[pct-l] On/Off-trail behaviors

[AsABat]

If they were at ADZ they couldn't miss education on on- and off-trail
behavior, as it was everywhere - even in the restrooms where
Switchback's prose was taped to the wall of every toilet stall and above
every urinal. At the water talk I spent a lot of time talking about
etiquette, keeping water sources clean and caches tidy, behaving in
town, and telling everyone exactly what they are entitled to as
thruhikers: A comment like "Wow, that's awesome!" and nothing more.

Of course, in other venues I've been involved in, I've learned that
those that need to hear it the most either don't show up for the talk or
read the literature, or think it applied to everyone else but
themselves, because they are so special.

AsABat


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ned Tibbits [mailto:ned at mountaineducation.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 3:19 PM
> To: PCT MailingList
> Subject: [pct-l] On/Off-trail behaviors
> 
> During my recent hike down the trail from Tuolumne Meadows to Red's
> Meadow, I met quite a few thru hikers of the class of '08 and a
'couple of
> past veterans.
> 
> During our lively conversations with the vets, while being eaten alive
by
> mosquitoes, the subject of on-trail trash, sanitation, and off-trail
town
> behavior usually came up. Evidently, this year these concerns are
still a
> problem.
> 
> Is there a way that these issues that impact us on the trail and
create a
> public image of us off-trail could be addressed/taught to each future
> class in the year before each KO or at each KO? Maybe ALDHA-West?
Maybe a
> PCT-A flyer with thru Permits?
> 
> As more and more people do this adventure each year, we're going to
have
> to get serious about educating and encouraging good on and off trail
> behavior.