[pct-l] Crossing the Border

[Richard Thalhammer]

I think Rainskirt has it right:  when you cross into Canada from the  
US by vehicle, you stop and talk with the Canadians; when you cross  
into the US by vehicle, you stop and talk with the US Border Patrol.   
I seriously doubt that both countries keep a running total of their  
own citizens crossing the border and then returning, like inventory in  
a store being tracked.  Last week, some of us hiked into Canada on the  
PCT to Manning Park from Stehekin.  It is perfectly legal to do so,  
even though there are no border guards at Monument 78.  Others of us  
drove into Canada and hiked south to cross the border into the US at  
Monument 78; again, perfectly legal.  We even turned around and hiked  
back into Canada without consequence.  Imagine.  If you're moving  
northbound from the US into Canada on the PCT and want to do it right,  
Canada asks that you obtain a particular permit ahead of time, which  
you will return to them on your exit from their country.  The Pacific  
Crest Trail Association website tells you how to go about that:  http://www.pcta.org/planning/before_trip/permits.asp

The US apparently is not so thoughtful, if Austin's experience is  
accurate.  But all the SOBOs over the years who have braved that  
journey, as well as all the day- and section-hikers who cross the  
border from Canada on the PCT--and any other border-crossing trail-- 
have never reported any harassment from the US Border Patrol, at least  
so far.

As long as it remains a low-visibility feature, my guess is that it  
will continue to be a non-problem.  But, if you think there are secret  
border agents hanging out at Monument 78, I suppose you could walk  
from the US side just up TO the border and, probably at the dark of  
night, carefully reach out and quickly touch the Monument and bring  
your immigrating fingers quickly back to safety.  Of course, you will  
then miss all the special treats that reside inside the Monument  
itself (it comes apart), but that's the price of paranoia.

>
>
>
> Any opinions on starting in Canada and moving south?  Any problems
> ever experienced??
> thanks, K
>
> Austin wrote...
>
> Okay, i just got off the phone with U.S. Customs (360-988-2971) and  
> they
> said that people are not allowed to cross into the U.S. via the  
> PCT.  They
> said that if caught it would be considered "entering the U.S. without
> inspection"... they apologized for not being as accommodating as  
> Canada.
> Now, I don't know (nor did I have the rocks to ask the customs lady)  
> how one
> might actually get caught... if it could only be done on the off- 
> chance that
> a border patrolman *happened* to be there when you crossed, or if  
> there is
> some kind of digital record that would indicate that someone had  
> crossed
> north and then somehow got back without passing through inspection.
> I'm not sure.
> But with the current political climate (and the fact that I *really*  
> don't
> want any legal hangups while trying to enjoy this trip), I think  
> I'll opt to
> start on *this* side of the border... hike north *to* the border...  
> tag the
> monument, then turn around walk to Mexico.
>
> Just another SOBO challenge I suppose.
>
> -Austin
>
>
> There have been 11 hikers cross in the last couple of weeks. I have  
> never
> heard of any problems in doing a SOBO......no matter what the  
> Canadian Govt
> says. I have 4 hikers here right now in Skykomish that crossed with no
> problems. In six years of dealing with hikers going both ways no one  
> has
> complained. Some have been worried about going to the I-5 crossing  
> at Blaine
> and not being able to get back in due to past warrants and legal  
> charges.
>
> PCT MOM
>
>
> By the way...........in the last 20 years has anyone ever been  
> caught by US
> Customs walking across the Canadian/US border to get on the PCT ??  
> If so,
> what happened to them ??
>
> Now if all the hikers started calling and advising Customs that they  
> wanted
> to cross the border "illegally" it might just give Customs a good  
> reason to
> park their rears on the border and wait for you all. You may be  
> causing a
> problem that will be hazardous to a lot of future hikers.
>
> Austin..............you need to lighten up and just go hike.
>
> PCT MOM
>
> I doubt that the risk is actually in being physically observed  
> crossing from Canada to the US.  The risk is sometime in the future  
> when you go to leave the country and the border agent looks in his  
> computer and says, "Hey, wait a minute.  You left the US [X] years  
> ago and never came back.  You're not supposed to be here.  Please  
> step inside, sir . . ."
>
> If it were me, I think I'd make sure that the documentation  
> regarding my exits and entrances all line up according to the  
> rules.  But that's just me.
>
> Eric
>
>
> Eric,
> so you think it best to be afraid of the consequences and base my
> decision on a fear of our own govt?  or to avoid being hassled about
> it?  you might be right.
>    goddam military state.  borders are just invisible lines that
> exist only because we believe in them.
>  any other opinions or experiences?      thanks for the input, K
>
> as per my understanding, US authorities don't check your leaving the
> country when you go into Canada so you're safe to return on the PCT.  
> As far
> as the authorities go, it's like you never left.
> rainskirt