The Five Most Influential Backpackers Of All Time

“Has it ever been debated on who are the most influential backpackers of all time (Top 5 )? With the creation of the A.T. Museum, I know there was discussion about the most influential Appalachian Trail backpackers of all time (ie. Earl Shaffer), but what about in general?

I'd argue that Earl Shaffer makes that cut for pioneering the first "official" thru-hike, but what about someone like "Flyin' Brian" Robinson who became the first backpacker to conquer hiking's Triple Crown in a calendar year? He definitely took thru-hiking to an entirely new level? Curious to get your thoughts on this....

BirdShooter
www.n2backpacking.com”

“I nominate Nowswimmer”

“Ray Jardine”

“John Muir”

“Ralph Waldo Emerson”

“Sierra Mel

(In Memoriam)”

“This guy in Nepal...



Nobody gives the sherpas enough credit...”

“Collin Fletcher?”

“Ed Garvey? - ALDHA makes the case for him...

http://www.aldha.org/garvey.htm”

“Kephart, Horace: Camping and Woodcraft; New York, 1917.

He also discusses backpacking (not yet called that) in UK.”

“Sarabelle.

Her stories were always epic.”

“Crazy Mike”

“Snow Nymph”

“Grandma Gatewood!”

“Prowler”

“Ward 'Chip' Leonard.”

“Oh god, everyone read the link V posted. If that's not TT classic I don't know what is.

Did I just suggest someone follow Violin's link.....we are really loosing our touch here”

“I am so glad someone mentioned Grandma Gatewood. Saw a writeup about her on cracked.com and that is what led me to decide I wasn't too old to go back to backpacking after all. Not only was she 2x my age the first time she thru hiked, she was a single woman hiker just like me. I feel like now I have to finish can't let that ol'Lady beat me. Hahaha!”

“Hafta back up and agree on Grams Gatewood...we all need the latest hightec ultralight gear...she humped a wool blanket and a skillet fer cripes sake.....”

“Greg Lowe invented the world’s first, close-fitting, internal-frame backpack. Ditching my external pack was the best thing that happened to me.”

“Rich B.”

“Grandma Gatewood all the way for me. Bet she could have shown us a trick or twelve for getting by on less with less.”

“What a great thread yawl! I got see one'a Grandma's pair of old-timey basketball shoes that she'd worn, in that general store in Damascus. She'd be a great addition to the top 10 list if for nothing else to give it something a little different.

lmao Rev, good'un. Ward was known something as the Trail Idiot even back in '92, but I never got to meet him. That thread you put up is a fantastic trip down memory lane for yawl that's been here "a bit", enjoyed seeing some old names again.”

“I posted this question on a few backpacking forums with plans to write an article on the topic. If you are curious, here are the names that come up the most:

Colin Fletcher
Ray Jardine
Robert Baden-Powell/The Scoutmaster
Grandma Gatewood
Ed Garvey
John Muir
Earl Shaffer
A Family Member (Dad, Brother, Ex-Wife, etc.)

So far, Colin Fletcher is leading the charge.”