[pct-l] Words about the HERD

Tue Mar 13 17:20:20 CDT 2007

The greatest benefit to an event further north and later in the season is that it wouldn't be a starting point -- people would come to it from points north or south depending on where they are, just as they do for Trails Days in Damascus. That is a model that has worked extremely well. It would leave everyone to start when their schedule permits, or their ideas about the best time to start depending on the snow in any given year.  Yes, there will always be a natural peak to the season, but I'm telling the truth when I say that the intensity of the peak and the narrowness of the window in which it hits changed dramatically as the KO grew in attendance and popularity.  I didn't think it would be so hard to get people to believe me about the correlation, though.

Lone Pine would be perfect, with so many trail passes in and out of the Sierras, and easy access along 395 -- rides would be easy to provide.  Tahoe certainly has the facilities and the appeal for a reunion and hiker party.  Plus, they're trying real hard to launch an event in Tahoe, that hasn't yet caught on with the PCT thru-hikers.  Could be a win all the way around.

The KO literally forces people to start around it.  People trying to avoid the herd are leaving a week or so ahead and unfortunately getting swallowed by the front runners of those leaving closer to the KO weekend itself.  It's no fun being too close behind the herd, as caches are empty, store shelves can be out of food items, and the folks that you encounter along the way were rumored to be burnt out last year by those behind the pack.  

So, I think a mid-point party has big advantages over a starting point party for so, so many reasons.

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
>From: yogi <yogihikes at sbcglobal.net>
>Sent: Mar 13, 2007 2:59 PM
>To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
>Subject: [pct-l] Words about the HERD
>
>So.........it appears that you would support a
>gathering -- at Tahoe City as stated in another PCT-L
>post -- as long as the clump caused by the gathering
>happens AFTER Agua Dulce.
>
>yogi
>www.pcthandbook.com
>
>
>
>--- dsaufley at sprynet.com wrote:
>
>> I am extremely sorry to hear that you two feel that
>> way. 
>> 
>> We don't think it's a dead horse at all. We LIVE
>> with it. We have to get READY for it.  We have to
>> think about it, prepare for it, and try to manage
>> it.  It is very REAL to us. And to the other trail
>> angels, trail towns, post offices, etc. So, maybe in
>> Kansas City, it's not an issue.  How nice for you. 
>> It's like I've always said -- the organizers and the
>> party-goers (and let's not forget the retailers with
>> a product to sell) enjoy the party and go home, and
>> we out here -- out of sight and out of mind -- get
>> to deal with the aftermath.  But apparently it's too
>> tiresome to be discussed in the forum meant for such
>> discussion.   
>> 
>> You'd think that since we live out here, and host
>> nearly 100% of the hikers that have come through ikn
>> the past 10 years, that we might know a thing or two
>> about what's going on. 
>> 
>> When I raise the issue, it's "blah, blah, blah."
>> Geez, for all we do for hikers, and in fact have
>> done for the both of you, you think we'd deserve a
>> little more respect than that. Sorry that what we
>> see out here, and what we have to say about our
>> observations, has no weight in your opinion.
>> 
>> I will go on being a broken record, and take the
>> heat as necessary (but don't expect me to not fire
>> back).  I will raise the issue until it's resolved. 
>> And it will be resolved -- either by our choice as a
>> community, or it will be resolved for us as a
>> community by means that we will not be able to
>> control.
>> 
>> L-Rod
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> >From: Slyatpct at aol.com
>> >Sent: Mar 12, 2007 7:11 PM
>> >To: yogihikes at sbcglobal.net,
>> pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
>> >Subject: Re: [pct-l] Words about the HERD
>> >
>> >yogihikes at sbcglobal.net writes:
>> >
>> >This  thread is like the bear canister thread,
>> hiking
>> >with a dog, guns on the  trail, illegal 
>> immigrants,
>>
>>the-most-snow-EVER-in-the-history-of-the-world..........blah,
>> >blah,  blah.  It's beaten to the ground every year
>> >around this time as people  get stir crazy.
>> > 
>> >--------------------------------------------------
>> > 
>> >Mark 3/12 down as the ADZPCTLBTDHSD  aka Annual day
>> Zero PCT-L Beat  the Dead 
>> >Horse Start Date.  : )
>> > 
>> >Sly
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
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>
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