HikeArizona.COM

Is there a story or reasoning for your username?

I'm sort of fat and a dimwit. My best friend is smarter than me. 45 years later some guy on TV made my name more popular, but spelled it wrong. Not to mention--there's no Austin in Tennessee!

To the uninitiated I'm known by the moniker SAMBA, but to my friends I'm known as: capital L, small A, capital F, small O, small N, small G...La Fong, Carl La Fong!! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xHJrGEcP_k)

I grew up exploring the mountains, back roads and mines near Prescott. Back then almost every convenient store and restaurant in Prescott bore the name Bradshaw or Bradshaw mountain. For me, at that age, having the same name was the coolest thing EVER!!! Made me feel like a king : king : I don't like putting my real name out but when it comes to a hiking website, I couldn't think of a more fitting name for myself.

Boringly obvious...

When I lived in Ca, I Bought a bow and went to the range without knowing anything. I met a guy that said that I could be a better archer if I took some lessons. I didn't end up taking lessons but became a much better archer any way by shooting with the Olympic style shooters, the hunters, the traditional bow shooters and the guys that shot Japanese, Mongolian and Korean style. By exposing myself to such a wide range of styles of archery I had improved to where I could hit a head sized target from 140 yds. The first forum I ever joined was Archerytalk.com and I used beterarcher as my handle. I guess i just stuck with it. I don't shoot my bow as much now but I can't seem to change my screen name. It's the same on geocache com and paddeling.net . By the way this is the only forum I post on anymore. Every other forum I've been on is full of self righteous arrogant pumpkins so I no longer visit them. The folks on HAZ are, for the most part, super friendly and they don't talk down to someone because of a stupid comment or question. If they do, they are set right by other members and usually offer an apology to set things right.
Thank you Joe :worthy: for running such a nice, respectful place.

Nope.
But there is a reason for my new avatar.
;)

Back in 1999, the first time I ever sat in front of a computer, my teenage kids were alternately helping me and making fun of me. My elder son suggested the username. He said I shouldn't use my own name, but should have a screen name, and suggested it, along with the weird spelling. I asked him why I should not use the "e" and have it be "azbackpacker," but he said it was "cooler" to have it spelled more creatively. So, azbackpackr was born. I use it on other websites as well.

azbackpackr wrote:Back in 1999, the first time I ever sat in front of a computer, my teenage kids were alternately helping me and making fun of me. My elder son suggested the username. He said I shouldn't use my own name, but should have a screen name, and suggested it, along with the weird spelling. I asked him why I should not use the "e" and have it be "azbackpacker," but he said it was "cooler" to have it spelled more creatively. So, azbackpackr was born. I use it on other websites as well.

You mispelled backpacker on purpose...

I do not like to have to drive long distances out and back for hikes and backpacking, hence I chose the Superstitions for almost all of my exploring.

The avatars that I have used in the past were pictures of my grandchildren in their Halloween costumes until Snakemarks took a picture of me with that silly Nacho Libre mask on in the Lost Dutchman Mine Jr. She then photo shopped the picture to add the red cape and T-shirt.

I do not post photosets because my trips were all BHAZ (before HAZ) but someday I hope to scan some pictures of the Reavis Ranch before the fire so you can see what the Ranch house and out buildings looked like. ;)

someday I hope to scan some pictures of the Reavis Ranch before the fire so you can see what the Ranch house and out buildings looked like

Today is Someday.....So what are you waiting for?

paulhubbard wrote:Boringly obvious...

Huh!

Hmmmm... well Neal is Irish and Alston is an old Irish/Gaelic term meaning A-hole.

@Alston Neal

@SAMBA
Talking about my "handle"...

Self Explanatory, although I know of a few that have read more into it than there really is...

@Outdoor Lover
So it's you that all the naked hiking comments are pointed at my lips are sealed.

My initials plus a weather reference (love thunderstorms). RW is also meteorological shorthand for rain shower. When hiking in the Supes, it reminds me of Dutch hunter/author Barry Storm, for I too have had a lust for gold.

Outdoor Lover wrote:Self Explanatory, although I know of a few that have read more into it than there really is...

That reminds me.... the last time the Mrs. and I were out at the Eagle Tails we saw a couple of horseback riders riding bare back.
The horses were about 50 feet away though.......

@beterarcher
Ah, no. That thread was in existence looonngg before I ever streaked onto the scene....