[pct-l] Thank You All!

[Will Hiltz]

Hi Joe-


I had the great pleasure of meeting you above the golden staircase in '07
and let me add my praise to the chorus... truly an amazing accomplishment!


At the risk of being lumped in with the "sour grapes" and "cyber hiking"
crowd I'd love to pose a few questions regarding your decision to press on
through the Northern California fire closure, as was announced on this list
by Scott's girlfriend.


My particular interest is the interplay between what surely was a personal
choice (i.e.- to hike through an active fire area) and the precedent that
sets for other hikers.  While I respect your decision on a personal level
(you are very experienced, mindful of the risks, extremely motivated to get
every trail mile from Mex to Can in, etc. etc.) I wonder if any
consideration of the trail community as a whole factored in to your
decision?  Monkey see - monkey do is a very powerful thing... did you
consider that hiking through a closed active fire area might encourage
others to do something similar?  Being particularly well-known hikers, did
you feel any sense of obligation to conduct yourselves in an exemplary
fashion even above and beyond what you would normally do?


I understand if you don't feel like answering these questions, drained as
I'm sure you are from a long 71 days on the trail.  I'd love your input on
the rationale behind this particular decision if you feel so inclined.  MY
personal interest is finding a way that we as a long distance hiking
community can give you the love and kudos you so richly deserve while at the
same time identifying this decision as something that PCT hikers in general
should not be doing for a whole host of reasons that don't need rehashing
here.


Again, congrats- those of us riding our desks are green with envy, I assure
you.

YITOOD,

Easy

On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 1:12 PM, joseph kisner
<lostonthecrest at hotmail.com>wrote:

> I would like to put a BIG Thank You to EVERYONE who was a part of our hike
> this summer. It was a grand adventure, a rewarding endeavor, and the PCT
> community were there with us the entire way with blessings and good will.
>
>  I would especially like to thank Reinhold (for your ride to the border,
> and cheers along the way), St. Alfonzo (for you blessing, and continuous
> cheers), Donna and Jeff (for the comfortable shade on a very hot day, as
> well as the memorable mexican meal together), Joe and Terri (Sorry we missed
> you both, but thanks for the important info, Terri), Georgi and Dennis
> (Sorry we missed you Georgie, but we still stuffed our faces, showered, and
> visited Dennis),  Andrea and Jerry, (You two ROCK!, Burgers, a custom cake,
> and all that on the pass, to keep us going.) Rich and Debbie, (You two are
> life savers and great friends!) Dusty, (Who drove several hours to Manning
> Park, Began walking out to the monument in the rain, who drove us to Seattle
> and fed us Huge, and refused to except any money, You are far too cool!).
>
>  I would also like to thank all that called and left positive messages on
> my voicemail, (They go a long way, when times get tough. I am sorry there
> all just too many of you to mention, but believe me when I say, I will
> always remember.)
>
>  I would like to also thank, Brian at ULA, who customised a pack at the
> last minute, and gifted an Ice Ax as well. Evan at Integral Designs, who
> gifted my Tarp, wind clothes, stuff sacks and  ditty bags. Chuck, at Petzl,
> for the e-lights and all the battery's. All the above was already proven,
> and were our choices and not just free items.
>
>  I would like to thank the business owners, especially those of you who
> help us hikers as much as you can. And for those of you who try to suck
> every penny out of us, thanks for nothing.
>
>  I would like to thank Ray and Jenny Jardine, Brian Robinson, Ray 'the
> wall' Greenwall, and Matt 'Sqeaky' Hazley, for setting the previous records.
>
>  But just as important, were all of the hikers, section hikers, day hikers,
> weekend hikers and thru-hikers whom we shared time and trail with. You were
> all great and I never met a sour grape, unlike some of the cyber hikers.
>
>  For all of you who came to our defense over the fire closures, THANK YOU!
> Scott and I both, would never even consider doing anything, that would make
> us (hikers) look bad in the publics eye. We both live for this trail, Scott
> has spent all of his adult life, and half of his whole life living on this
> trail. He has hiked over 40 thousand miles of PCT hiking,(more than all you
> sour grapes put together) all in which he has done as an minimalist with
> little to no impact.(unlike you heavy loads who make camp every 7 miles)
> Thrashing this trail or creating problems for the future of this trail are
> not what we are all about.
>
>  The people who jumped to attacking us, do not know what the hell they are
> talking about. I understand their thoughts, and respect their opinion, but
> doubt they we will ever see eye to eye with me. So rather than disputing it
> with any of them, I will attempt helping them. If any of you would like to
> try to understand, I suggest next March, go down to Campo and start walking
> North, and God willing you walk every step to Monument 78, you will not only
> understand, but finally have your life  figured out in a new way. You will
> not waste your life insulting others who are hiking the trail, while you
> hike cyber hiking.  The last one on PCT who finishes, does not win, but
> usually has to hitch a ride to beat the fall storms.
>
>   JOE KISNER  MEXICO > CANADA 08'   06/08/08 12:45PM TO 08/18/08 3:26PM
>  71 DAYS 2 HOURS 41 MINUTES                          THANK YOU ALL!!!!!
>
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