[pct-l] PCTA Membership

Tue Dec 9 16:07:43 CST 2008

You make a good point about being an active member of other organizations,
and of giving of yourself to trails locally "in trade" so to speak.  

Interestingly, you will find most people in California have never heard of
the PCT, outside of the communities it goes directly near. Unlike the east,
where everyone knows about the AT, there is a staggering amount if ignorance
regarding the PCT out here. You'd be shocked to see how little the trail
systems we have get used, considering there are millions and millions of
people with ready access to them. Most of the trails beside the PCT fall in
to decay and disrepair for want of support.  Trails and recreational areas
seem to get more support in Oregon and Washington and to a certain extent
Northern California, though they've been closing many CA state parks due to
budget deficits.

Another key difference to note is that the AT is a National Park its entire
length. That makes things simple, and its covered under the NP budget. The
PCT is different altogether -- it goes through USFS, BLM, NP, state, county,
and private lands (250 miles of which are in dire need of protection due to
inadequate easements). It certainly makes it complicated to deal with all of
the players, with all of their differing rules and agendas.  The USFS is the
lead agency for the trail, and thanks to the efforts of the PCTA, the FS has
created a PCT manager position filled by Beth Boyst (miraculously, and PCT
thru-hiker herself) within their organization so that there is a single
point of contact within that agency.  

USFS does provide some funding that comes through their budget for
management of the PCT, which is dwarfed by the contribution of PCTA donors
and volunteers.  Quoting some materials directly regarding who supports the
PCT:  from 1997 to 2007, PCTA volunteers contributed 53%, private donations
contributed 35%, the USDA FS contributed 11%, and the BLM contributed 1%.
So, you can see that on the PCT, the efforts of volunteers and donors makes
all the difference. It is because of the contributions of volunteers, and
the excellent representation provided by the PCTA, that allows those budget
dollars to fund maintenance programs. And, PCTA volunteers go to Washington
DC (on their own dime) every year for AHS' "Hike the Hill" to ensure that
those budget dollars don't get cut as threatened.  

Volunteers and donors are the life blood of the PCT.  They conceived it,
lobbied for it, and laid the initial tread as best they could.  But the job
is far from finished, and we are all still needed to carry on what the good
folks who came before us began.  

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Bob Sartini
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 7:56 AM
To: Bill; pct-l at backcountry.net
Cc: info at pcta.org
Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCTA Membership

I belong to the ATC, GMC, RHC all with dues. I only do trail work in 
Vermont. But when I hike the PCT trail this spring after joining I won't 
likely keep up the dues after that. I've met  armies of Californians on the 
Long Trail in Vermont and don't expect them to be GMC members for long if at

all.

I think the deal is I walk on your trail and you walk on mine in a sort of 
reciprocal way. Plus all those dues mount up and I think all of our taxes 
help the trails in some vague way or other as well.  Plus there are WAY more

Californians than people in Vermont or the rest of New England I'm sure.

"EVERYTHING is in walking distance,"
    ......Bamboo Bob
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill" <BillBatch at cox.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Cc: <info at pcta.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 9:20 AM
Subject: [pct-l] PCTA Membership

> Dear members of PCT-L Mailing List:
>
>
>
> L-Rod and I were talking last week about PCTA membership, the cost of the
> trail, and the value of the trail.    She noted that many thru hikers do 
> not
> support the trail with membership to the PCTA once their hike is complete.
> I have been thinking about this and I could see how this happens.   A thru
> hiker pays for membership often to get the permit process done for them.
> After their hike, successful or not, they do not use the trail much.  They
> may not live along the west coast of the USA or don't hike much, or 
> perhaps
> just don't "get around to joining" because the drive to do so is lessened
> (no pending big hike, no need for permit help, etc).    As a result, they
> simply drop their membership.
>
>
>
> Of course, some hikers continue to renew for years regardless, some never
> join to begin with, and some have other reasons.   I do not want this 
> email
> string to get bogged down in exceptions or defensive comments (aka "not 
> all
> hikers . . .)   or the flip side of making disparaging or attacking 
> comments
> about those that do not participate.   The point here is to encourage
> participation in the PCTA beyond the current average, not to throw stones.
>
>
>
> I want to start a campaign or at least a cultural norm (by that I mean
> something heard often, printed in guide books, or included in email groups
> like this).    I would call the campaign Thru Hike Plus Four.   The 
> campaign
> is to encourage Thru Hikers to pay for PCTA membership for at least an
> additional four years after their hike.   If this could become the norm, 
> by
> then end of four years we would have an overlap of four years of thru 
> hikers
> actively supporting the trail.  Also, we would instill a wonderful habit 
> of
> support that would be more likely to extend beyond four years.
>
>
>
> Thru Hikers will get more value, use, miles, and return from their trail
> time in one season than most will achieve in a lifetime.    I think asking
> for a five year return is very reasonable and the vast majority of Thru
> Hikers would agree.
>
>
>
> Now this is out of my head and out to the group.
>
>
>
> Pink Gumby
>
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