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

[Reinhold Metzger]

Yes Tracy,
I can see why you might be reading it that way.
However, I did not mean to imply that a novice hiker was the cause of 
the fire....fires can be caused by experienced hikers as well.
I was merely venting my frustration with some of the irresponsible 
statements on the list that mislead and encourage some novice hikers to 
believe that the PCT is a piece of cake and encourages them to attempt a 
thru-hike for which they may not be properly prepared and wind up over 
their head.
The PCT is not piece of cake....it is one of our more challenging long 
trails and should not be underestimated.
Take care and HYOH.

JMT Reinhold
-------------------------------------------------------
On 8/4/2012 6:19 PM, Tracy Martin wrote:
JMT, 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.
>
> On Aug 4, 2012 12:44 PM, "Reinhold Metzger" <reinholdmetzger at cox.net 
> <mailto: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
>