[pct-l] Pct-l Digest, Vol 23, Issue 27
cascuba
cascuba at yahoo.com
Wed Nov 11 10:43:48 CST 2009
please unsubscribe me.
thanks
--- On Wed, 11/11/09, pct-l-request at backcountry.net <pct-l-request at backcountry.net> wrote:
From: pct-l-request at backcountry.net <pct-l-request at backcountry.net>
Subject: Pct-l Digest, Vol 23, Issue 27
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 8:35 AM
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Bees (Bob Bankhead)
2. Re: Bees (Bill Burge)
3. Re: El Nino for 2010 and snow hiking
(ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com)
4. Re: for hikers with extensive backpacking experience
(Stephen Adams)
5. 2010 Snow Course Dates Set! (ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com)
6. Re: FW: for hikers with extensive backpacking experience
(Ellen Shopes)
7. Re: Headlamps (Steve McAllister)
8. Trail Humor - From You Know Who (hiker97 at aol.com)
9. Re: Pct-l Digest, Vol 23, Issue 26 (Meridith Rosendahl)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:30:40 -0800
From: "Bob Bankhead" <wandering_bob at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bees
To: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com"
<diane at santabarbarahikes.com>, <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <4199FEF24C6444FDAEDEC4885464F888 at BOB>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
With bees and wasps, the Queen and all workers are female.
Drones are males, and serve only reproductive functions. There are very few in each colony and once the queen has mated with one, the remaining drones are driven out of the hive to die. The drone that flew away with the queen doesn't return from his experience.
----- Original Message -----
From: Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 6:16 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bees
On Nov 10, 2009, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> Next time you see one of these gals, thank
> her for the vital gifts her species contributes to our world.
Are they female? I always thought drones were male and the only
female was the queen.
I agree bees are wonderful creatures. I like to "give" bees from
Heifer International for Christmas gifts. But as a person who has
been stung by swarms of angry yellow jackets, I try to stay as far
away from bees as I can get. I have to admit the few times I saw
yellow jackets on the PCT I freaked out. I think one time I even
screamed and ran for my life. I get really jumpy around them. It's
totally irrational.
Diane
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------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:33:39 -0800
From: Bill Burge <bill at burge.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bees
To: Pacific Crest Trail List <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <B647E77E-27DA-43AA-9ABB-7D704CECD0D5 at burge.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
OK, let's see (taking notes)...
1) females are for working
2) males are only for sex
Got it! ;-)
Now, to apply it!!!! :-D
Also, you should treat the females with respect and keep your distance
until you are sure you are safe because you never know what will piss
them off! (Bees too!)
BillB
On Nov 10, 2009, at 6:30 PM, Bob Bankhead wrote:
> With bees and wasps, the Queen and all workers are female.
>
> Drones are males, and serve only reproductive functions. There are
> very few in each colony and once the queen has mated with one, the
> remaining drones are driven out of the hive to die. The drone that
> flew away with the queen doesn't return from his experience.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 6:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bees
>
>
>
> On Nov 10, 2009, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>> Next time you see one of these gals, thank
>> her for the vital gifts her species contributes to our world.
>
> Are they female? I always thought drones were male and the only
> female was the queen.
>
> I agree bees are wonderful creatures. I like to "give" bees from
> Heifer International for Christmas gifts. But as a person who has
> been stung by swarms of angry yellow jackets, I try to stay as far
> away from bees as I can get. I have to admit the few times I saw
> yellow jackets on the PCT I freaked out. I think one time I even
> screamed and ran for my life. I get really jumpy around them. It's
> totally irrational.
>
> Diane
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:22:03 -0800
From: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] El Nino for 2010 and snow hiking
To: "Carey Russell" <carey at kestrelfilms.com>, <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <7877ADFB22FF417288C8521A0B52770B at PacificCrestPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Hi, Carey!
At Mountain Education we train hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts how to
prepare for and safely conduct their own backpacking trips into the Fourth
Season. We have snowshoed the length of the Sierra during all of the winter
months, whether there was a lot of snow or just a little. So, here is our
advice regarding the "passability" of the Sierra under snow:
Unless there is a drought, you will be dealing with snow somewhere along the
trail, whether on the peaks of SoCal, along the high sierra, or in the PNW
where the pack may still be lingering once you get there, so learn how to
deal with it, either by getting out and practicing in it on your own this
winter, reading how others went through it, or attending some sort of class,
club, or other course that will teach you how. This is just being smart and
looking ahead to see what you're up against and preparing for it in whatever
way makes you feel "ready."
Whether there is 6 inches, six feet, or 20 feet, you deal with it the same,
cautiously. You suddenly can't see the trail easily, so you'll have to know
how to navigate topographically while being very careful how you place your
feet so as not to twist your ankle or slip on a buried rock or branch. The
more snow, the less you'll have to worry about rocks and branches, but you
will have to watch out for buried tree trunks, boulders, lakes, and creeks.
