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

[Tracy Martin]

JMT,
When I was young I applied for many jobs....I was told"once you get
experience come on back". I had no credit but was told once I had some come
back and get that car. how does one get experience? How many times have we
heard"he/she had done it a thousand times, I don't know what went wrong?
People drive cars everyday, yet they make a mistake and and accident
happens.
In these dry conditions it is stupid to have a fire, but experience or no
experience....if you don't have/use common sense....it's useless. Hiking
last I checked wasn't rocket science and I hope it never evolves to that
level or I'm screwed.

I was out on the atv today in ut and we have a campfire ban. Yet in the
middle of no where a fire was smoldering in a makeshift fire ring and no
one was around. We stopped and played smokey bear. Folks have to give a
damn, not just relevent to hiking.

I agree with most of your posts, but on this one unless I'm reading it
wrong...you've come to the conclusion a novice hiker is the issue. And I do
agree with you on some of the questions asked, part of hiking is the
freedom and independence of the hike, hyoh and learn as you go. What works
for one, fails for someone else.
Take care.
Corona
On Aug 4, 2012 12:44 PM, "Reinhold Metzger" <reinholdmetzger at cox.net> wrote:

> 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
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