tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post5063404760442880881..comments2023-10-10T04:18:23.631-04:00Comments on The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: Was Earl Shaffer the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail?SmokyMountainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288538940523306530noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-23155763914602742162011-07-28T10:26:53.577-04:002011-07-28T10:26:53.577-04:00Earl Shaffer is dead an unable to defend himself a...Earl Shaffer is dead an unable to defend himself against this attack. The Appalachian Trail in 1948, after the devastation of the storms from 1938 on and the difficulty of trail maintenance during WWII, was a very different trail than we know today. Earl Shaffer went around some sections, as he told the Appalachian Trail Council (ATC) in 1948 he did, when they recognized his through hike.<br /><br />The report, for whatever the motivation of its author, makes a case that Earl Shaffer accepted a couple of rides and actually skipped some walking even as alternative paths. That would be a disappointment to many, if it were true. With incomplete evidence and Earl not here to defend himself, there is no way the ATC will rescind its recognition of his through hike in 1948.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651656564842797172.post-9708785139963165082011-07-04T20:41:24.190-04:002011-07-04T20:41:24.190-04:00Earl Shaffer is The Man and I respect and admire w...Earl Shaffer is The Man and I respect and admire who he was, how he lived, and what he hiked. There's always those who try to change history and drag the great ones down. As a fan of his truly monumental work, "Walking With Spring" I will always hold Earl close and dear to my hiker's heart. <br />He certainly inspired me and thousands of other thru-hikers over the years. Let the man rest in peace!HometownHikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03507623571330364950noreply@blogger.com