[pct-l] amazing coincidence - John Donovan's friend

[Tortoise]

Tuesday I did my usual weekly volunteer roving for Redwood National Park. A 
couple stopped me to ask a question and we talked. Conservation led to 
hiking and the PCT and ultralight. Turns out she was a friend and coworker 
of John Donovan who died on Mt. San Jacinto in 2005 and was part of his 
retirement party from the office where they both worked. I told them about 
how we on the PCT list became concerned and some went out searching for 
John. She told me about John being so stubborn and obstinate and compulsive 
where he would even reject carrying an extra ounce.

His coworkers wanted to give him a GPS as his retirement gift but John 
wouldn't accept one. He was a character.

Seems his death was due more to obstinate stubbornness rather than ultralight.

She also told how John had spent two days hanging on a rope off a cliff in 
south eastern Europe (I don't recall the country) and occasionally calling 
for help until some other hikers came along and he was rescued.

RIP, John. One of the true originals of the hikers.

-- 
Tortoise

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable
President John F Kennedy,  1962

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