[pct-l] Chips Fire explodes...lessons to be learned

[Reinhold Metzger]

Jeffrey,
I  "DO  GET  IT"....and you are absolutely correct and hit the nail 
right on the head.
Yup,....leave no trace hiking sets a high standard, in our books anyhow.
The trouble is, not all folks adhere to that high standard.
And yes,...it is easier and easier to hike the trail and some hikers, as 
you say, display a combination of cluelessness and lack of common sense.

It is my opinion that many of these problems are the result of to many 
inexperienced hikers on the trail.
That is why I always shake my head when I hear folks on this list come 
out with statements like..."Oohh
anybody can hike the trail"...."Grandmother can hike the 
trail"...."Kinder Garden Kids can hike the trail"
..."you don't need any experience....you will gain experience as you 
hike"...."hiking in the wilderness is safer than your neighborhood 
park"...."the bears won't bother you and the snakes will not bite unless you
bother them"....and, if you get into trouble, you can always call 911".

And, by some of the questions asked on this list, it is obvious that 
some PCT hikers are inexperienced hikers or have no hiking experience 
and don't have any clue what they are getting into or know the rules of 
the game.

I am not saying that experienced hikers do not cause problems and all 
problems are caused by inexperienced hikers....what I am saying is there 
is no substitute for experience and experienced hikers make fewer mistakes

That is my perspective.

JMT Reinhold
  ----------------------------------------------------

Jeffrey wrote:
I find it astounding that people build fires while hiking the PCT in any 
but extreme emergency cold/wet conditions.
To me this shows a combination of cluelessness, lack of common sense and 
selfishness.
Leave no trace hiking sets a high standard.
It's easier and easier to hike the trail with all the different written 
and online guides and proliferation of people offering support.
That doesn't mean principled hiking gives over to a slacker mentality.
No one is ignorant out there about the potential destructiveness of fires.
Why not be rational and act on this knowledge?

I  JUST  DON'T  GET  IT...

Jeffrey Olson Rapid, City, SD