[pct-l] Transcontinental Triathalon Team left Manning yesterday AND tips for SOBO hikers crossing the border

[Connie Davis]

Greetings!
Mission Control and I (along with our daughter and son-in-law) hosted the
Hobos overnight on July 3rd and took them to the PCT trailhead in Manning
yesterday. They were very excited to begin the hiking portion of their
triathalon, having kayaked to Seattle from Alaska.
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hobos/1/1278157707/tpod.html
It looks like they made it to Hopkins Lake last night according to SPOT.

They had quite a story to tell about trying to get across the border on
foot!  Some suggestions:
1) Do not say you are entering the US from Canada via the PCT. Just say you
are going backpacking for a few days or a week in Manning Park or meeting a
friend for some backpacking.
2)  Do not say you will be hitchhiking in Canada.  You will be taking
Greyhound to Manning or be met by a friend who is giving you a ride once you
walk across to the other side.  If you cross at the Sumas-Huntingdon
crossing (into Abbotsford, BC) the Greyhound station is very accessible by
public transportation or walking, so this is plausible.
3) Do not say you are unemployed. They may want to see that you have enough
funds in your bank account to finance your stay (which may mean a trip to a
bank to print your balance.) You might be on a leave of absence of work or
on vacation...
4) Try to sound specific. If you are vague, you will get questioned more.
5)  If you are with a group, they are likely to split you up and interview
you separately, so make sure your stories match.

You can contact me off list and I can give you particulars with my contact
information and what I do and I will be the friend you are visiting in BC to
go backpacking with.  You, of course, met me while backpacking.

Back to the Hobos: These two have oodles of mountaineering experience and
were really looking forward to seeing the North Cascades!  They took a good
look at my PCT gear and I suspect they will be lightening their load as they
go!  We were entertained by lots of stories from their adventures.

Lookout
Class of 2005
now living in Hope, BC, 45 minutes from Manning Park