[pct-l] Best Practices

[Ned Tibbits]

Just a point to add to what Chuck said,

By the time thru hikers enter the sierra, they have learned what it takes 
and what to carry for SoCal's environments.

Yes, they have had contact with snow, but nothing like what they will have 
to deal with from Cottonwood on. So, how could they know what "works" for 
them in the sierra if they just got arrived?.

If you're out there when they cruise through (as we are in May, June, and 
July), you'll notice many are simply pushing through by shear will and 
determination, not properly equipped, but dealing with discomfort.

I think most thrus enter the sierra on a hope and a prayer with a little 
awareness about the snow trail from research and a lot of experience from 
the dry trail thus far. Some have gone a little further in their Preparation 
stage and gotten a little more time-on-snow to know what "works" for them on 
snow, but really don't know what the sierra is going to throw at them. These 
folks go in with crampons (maybe) and ice axes, more clothes, and way more 
food and are a bit more comfortable for it.

A large percentage bail out to Lone Pine early on, either from Cottonwood or 
Kearsarge to buy what they have just discovered is better suited to their 
new, white environment than what they have been using amidst the sage and 
oak. Many can not afford to change anything about how they hike and just 
hope that the way they're set up for dry trail will "work" for the snow 
trail and just "deal with it."

Yet, we still come back to the percentages. The PCT completion rate is about 
30%. Is it because of their experiences in the snowy sierra? A thru hike of 
this trail has a way of touching the soul and changing lives because of all 
the time spent living so simply. What can we as former thru hikers do to 
help current and aspiring thrus make it all the way? Is it better 
preparation, timing, gear-clothing-food, training, education that will help 
keep hikers on-trail and touch their lives forever?



Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
www.mountaineducation.org
-----Original Message----- 
From: CHUCK CHELIN
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 7:21 AM
To: PCT listserve
Subject: [pct-l] Best Practices

Good morning,

It is easy to mislead people into believing incorrect or inappropriate
“facts”:  Most of us learned that aerodynamics “proves” that it is
impossible for a bumblebee to fly, but any child can easily see that they
most certainly can fly.  When I was in secondary school and interested in
cars it was widely accepted that competitive drag-racing would soon
disappear because due to a lack of traction it was impossible for a
wheel-powered vehicle to exceed about 150 mph in a quarter-mile given any
amount of power.  Dragsters now regularly exceed 300 mph.  Both of these
examples have threads of fact being applied incorrectly or inappropriately.

I see much the same approach being taken by advocates of heavy boots and
heavy packs.  I’ve begun to call those people the sumo-hikers.

Energy is required to move or lift an object; and more weight always
requires more energy is required regardless of any quasi-perpetual motion
pendulum theory.

To analyze best-practices in shoe and pack weight, I suggest some homework:
It’s easy, being almost as pleasant as conducting field experiments in
human sexuality.  Replay all 8 of the wonderful “PCT Class of…” video
presentations and look carefully at the gear being used by hikers;
particularly in the Sierra.  By that point the long-distance hikers will
have learned what is necessary and will have shed most of what is not.  Look
at what shoes are they wearing?  How big are their packs? Are they carrying
or wearing mountaineering crampons?  Are they carrying or using an ice axe?
Are they having to break-trail across huge, steep expanses of side-slope?

Hikers take photos of what is beautiful or interesting.  Difficult pieces
of trail are interesting, and are often seen in photos.  Do you think any
of those hikers are wishing that they had great, heavy boots or 80-pound
packs to help them through that difficulty?

These people are not fools who are punishing themselves or risking their
lives at every turn.  They are not soldiers who are required to carry lots
of heavy equipment. They are practical and experienced long-distance hikers
who have empirically determined what works.

Steel-Eye

-Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/
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