[pct-l] Trail Journals- Donna's post

[Donna Saufley]

Actually, my post should not be confined to writing about others in Trail
Journals, but also email postings on the PCT-L and elsewhere.  It is exactly
because you (and others) are watching what the hikers are doing that I wrote
that.  If your friends want you to know where they are, they'll let you
know.  If they're not letting you know, well, that should be sending you a
message.

If someone is keeping a journal, that's one thing -- they want to share
they're doing with everyone and anyone. Great, go for it, spill your guts,
knock yourself out writing about YOUR journey.  But if someone is not
keeping a journal, and many are not, where they are and what they are doing
is not anyone's business.

I believe very strongly that the hikers who want it deserve their privacy,
and they are not hiking for anyone's entertainment.  Besides, I know it has
caused problems for some hikers, like people they didn't even know waiting
for them at trail crossings, hiking in to meet them, and leaving things the
hiker didn't want (but then became responsible for).  

I don't know where along the line thru-hiking became a spectator sport
complete with groupies, but I'm pretty certain that a fair number of the
participants would be appalled to know their whereabouts were being tracked
by strangers and/or reported on by people they pass along the way.  

L-Rod


-----Original Message-----
From: Freiman, Paul [mailto:pfreiman at ucsd.edu] 
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 12:15 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Cc: dsaufley at sprynet.com
Subject: Trail Journals- Donna's post

I'm a bit slow to react to this one, but I am distressed by Donna's post in
which she said to not include other hikers in your journal.  THAT is exactly
what I am looking for.  I want to know how everyone is doing.  Not everyone
keeps journals and it is nice to know you passed them.  Last year I heard
about "the stalker" story and I stopped asking about any women on the PCT.
But my gosh, the ladies kept their journals 2 weeks to a month behind and
there just didn't seem to be any flow between the journals.  I wanted to see
how my friends were doing and I couldn't.  There has to be some compromise
to this.
Capt Bivy

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