[pct-l] Idyllwild Trail Days

[Brett]

Jeff, you're taking my original proposal out of context. This is a 
suggestion for what to do about the current ADZ arrangement and the 
perceived problems some are associating with it. An Idyllwild Trail Days 
would, as I envision it, be nothing more than the ADZ projected farther 
north and ahead in time. It certainly wouldn't be a separate event - a 
follow-up to the existing ADZ, several weeks later. Anyone who's trying 
to suggest that is putting words in my mouth.

- blisterfree

jeff.singewald at comcast.net wrote:
> JJ,
>  
> A Trail Days like event for the PCT?  I'll be near the front of the 
> line of complaintants.  Geez, why are we trying to turn the PCT into 
> the AT?  Why is it that we need a party to attend 200 miles into your 
> hike?  I could stay home and attend parties like this.
>  
> Elevator
>  
>  
>  
>
>     -------------- Original message --------------
>     From: Jim Keener <lists at oldmanwalking.net>
>
>     > I have an idea. You start it. Find the volunteers, cooks, web
>     > designers, builders. It sounds like a good idea. And if you're
>     > serious, do it. And look what will happen. People will complain.
>     > Guaranteed. You can work hard, give of yourself, do it with
>     integrity
>     > and the best intentions, and people will impugn your character,
>     > motives, and results. It will be hard work. The rewards will be
>     there,
>     > though. Just don't complain. Don't complain if too many people show
>     > up. Don't blame someone else if you have too many people at one
>     time.
>     > You choose to host the event, accept the consequences. And if
>     you want
>     > something to change, change it yourself, rather than complain.
>     >
>     > Create change, not discord. B uild. Don't complain. Not any
>     more. Please.
>     >
>     > Jim Keener ( J J )
>     > http://oldmanwalking.net
>     >
>     > On Feb 28, 2008, at 6:21 PM, Brett wrote:
>     >
>     > > As a potential compromise solution to the ADZ issue, in future
>     years
>     > > how
>     > > about reorganizing this as an event more like Trail Days on the
>     > > Appalachian Trail. Rather than having an "Annual Day Zero"
>     event near
>     > > the southern border, move it farther north so it has less
>     influence
>     > > over
>     > > thru-hikers' planned starting dates.
>     > >
>     > > I propose the community of Idyllwild as a possible location
>     for the
>     > > event, or thereabouts. To be held the first or second week of
>     May.
>     > > Among
>     > > the potential advantages:
>     > >
>     > > - At ~178 miles from the border, an Idyllwild Trail Days in
>     May would
>     > > attract fewer not-yet-started thru-hikers. The u pshot would
>     be that
>     > > thru-hikers planning to attend would start out at the border
>     more on a
>     > > schedule and at a pace of their choosing, thus minimizing the
>     initial
>     > > herd. For hikers ahead or behind schedule for the event, shuttles
>     > > could
>     > > be arranged from and to I-10, Pines-to-Palms, and potentially
>     > > elsewhere.
>     > >
>     > > - A May event would cater to the less experienced thru-hiker
>     who may
>     > > want to start earlier than later, giving them plenty of time
>     to hike
>     > > in
>     > > to the event. Faster-paced hikers, who may be less inclined to
>     attend,
>     > > would start later and could easily miss all the to-do and
>     subsequent
>     > > herd, or could still hit the event, either just before
>     starting their
>     > > thru-hikes or by shuttle, hitchhiking, etc.
>     > >
>     > > - Any post-event herd would be smaller than that leaving the
>     current *> > ADZ, due to natural "thinning" in the initial 178
>     miles of walking
>     > > prior
>     > > to the event, and also because some hikers would be shuttling
>     back to
>     > > whatever location they left the trail in order to attend.
>     > >
>     > > - Whatever the size of the post-event herd, a crowd of sorts
>     would be
>     > > more of an advantage going over Fuller Ridge just north of
>     Idyllwild,
>     > > especially for the newbies who tend to herd.
>     > >
>     > > - Idyllwild offers the advantage of being close to the PCT,
>     but not
>     > > directly on it. So again, those who lift their noses at such
>     events
>     > > could walk right on by, even while it were ongoing, and suffer
>     no such
>     > > sensory intrusions.
>     > >
>     > > - An Idyllwild event would be fundamentally different than simply
>     > > disbanding the ADZ in favor of morphing it into Trail Fest or
>     > > ALDHA-West. By cont inuing to host the event during thru-hiker
>     season,
>     > > and toward the beginning of it (unlike, say, on Ray Day in
>     KM), much
>     > > of
>     > > the "Kick-Off" spirit would be retained. Also, certain aspects
>     of the
>     > > event could potentially become more meaningful to thru-hikers,
>     since 2
>     > > weeks of walking offers it own fine direction on what gear is
>     and is
>     > > not
>     > > going to work, and the vendors in turn would have a more
>     educated and
>     > > discriminating consumer. And Meadow Ed would, I hope, continue to
>     > > extol
>     > > his wisdom on water and snow, and do so before a crowd who
>     actually,
>     > > by
>     > > that point, has a clue about the wisdom he's extolling.
>     Perhaps ice
>     > > axe
>     > > self-arrest training could also be offered in the vicinity, as
>     well
>     > > as a
>     > > post-event guided walk along Fuller Ridge.
>     > >
>     > > Appal achian Trail Days is an event much larger than the
>     ADZPCTKO. Yet
>     > > ironically, Trail Days seems to have very little impact on the
>     > > surrounding trail corridor. The reason, it seems to me, is
>     > > straightforward. It's all about the timing and location of the
>     event,
>     > > relative to the start of thru-hiking season at Springer
>     Mountain. Move
>     > > the ADZ away from the border, and it ceases to serve as a
>     starting
>     > > gate
>     > > for the marathon heading north. Instead, it becomes more of a
>     watering
>     > > station, something to look forward to or else to pass quickly by,
>     > > depending on the whim of the individual.
>     > >
>     > > - blisterfree
>     > >
>     > >
>     > >
>     > >
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