[pct-l] Bringing friends to hike part of the trail - could use some suggestions

[Steve Courtway]

> B) there's no significant altitude changes in this stretch - good for guys
> who aren't in super shape.

chances are you'll be camping on Hauser Mountain the first night, Morena 
Butte the following morning can be a tough climb in the HOT sun.....heh 
heh........prolly taken out many a city slicker 10 miles in.

s.c.








----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Mitchell" <paul at bluebrain.ca>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 2:31 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Bringing friends to hike part of the trail - could use some 
suggestions


>I have two friends who can't take the time to hike a long distance, but 
>have
> expressed a keen interest in joining me for a stretch of the trail this
> year.
>
> I'm thinking that Campo to Warner springs would be best for the following
> reasons:
>
> A) we're all out of shape so I need to start slow.  Later in the hike when 
> I
> need to make the big miles it'd be too hard for city boys to join me and
> keep up with 20+ miles a day.
>
> B) there's no significant altitude changes in this stretch - good for guys
> who aren't in super shape.
>
> C) since neither of them has been out of BC/Alberta much, the geography of
> SoCal is like nothing they've experienced, so would be interesting for 
> them.
>
> D) the enthusiasm around kick-off time would be a great way to get them
> motivated to try the full hike sometime in the future
>
> E) a couple days at Warner Springs Resort would be a fantastic way for 
> them
> to end their first ever hiking trip.
>
> Here's my big concern though ... the first couple weeks on the trail after
> kick-off is prime time for finding some trail buddies.  I have no interest
> in spending much time alone on the trail, and I'm worried that if I'm 
> hiking
> with a couple friends from the start, I may end up missing the best chance
> to find a "group" to hike with.  I'm concerned that once we're done at
> Warner Springs I'll find myself far behind "the pack" and hiking alone. 
> :-(
>
> I'll risk it because the pros of getting these guys on the trail far out 
> way
> any personal concerns I have about my own hike, but I wonder if anybody 
> has
> any other perspectives?  Any other sections of the trail that might be
> better/more interesting for a first hike for these guys?
>
> They're both very interested, so I'm thinking about surprising them with
> plane tickets so they HAVE to go.  ;-)
>
> Happy New Year!   Holy crap ... four months to go!  EEEEEK!
>
> Paul
>
>
>
>
>
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