[pct-l] PCT thru timing for 2012

[PCT List]

The sierra are irrelevant. The average hiker that leaves April 1st
will be skipping and flipping before they to get to I-10. Your
disregard for the abilities of the average hiker (your abilities are
irrelevant) and the winter conditions they'll face in the SoCal desert
and mountains is appalling. Why would you encourage this?

You are incredibly, irresponsibly wrong for promoting a March and
April 1st start date in a normal snow year for the average hiker.

June 15th in a normal snow year is significantly past peak snow melt.
Why would you 'doubt' that a hiker could make Canada before the snow
flies? How can you even make such a statement when you admittedly
don't know what the numbers are? You simply do not know. In your 37
years of experience you have no clue. I'll give you a hint, a hiker
that leaves KM after peak melt in a normal snow year has a FANTASTIC
chance of making Canada, without dealing with all the dangerous and
'soul crushing' conditions you deem so necessary for a successful
hike.

You want hikers to be 'realistic about their intentions'? A 3 day
field trip to the Sierra Snow this summer is a far cry from hiking
hundreds of miles in snow-clogged forests. How could an average
potential thru hiker not from the area even begin to fully understand?

Ned, you need to take a step back and look beyond the end of your own
nose. The average, potential thru-hiker does not have your abilities.
Encouraging them to hike your hike, telling them they'll fail if they
don't......when you don't even know.

-postholer