Jurek fined $500 for boozing on Katahdin

[Stuart .]

http://www.dailycamera.com/top-stories/ci_28782355/appalachian-trail-record-holder-pay-500-fine-maine I'm sure his sponsors paid the fine for him. I'd have thought community service, such as trail maintenance or litter patrol, would have been a more fitting way to set an example.

[Ken Thompson]

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=106531 http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=106553 Couple other threads floating around…

[Stuart .]

Yes Ken, I saw those threads before posting this one. I also read the article in NYT a couple of days ago but didn't recall it mentioning the fine. That was just published earlier today in Jurek's 'local' newspaper. I find it peculiar that the outcome was a relatively small financial penalty. And in doing so, the plea bargain was for the alcohol fine so that the littering and oversized group fines were dropped. What message does this send? I don't think this will change behaviour, and park officials will likely carry out their threat.

[Anonymous]

"I'm sure his sponsors paid the fine for him. I'd have thought community service, such as trail maintenance or litter patrol, would have been a more fitting way to set an example." Apply that same logic to the corporate execs at the top of the financial food chain, and you could transform this country overnight.

[Kevin Buggie]

Probably a just outcome, imho. The spraying around of champagne at the summit, as shown on the ny times article, seemed beyond any common acceptance of LNT. All other charges seemed suspect to me…. That said, I'm still a fan and use his UD run vest regularly

[Paul Magnanti]

at least IMO, I don't think it is so much Jurek as what Jurek may represent to others Something I wrote earlier http://www.pmags.com/champagne-gate-scott-jureks-at-fkt

[Kattt]

Good read Paul. My take….Meh. Of all the problems we have….

[Stuart .]

That is a good read, Paul. I missed it when you first posted, so thanks for bringing it to my attention. "… I don't think it is so much Jurek as what Jurek may represent to others…" That's what baffles me so much about this outcome, in the context of what was written in the NYT article. If BSP are truly serious with their threat to change the northern terminus of the AT, then why make the levied fine about the champers? If the real issue was the publicity machine surrounding Jurek, and the dreaded influx of copycats, why not use that very same machine to show the consequences of bad behaviour? The message sent is something like this: "$500 fine? Whatever. I'll take the risk." But had it been – say – 40 hours community service, travel at Jurek's own cost? That might have a bigger impact on those who are influenced by Jurek. Or maybe it's a storm in a teacup. Either way, Jurek is making money off all this publicity. His achievement was something I'll ever come close to replicating, but I can't help feel he cheapened it with the overt commercialism and attention seeking.

[Paul Magnanti]

"but I can't help feel he cheapened it with the overt commercialism and attention seeking." As mentioned, as an athletic endeavor it is impressive. As an outdoor event? Well.."Meh". Someone else will break it. Scott will only be known in the long term because he was fined. Not for his achievement. Google Roger Banister. First person to break the 4 minute mile. One, if someone has at least a modest interest in running, probably knows. OTOH, Who was the second person to break the 4 minute mile? Who is the current record holder? Same concept. Except substitute David Horton for Roger Bannister… I suspect Colin Fletcher, or perhaps more appropriately someone like Guy Waterman, will be more well know in relation to the Appalachians than an ultrarunner who now lives down the street from me (basically). That's not to take away from Scott. But what he did, other than a champagne toast, will not really be remembered. And, quite frankly, running a well established trail with many road crossings and a support team holds my interest about as much as very large men in spandex running a ball from one end of the field to the other. :)

[Ron Bell / MLD]

