[pct-l] Pooh Corner

[JOHN F PATTERSON]

I grounded , not unlike a marooned fish - at Pooh Corner in mid June ( me at three score and ten . . . )
I had hiked as far as S Lake Tahoe ( from the Mex border ) in 2004 and had thought to pick up 
from where I had left off : flew from Connecticut , my home , to commence this the ' latest ' installment of my adventures . 
I had first gone to Portland hoping to do a section across the ' face ' of Mt Hood . Snow - lots of it . I flew to Reno and cast about for ( PCT ) help ; Bill ( and Molly , Person 
: Pooh Corner personified ) responded to my call via the PCT ' list '  even though their ' season ' had not really begun .
They ( Bill , as to my ' kit ' ) TOOK CHARGE ! Out went all the heavy items ; all the excess . " One light " , he points out as we disgarded that extra ' little ' flashlight 
my brother had given me and soon many / much more . Not only that , but Bill loaned me ( even ) his own gear - to include a back pack 
( Go Lite ) and much other essential equipment . 
So what ? Sooo , really , E V E R Y T H I N G ( !! ) as without that fresh knowledge as to hiking , ' lite ' and having
someone lay it on the line with me , say clearly , " No , you ' t need that , I think  " . . . someone like Bill who eventually leaves it up to you but presents such
overwhelming evidence as to his ( the best . . . ) case , that it is then easy to get it , right . 
We tried me out with my ' new ' gear along the old trail of the Transcontinental RR - snow tunnels and all . Then Bill dropped me near Donner Pass and I headed 
south for a few days on the PCT . It was , of course , just right and despite other problems , unrelated . . . which he / they also sorted through with
me , all this ' prep ' put me in great shape to hike the , Sierra , ' High Camps ' with family  the following week . 
Thank you , Bill . Thank you , Molly  . 
Rafter Jack