[pct-l] Hiker Trash

[Philippe Gouvet]

Dear friends,

I am a PCT thru-hiker wannabe for 2012. I just received this message from a friend living in Palm Springs. For what it's worth, I thought you might be interested to read it... This topic has unfortunately been discussed recently.

Philippe




I do have a tidbit from the PCT.   There is a lady at the gym whom I have spoken with from time to time; she and her husband live near SnowCreek in the Whitewater area. The PCT comes down from Mount San Jacinto there and hikers are trespassing in the homes that are there.  Most of the people who live in that area want to be left alone but there has been an upsurge in people coming in their yard to get water.  The worst part is that they are trashing the area and not even being respectful.  The leave trash, soda cans, and bottles.   Part of the area adjacent to the trail down goes by land owned by the water company.  Several times, the water agency has pursued people who trespassed there.  They are very protective of the aquifer.  To complicate matters, someone is growing marijuana up there and there are surveillance cameras in a number of areas.    Although this is not the last word on this area, it seems that this person was very concerned.  They have helped a number of hikers who got lost and were out of water etc.  In the meantime, someone who lives there who works for Palm Springs Life has written an article inviting hikers to picnic in her yard and share water.  This article was written without the knowledge of the association of people who live in the area and the homeowners are extremely upset with her.   You might caution PCT hikers about his area to be sensitive.  I believe most people who would hike the PCT would not be people who would trespass or leave trash.  People who hike in these pristine places value nature as a precious commodity.