You have to dig down a few layers to get to the bottom of this Jurek thing. It has little to do with Jurek or trail running/hiking/FKT records. It's about the State of Maine wanting to keep the thru hikers (non-Mainers) out of the park- the real reasons are a bit unclear to me- but I suspect it's a narrow mindedness view of education/planning vs enforcement – It's a build a wall mentality. (The Park and the ATC have had many meetings on this issue in the last 3 yrs.) It's been brewing for years and Jurek's hike was just an opportunity for the Park/State to make a publicity move and drive wedges into the outdoor community. Anytime they can get folks to take sides on an issue that is not the real issue it benefits their cause. 2mph hiking vs 4mph hiking? Really? That's a wedge issue? Jurek gets paid a basic living wage- he ain't rich- for being an athlete and doing a good job for his employers. That's an issue? Really? If the park/state has an issue with thru hiker overcrowding – and I don't believe that's the real issue- wouldn't the first step (and lowest cost step) be to educate and improve the park system to handle the increase of maybe 20-40 more hikers per day at peak season vs ten yrs ago? Is it that burdensome to accomplish? Really? Please note I am not dinging the rangers or the regular park employees – this thing goes much higher and is a state political issue. I've lived in ME and don't think most of the fine citizens of Maine would like what is going on if they knew the real issues.

[Dave @ Oware]

The old story- A woman from Boston at her vacation home in Maine gives birth. She comments to a local how she now has a real down Mainer in the family. The retort "if your cat had kittens in the oven, would they be buns?"

[Taiga]

Maybe part of it is just rangers being rangers…

[Ian]

Maybe part of it is just rangers being rangers… Oh you're so totally right. Borderline Useless Park Ranger dies in gun fight with armed suspect: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/park-ranger-killed-by-gunman-in-national-park/ Borderline Useless Park Ranger dies while trying to rescue four climbers on Mt. Rainier: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/06/22/12351881-park-ranger-falls-3700-feet-to-death-during-mount-rainier-rescue?lite Borderline Useless Park Rangers conduct all terrain security at 2002 Olympics: http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/21/news/mn-29126 Borderline Useless Park Ranger murdered while pursuing Mexican Hit Squad who fled into the US after a committing a string of murders in Mexico: http://www.kriseggle.org/kris.htm Borderline Useless Climbing Ranger who has doctorate in mathematics and Med Student Daughter track rescue stats to help park determine the best way to allocate resources and to educate the public: http://www.wyofile.com/column/ranger-and-daughter-track-rescue-stats-for-grand-teton-national-park/ I mean… HOLY CRAP!!!! If you simply type "Park Ranger + Rescue," the internet is just completely filled with stories of Park Rangers who are completely useless when it comes to trolling backpacking forums and waste their time trying to protect our natural resources and the people who enjoy them.

[Luke Schmidt]

My experience has been that rangers in places like YNP have enough legitimate things to deal with that they don't get into petty stuff. The crew at Guadalupe NP are always great.

[Jennifer Mitol]

So my take is pretty spot on with Mags' in his Musings: this really isn't about Jurek, it's a long-simmering wound that Jurek very publicly rubbed some salt into. He put himself out there, so when the Sh!t hit the fan he was the public face of all that festering unhappiness. From some of those other articles it appeared as though Baxter has been thinking about (and threatening?) to get Katahdin off the AT for a while now. We've all lamented on this site the changing nature of thru hiking, the busy-ness and crowded-ness of some of our favorite trails, etc. I have never had a desire to do the AT since I started getting serious about longer hikes (but is short the new long?? lol…..) for exactly that reason – it seems like nothing more than a roving backyard party. I have no interest in that. So my sights had been set on the PCT: however, this year the stories I'm reading from the trail angels on FB, and even some here, about the changing nature of THAT trail (the roving-party atmosphere) means by the time I'm able to step away from my life for 6 months the PCT may not be my cup of tea either. I'm already thinking other thoughts: maybe the Long Trail next year, I'd really like to do the Arizona Trail, as my skills improve maybe the whole Hayduke Route might be on my agenda…..etc etc. Some people are fine with the changing nature of these trails – I for one am NOT, but then again I'm not their steward. I can move on and do some other trail. But if my job is the "protector" of the places the trails go through, then I'm going to do everything I can discourage that party atmosphere. Granted, the folks at Baxter don't seem to be the best at PR here, or IMHO are going about it the right way, but I do agree with their overall sentiment (I'd just do it differently).

[Taiga]

Ian, I meant that tongue in cheek. I work at a national park so I have perhaps a different perspective than you. I'll say this, there are lots of good rangers and plenty of bad ones – same goes for police. I think there are some fundamental things that need to be changed. I'm not going to say too much more on that.

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