[pct-l] for hikers with extensive backpacking experience

[Ellen Shopes]

I agree that the distance/day and price seem reasonable.  Mountain Travel 
Sobek offers the JMT.  They actually divide into 2 trips (each at 
$4500-5000).  Those who sign up have the luxury of having horses pack their 
gear and really, really good food, as well as the security of traveling with 
an established company.
    We passed the group one year on the JMT.  I drooled over their food 
(which they were nice enough to offer me some): herbed cheese, fresh bread, 
hummus, and lots of other stuff.  I, on the other hand, had a fully stuffed 
bear can with the usual stuff.  I declined their kind offer in order to 
lighten my own load (I must have been nuts!).
Elderly Ellen
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "AsABat" <asabat at 4jeffrey.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 11:21 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] for hikers with extensive backpacking experience


> The Sierra High Route is very different from the PCT or JMT. It is mostly 
> off trail at a bit higher elevation with many class 2/3 passes that 
> without good routefinding could become problems. Climbing over large 
> boulders does not lend itself to 20 mile days easily. It is possible for 
> speeds of less than 1 mph sometimes. Of course some could go faster but 
> they wouldn't be hirng a guide.
>
> $250 a day is a fair rate for a guided trip considering food, food drops, 
> shuttle, and guides. I won't be signing up and have no idea who will but 
> have no doubt there is a market for it.
>
> AsABat
>
> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jeff.singewald at comcast.net
> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 15:42:37
> To: Gary Schenk<gwschenk at socal.rr.com>
> Cc: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] for hikers with extensive backpacking experience
>
>
>
> I think Skurka is offering an alternative to those that are afraid to go 
> out in the dark without there Yuppie 911 device.
>
>
>
> I would agree, however, that this price is absurd. For that price, I 
> wonder if he is planning to hire sherpas to carry the gear for these as 
> well.
>
>
>
> And 7.5 miles per day? What does one do with the other 8 hours of light? 
> On a serious note, this is something I have always wondered about since 
> completing my thru in 2006. Do other thru-hikers (or for that matter long 
> distance section hikers as well), struggle with short-mileage hiking days 
> after their thru-hike is over? Just seems like the pull to be walking 
> never goes away after you spend a summer hiking 20-30 miles day after day.
>
>
>
> Elevator
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gary Schenk" <gwschenk at socal.rr.com>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Monday, November 2, 2009 9:34:45 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] for hikers with extensive backpacking experience
>
> That's incredible.
>
> Who in their right mind would pay $6500 to backpack in the Sierra? Am I
> missing something here?
>
> Gary
>
> On Monday 02 November 2009 12:45:03 Marcia wrote:
>> >From my November Adventure Mag Issue, page 54:
>>
>> Thru-hike the Sierra with Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides and Andrew
>> Skurka, on the 195 mile Sierra High Route. Price: $6,495, Length 26 days
>> (or $250 per day for 7.5 miles per day). Limit 6 hikers.
>>
>> Steve Roper, the SHR "route founder" says in his guide intro that he 
>> really
>> considered pros and cons before he wrote his guide; he wanted the High
>> Route to remain pristine. I hope a party of eight hikers camping every 
>> 7.5
>> miles, on average, treads lightly.
>>
>> Marcia
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>
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