[pct-l] a modest proposal

[Matt Geis]

Here's a way to thin the herd.

Hold the kickoff, but limit support and useful information.  Don't make it easier to hike the PCT.  Don't cache any water.

The PCT is completely doable with no water caches.  Sure, you might have to hike a mile off trail (oh, god forbid!) to find a spring.  You may even have to read your guidebook (10% of the herd will drop off if they have to do this), look at a map (remove another 20%), or even use your compass (this requirement alone will cull the herd to a mere 30% of its original size).

Continue to provide useful info on pct-l on how to prep for the trip, but make hikers start thinking about what they're going to do when they get into a jam.

When you've lost the trail due to snow or bad signage (like just south of Old Station), will you be able to find the trail again?

When the cache you thought was at Bird Springs Rd. has been entirely consumed, will you be smart enough to quit hiking in the midday sun, put up a reflective tarp, and wait until evening to slowly resume hiking, and to actually leave the trail to go find a natural water source?

(Why do I have a feeling that even some of the folks who decry the "socialite hikers" and feel that the wilderness is for their exclusive use will have issues with this idea?).

For those unfamiliar with Swift, I suspect they'll take this idea at face value and get all upset, so just cool your heels -- this is a bit of sarcasm and satire.  I think the help and the caches serve the greater good, despite my personal opinion that the perceived ease of the PCT is going to cost someone dearly someday (some would agree that it already has).

Iron Chef



 
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