[pct-l] Hiking the PCT wihout a shelter?

[Ginny & Jim Owen]

Dust wrote:
>Just what I was thinking.  In every crowd, there are always a few Darwin 
>Award candidates.

This summer on the CDT we had a former PCT thruhiker tell us his tale of woe 
about his ordeal in a rainstorm in CA.  He wasn't carrying any shelter at 
the time - except for a large trash bag.  He thought that would be 
sufficient.  He learned how uncomfortable (and dangerous) it could be. When 
he was telling the story, he was expecting sympathy - he didn't get any.  
Rather Ginny and i both said - simultaneously - "You deserved what you got." 
  He was shocked at the response.

Not everyone has the common sense that God gave a pissant.  And that 
includes thruhikers.

BTW - someone on this thread mentioned the shelter system on the AT as if it 
made the AT and PCT different with respect to carrying your own shelter.  
Not so.  Every year there are those who manage to delude themselves that the 
AT shelter system means they don't have to carry shelter.  Then they run 
into the first serious storm and when they get to the shelter, they find 60 
people trying to crowd into a shelter built for 8 people.  It won't work.  
Only idiots and rank amateurs fail to carry their own shelter.

As a thruhiker, you're expected to be able to handle whatever the trail 
and/or the weather witch throws at you.  If you can't then you don't belong 
out there.  And if you're not carrying your own shelter, then you can't.

Walk softly,
Jim

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