[pct-l] enough with the chicken thread

[Stephen]

I agree.  But transfer the personal papers and cash to your person when in 
town or resupplies, and I'd pocket it at night out of my pack in bear 
country.  In other words, sleep with it.  And along the same lines, keep 
good track of your gear, esspecially in town or at the store etc... 
Hitching a ride?  Strap poles to pack, and everything else.  Don't leave 
anything lying around.  Develop good habits early and they will become 
natural.  After breaks, stops, or leaving campsites etc, go back and take a 
look around.  I for one have found a lot of gear in the Sierra, and returned 
a few items for people who have discovered they left things behind.  I 
dislike packing this stuff out.  Things found include but not limited to, 
knives, water filters, pack covers, plastic sheeting, rain shells, hats, 
sandals, bandanas, fannie packs, water bottles, cook ware, hiking poles, 
etc, etc...  It will be time well spent taking a quick look around rather 
than trying to decide to hike a half day back to where you think you left 
something.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ikem Freeman" <ikem.freeman at yahoo.com>
To: "PCT-L" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 8:43 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] enough with the chicken thread


DP,

I agree with almost everything you suggested, except for one: #6 laminate 
your thru permit ... Don't waist the weight!

In '08, I ran into about 4 rangers, mostly after KM. I had to ASK THEM to 
look at my thru permit, and quite frankly, none of them wanted to nor did 
they care! My thought was this ... I've been carrying the silly thing since 
CAMPO, I at least wanted someone to see it! Don't get me wrong here, EVERY 
THRU HIKER NEEDS ONE ... just don't add more weight to your pack to laminate 
it. Rather, bury it deep in the unknown pockets of your back and know that 
it's safe there, along with your passport and your stash of emergency cash..

O. Ikem Sofar

--- On Mon, 3/16/09, David Plotnikoff <david at emeraldlake.com> wrote:


From: David Plotnikoff <david at emeraldlake.com>
Subject: [pct-l] enough with the chicken thread
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Monday, March 16, 2009, 2:43 AM


Hello from a longtime list lurker.

I was disappointed to see one of our campfire circle's notorious
jokers bring up the walking chicken thread again. I suppose there are
newcomers every season who haven't tired of it.

Everyone who is anyone on the PCT knows that this is a sad, worn-out
joke and the only serious way to get walking protein (as opposed to
protein you have to carry) is goats. (Carolyn Eddy, forgive me. I
will burn in hell, I know.)

In 2005, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the so-called "Goat
People" who I'd been hearing about through most of Southern
California. Unfortunately, I met them on a day that they'd probably
log as one of their worst. Sid the Goat and his people had entered
Sequoia National Park, nobo on the PCT and made it as far as almost
Crabtree before encountering a NPS backcounty ranger. The ranger took
one look at the thru permit, which listed Sid as "pack stock" and
said conclusively, "This ain't gonna wash." He then escorted them
back from whence they came -- ending their contiguous thru-hike. By
the time I saw them around Chicken Spring Lake, they were in a
white-hot rage. And wondering how hard it would be to hitch down to
Lone Pine from the Horseshoe Meadows TH with a GOAT! Lotsa luck with
that, kids. (Actually, it's possible Sid wasn't any more offensive to
the nose than your standard thru-hiker ...)

Personally, I didn't see what the problem was. Use a pack goat from
Campo to KM. EAT a pack goat from KM to Kearsarge. Pick up a second
goat once you clear Sonora Pass. No fuss. No problem. (Unless you're
the goat.) Anyone who's familiar with California's taqueria scene
probably knows a half-dozen recipes for birria and cabrito. I prefer
mine beer-braised in a Dutch oven over very low heat for six hours.
Others say spit-roasting (al pastor style) is the only way to go.


On a more sober note, I sense some of you are getting a case of the
antsy pants, waiting to board that plane to San Diego. Don't go all
twitchy on me. Here are some things you might do to fill the
remaining days:

1) Get a tetanus booster if you haven't had one in the past 10 years.
Why: Because the PCT is a filthy place. And you know you're not
equipped to really sterilize a major abrasion or laceration in the
backcountry.

2) Get a bunch of .5 oz. mini Purell hand sanitizers and throw them
in your resupply boxes. Why: Because gastrointestinal problems end
more thru hikes than lions, tigers, bears, acts of God and grad
school combined. Seriously cheap, lightweight trip insurance. It is
also civilian-grade napalm, which will get your survival fire started
on the wettest, most windy night.

3) Add a garbage bag to your packing list. Why: For a few grams,
you're getting peace of mind that you will have a dry sleeping bag
and a dry change of clothes on the one day it REALLY opens up on you.
Seriously cheap, lightweight trip insurance.

4) Go to a drugstore and laminate your thru permit. Why: Because a
wad of wet mush isn't very impressive to a ticketing ranger.

5) Put your name and home phone on your poles. Why: Because they all
look the same. And this will increase the chances you will be
reunited with them after you leave them in the back of someone's
truck at the end of a hitch. (Seriously, this happens more often than
you think...)

6) Don't make an emergency first-responder play detective trying to
find your next-of-kin contact info. I know it sounds grim, but if a
husband/wife/parent/whomever has medical power of attorney for care
decisions when you are not conscious to make the call yourself,
plainly label that person's contacts: "PRIMARY EMERGENCY CONTACT" in
big, bold letters.

7) The Manns/Bob Reiss. The Saufleys. The Andersons. The Braatens.
The Heitmans. The Dinsmores. And the rest of the angels. This is of
critical importance. Either write it down or make an indelible mental
note: When you encounter these people, you need to ask yourself,
"What did *I* do to help?" Doing the dishes, chipping in for gas
money or groceries, whatever. Why: Because it's the right thing to
do. You're part of a community. Nobody on the PCT succeeds alone.


All the best to the Class of 2009!

DP

www.emeraldlake.com/pctguide/
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