As the day's heat melts the snow in the Spring, you'll need to watch out for
shaded and morning ice and afternoon postholing (hard on the ankles, knees,
and backs), not to mention the suncups and creek crossings.
Just be aware that these hazards are out there and learn how you're going to
identify and deal with them once you're there. Don't rely on "the other
hikers" to help you through the tough spots because they may not be around
when you need them. If they are, they can only tell you how to physically do
what you must. You still have to have the experience through practice, the
balance, and/or the foot/body/motor control to pull it off on your own
without getting hurt (visualize, here, crossing the icy chute below Forester
Pass or any of the white-water creek crossings within the springtime
sierra).
So, our advice is to start whenever you feel like, because you're probably
going to have snow anyway (unless there is a very light winter or a
drought). If you start early, say April 1st, you'll have more snow, but less
miles per day needed to get to Canada before the next Winter begins so you
can go slower and do more things along the way (fishing, exploring, peak
climbing, side trail hiking, photography, reading, sun-bathing, etc., etc.).
Mtnned
Mountain Education
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carey Russell" <carey at kestrelfilms.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 11:23 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Influence of El Nino for 2010?
> I'm currently preparing for a thru-hike of the PCT for the summer of
> 2010 and am curious if others are discussing the potential affects of
> El Nino weather patters for 2010. I'm only marginally familiar with
> this cyclical pattern, but my understanding is that the western U.S.
> should be receiving increased precipitation including extra snow in
> the Sierras. Because of this, my concern is that the high sierras may
> not be passable until much later in the hiking season. Any thoughts
> or experiences from previous El Nino years on the PCT?
>
> Thanks, Carey
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
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> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
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>
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:27:08 -0800
From: Stephen Adams <reddirt2 at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] for hikers with extensive backpacking experience
To: Jon Smith <considerizer at gmail.com>
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID: <423B3D0E-D16E-46CE-B78F-5BCCAAA74F92 at earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed; delsp=yes
Thanks, and my foot didn't taste all that good...
On Nov 10, 2009, at 6:28 PM, Jon Smith wrote:
> Had to take a brief intermission from my lurker status when I read
> this:
>
>> Stephen Adams reddirt2 at earthlink.net
>> Tue Nov 10 00:36:59 CST 2009
>> [pct-l] for hikers with extensive backpacking experience
>>
>> I hope I run into those folks. When is this trip, I'd like to cross
>> their path and send them out of the Sierra with don't come back
>> ringing in their ears...
>
> Sounded rather familiar.... from the same contributor who wrote the
> following
> diatribe in May:
>
>> [pct-l] Just going to put this out there for Metzger to consider
>> Stephen reddirt2 at earthlink.net
>> Sun May 3 19:23:07 CDT 2009
>>
>> Previous message: [pct-l] Just going to put this out there for
>> Metzger to consider
>> Next message: [pct-l] Just going to put this out there for Metzger
>> to consider
>> Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
>>
>> Learn what? I figured one thing out that I learned reading most of
>> the
>> posts here, that hiking the PCT has become somewhat of a joke. Is
>> this list
>> here to baby folks along who probably shouldn't be out there to
>> begin with?
>> If you can't let a little verbal comment slide off because you
>> disagree with
>> someone else's sense of humor I feel sorry for you. I'd rather buy
>> Reinhold
>> a beer near some Sierra trailhead this summer than try and get
>> along with a
>> bunch of sissies that can not leave home without an electronic
>> umbilical
>> coil, like GPS, sat phones, email etc, etc... Makes me kinda
>> wonder about
>> some of you all. Just because the trail is there does not
>> necessarily mean
>> everyone should be out there. Next time a thru-hiker hits me up
>> for a ride
>> to town I'm gonna inquire if they have a phone and if so then
>> suggest they
>> call a cab.
>> I've read some good stuff here, most of it humor actually, but as
>> far as
>> actually helpful information regarding the PCT it's pretty thin
>> with an
>> awful amount of needles and repetitive information that is starting
>> to
>> irritate me to the point I figure to just turn it off any day now.
>> I think
>> there are two people hiking currently I hope to meet, and that's
>> about it.
>> Not a very good percentage in my book, not enough to intice me to
>> want to
>> hike along the trail and be a part of the flow and what's going
>> on. Nope,
>> this list caused me to change my mind about the PCT, and the way
>> people are
>> approaching it. Hike your own hike for sure, but please do it
>> somewhere I
>> don't have to associate with you all.
>
> Mr. Adams appears to have had a change of heart regarding his
> decision to
> social associations. Welcome back, Mr. Adams.
