the PCT several times this year, I saw lots of women!

Same here. I saw a ton of solo female hikers on the PCT this year. So many that I took notice and wondered whats up. Forgot about this movie & its trickle down effect.