Trek Dirty to Me: 59 days until I start my trail game, and I'm contemplating what is in a (trail) name.

I have a lot of names. In reality, it seems like I have a lot more given names than are really there. My passport says my name (correctly) is ‘Joseph Adamje Feeney-Ruiz.’ So technically that is a first, middle and last name. But, yes, it was a challenge to not run out of bubbles when inputting my name in the SAT answer sheet. Yes, the names can be broken down further. Yes, there is a baptismal name that is not on that passport. And, finally, yes, folks have pretty much called me a completely different name since University - AJ.

I have had many nicknames ( or have been called many things) over the years. Some may be a bit NSFW. Most played into one of my existing given names, my look, or my life. One, I ill-advisedly emblazoned on my body as my first tattoo after a few adult beverages.

Now I am two months away from embarking on my Appalachian Trail thru-hike, where the likelihood is pretty high that I will get another name to add to the already pretty extensive list. Thru-hikers (and some section-hikers) traditionally give each other (and sometimes themselves…) names that reflect some aspect of their on-trail persona. Many are named after where they are from (Santa Fe, Brooklyn, Florida Man), their personality (Smiley, Chatty, Giggles), their appearance (Viking, Ginger, Tat), or any other number of possible scenarios (No Worries, Why Not, Hot Buns, Hey Girl).

There is some forgiveness given to vetoing certain names that may not be the most desirable (Golden Shower, Shits-a-Lot, Fart Fairy), sometimes names can change, and sometimes you are simply stuck with a name because a few dozen people might have been there when you got it, and that’s how you are called out for 2,000 miles.

Any ideas on what my trail name might/could be? I have ideas, but genuinely would like to see how things shake out on the trail. I’d love to hear your ideas. In the meantime, here is a beautiful collage of some of my nicknames over the years and a YouTube video starring one of my current nicknames.

-AJ

The many names of Joseph “Paul” Adamje “Adam Jesus” “AJ” Feeney-Ruiz.

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