[pct-l] Rangers

[Ground Pounder]

"How's Your Trail?"  Thanks Amanda, you just sent me back a few years. In
1976 my Wife and our two daughters camped at McCall park off Hwy 74 and the
turn to Idyllwild. We got up early, it was Easter Sunday, we rode our four
horses to the top of tahquitz peak and at the lookout tower met a female
ranger who gave us our squirrel cards for making it all the way to the top.
It took all day to go up and back, I just realized that our youngest at the
time was 8 years old. The hardest part was Devils slide, my horse almost
went over the side with me ready to jump but she got her footing and we
continued to the top. It was a Great day thanks for the Memories.  Remember
"Be Prepared" Ground Pounder Bill "Semper Fi"  

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Amanda L Silvestri
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 6:49 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Rangers

I think that Shelly is about on the mark.  I few years back I became so
enamored with the area above Idyllwild that I spent the summer as a
Volunteer Wilderness Ranger just to spend more time there and to really
learn the area.  
 
There were only a few Law Enforcement Rangers (LER) assigned there at that
time, although any ranger could radio for the LER to meet someone at the
trail head or somewhere along their line-of-hike to issue a ticket.  Mostly
it was about educating the public about why the rules were in place and not
about punishing people or power-tripping. 
 
What I did was make sure that folks had their permits.  I would also advise
them as to proper footwear and rain wear.  Day-hikers did not realize that
it rained almost daily in those mountains and that you could be very wet and
cold and sick by the time you got back to your car..  I would check camping
areas for smoldering fires, or worse, and direct or lead lost hikers back to
the trail head, etc. 
 
One time I spoke with a group of hikers at the trail head who were going up
to the forest lookout tower.  I asked them if they knew what to do in case
of lightening.  Being funny they raised their tracking poles up into the air
to simulate lightening rods.  We all laughed.  They turned out to be fairly
regular hikers in that area.  Whenever I saw them after that , they would
all yell "It's Amanda!" and raise there tracking poles together like the
Three Musketeers.  It was our little joke, although it did perplex the other
rangers just a bit.
 
Shepherd
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