[pct-l] wheeled backpack

[Dan Jacobs]

On Mon, Jan 21, 2013 at 12:01 PM, David Ellzey <david at xpletive.com> wrote:
> My job requires me to work with the ADA (specifically, section 508a) frequently and I think there is a basic misunderstanding going on here. The ADA primarily establishes that managers of property to provide equitable access to people with disabilities under penalty of law. There are however exclusions and some of you have pointed out that the PCT is one of those. In that the agencies managing the trail are exempt from providing equitable access to people with disabilities, you are correct.
>
> However, this only means they are not required to grade it to 7%, pave it 36" wide with curbs and install guard rails. It does not in any way mean that those agencies can deny access to a disable person in a wheelchair. Hypothetically, if a wheelchair were invented that could handle the trail as it exists, then a legally disabled person who required such a wheelchair could use it on the PCT, even if that device were motorized. Given the difficulty of the trail, I think it will be a long time before any such wheelchair is invented. In the meantime it seems that livestock is the closest thing and its inherently legal.
>
> So in short, the wilderness agencies are excluded from conforming to access standards but cannot deny special access.

Thank you for helping to clear that up. I believed that it would be,
at the very least, ignorant to deny access to someone simply because
they have a handicap that needs accommodation in order to travel
through wilderness. Of course everything else involved will require
imagination, determination, aggravation, maybe a little levitation,
and possibly starvation. Any other -tions that belong in that list
will certainly show themselves at some point, and likely at the most
inopportune times. Certainly no one is going to expect the trail to be
paved, and accessible toilets installed, but allowing a person that
needs the accommodation of a wheeled pack carrier to use the trail
just is no big deal, even with a big wheel. If he moves the load with
his feet pushing against the ground, he's a hiker, and everyone should
respect that.

> Back to the original post about the wheeled backpack. Unless your son is legally disabled then the short answer is no. If he is, I would say it's a horrible idea as having a bunch of weight on a wheel behind you sounds like a balance nightmare, especially on steep downhill sections. I would also venture to guess that the added weight of the wheeled rig makes it a poor choice in comparison to the ultralight approach. If your base weight with a wheeled pack is 20lbs and it takes half that weight off your back then you can get a similar result with a 10lbs base weight without all the complications of a wheel on a rough path. Finally mass is mass, even if it has wheels. You are adding mass to ease the weight bearing on his back but he would still have to haul that extra mass up and down hills. It would take its toll.
>
> BigToe

I am a pretty big fan of self determination. This includes dreaming
big, and falling on your face bigger. There could be some mechanical
workarounds to some of the issues your well thought out reply brings
up (a braking system for better downhill control, two wheels for
stability, maybe some sort of tire chain or spike system for snow and
ice, etc, etc) but if the young man and his father want to try, who
are any of us to tell them they should not? I am sure they are aware
of the issues they will be dealing with, and those that are unknown at
this time will likely be handled as they have other things that have
come up as possible barriers in the past.

I hope they do it, and when they are done, celebrate the
accomplishment in a most raucous manner, and take the time to do some
light thumb-nosing to the nay-sayers!

Dan Jacobs
Washougal
--
"Loud motorcycle stereos save lives"
Motorcycle to hike, hike to motorcycle