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:01:40 -0800
From: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
Subject: [pct-l] 2010 Snow Course Dates Set!
To: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <5A21F0114C9843638F160DAB319D2D51 at PacificCrestPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
For those who have been waiting, the schedule is finally here!
Of the 40 or 50 of you who have already requested a desired month, now you can pick the weekend and sign up. If the weekend you'd like falls between two that are already scheduled, put your vote in and maybe we'll add another weekend training trip if there are enough students demanding it!
Looks like the last four weekends before the Kickoff will be assigned Course dates to accommodate those who have already expressed interest. If there is sufficient demand for more in March, we will add them, just tell us when you'd like to go.
So, here's the schedule:
December 4,5,6
December 18,19,20
January 16,17,18
January 29,30,31
February 13,14,15
February 26,27,28
March 12,13,14
March 26,27,28
April 2,3,4
April 9,10,11
April 16,17,18
At this point there will be no more Snow Courses scheduled beyond the Kickoff.
To find the Snow Course Description, go to http://postholer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=736 or email us.
Please look over the Forum of ours at http://postholer.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=25 for Preparation, Safety, and Snow Travel relevant topics with which to prepare for your thru hike.
We hope to see you soon!
Mtnned & Lady J
Mountain Education
Ned Tibbits, CEO
Pacific Crest Custom Builders, Inc
P: 888-996-8333
F: 530-541-1456
C: 530-721-1551
http://www.pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:49:44 -0600
From: "Ellen Shopes" <igellen at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] FW: for hikers with extensive backpacking
experience
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <F3E31E8DACDC4A6CB5BDAE65AD6FA719 at ELLEN>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Wow, I get tired just reading this!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher Kopp" <christopher.kopp at gmail.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 3:42 PM
Subject: [pct-l] FW: for hikers with extensive backpacking experience
If Skurka is guiding the Sierra High Route it?s not going to be next year as
he is doing this: http://andrewskurka.com/AK10/index.php
>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
------ End of Forwarded Message
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------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:13:14 -0500
From: Steve McAllister <brooklynkayak at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Headlamps
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
<e38b9fd80911110613n225ff9f4ka96d487e61b50ad3 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
A single AA battery headlamp like the Zebralite is light and using a
single AA battery is more cost effective in the long run.
You can also get AA batteries almost anywhere.
I never could understand why so many headlamps use 3 AAA batteries
when one AA has about the same amount of juice. Also AAA batteries
come in 4 packs not 3?
Use lithium batteries and you will get a lot more miles on a single
battery and they aren't as affect by the cold as other batteries.
On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 5:28 PM, Sasha Leidman <sleidman at gmail.com> wrote:
> I was thinking about buying a headlamp for backpacking and around the
> neigborhood, which brand/model would you guys suggest. Thanks
>
> --
> Sasha Leidman
> sleidman at gmail.com
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
--
... when your feeling blue, and you've lost all your dreams, there's
nothing like a campfire and a can of beans!
-- Tom Waits
http://kayakbrooklyn.blogspot.com
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:57:15 -0500
From: hiker97 at aol.com
Subject: [pct-l] Trail Humor - From You Know Who
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID: <8CC30FEC62261FF-3B54-4A30 at webmail-m078.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
An old PCT seasoned backpacker sits down in a diner and orders a cup of coffee at a trail-town stop in Bishop, CA. As he sips his coffee, some beautiful local women sit down at the next table.
One of them turns to him and asks, "Are you a real backpacker??"
He replies, "Well, I spent most of my time, since my youth hiking. I have done the Triple Crown and America Discovery Trail across the U.S. I am now thru-hiking the John Muir Trail for the 20th time. So, I guess you could say I am hiker trash. And proud of it."
She says, "Wow!! We are impressed!!"
"Well, we are lesbians! We spend all our time thinking about beautiful women. As soon as we get up in the morning, we think about women. For example, when I shower, I think about women. When I watch TV, I think about women. Seems like just about everything makes us think of women. So, that's why we are lesbians."
The old hiker replies, "Well, to each their own. It?s a free country."
A little while later the women get up to leave and say good-by to the hiker.
Later, some other hikers wander into the diner.
As they sit down next to his table and one of them says, "Say bro, are you
a real backpacker?"
The old hiker replies, "Well, I thought I was but I just learned that I'm a lesbian."
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:35:15 -0800
From: Meridith Rosendahl <meridith.rosendahl at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Pct-l Digest, Vol 23, Issue 26
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Cc: Diane Soini <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
Message-ID: <4AFAE7C3.3000402 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:16:39 -0800
From: Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com
<diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bees
I get really jumpy around them. It's
totally irrational.
Diane
It's not irrational. They HURT.
Piper's Mom
------------------------------
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End of Pct-l Digest, Vol 23, Issue 27
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