[pct-l] ADZPCTKO

[Scott Williams]

Hey Anna,

I've known a number of folks who started after the semester ended at CAL
and other colleges, sometimes much later than you will be.  You won't be
that far behind that you can't catch up.  Use those first few weeks of
fewer people to get the experience of hiking alone.  When you catch the
pack, you may be ready for more folks, but don't get me wrong, you'll still
be meeting folks starting on May 10th.

As for the ADZPCTKO, coming down over the weekend is a great way to get
totally psyched up and ready for your start.  Just to let you and everyone
else know, the organizers are actively organizing, and this years ADZ, as
in the past, will be a wonderful celebration of you, this year's Thru
Hiker.   For you thru hikers, it will cost not one red cent.  It's sort of
your first taste of trail magic.  With that comes the giving back part, and
we welcome any and every volunteer willing to help set up on thursday,
4-25-13, or break down on 2-28-13 as well as helping cook meals or set up
for presentations ect.

For the early arrivals, there will be a special treat on Thursday evening
after the organizing meetings in the pavilion, Squatch (who will be the
overall MC this year) will be airing his new movie, Flip Flop Flipping 2.
 It's filmed on the AT over the past few years, but after all the movies
he's done of the PCT, it was about time he looked at our sister trail.  And
it just shows how magnanimous we are out on the PCT.  Should be a great
flick.

The day begins early Friday with rides to the border starting at 6am for
those who want to "slack pack" the first 20 miles to Lake Morena.
 Presentations start at 9am and will be nearly non-stop both Friday and
Saturday with food and fun wherever we can squeeze them in.  So far the
classes include: Desert Hiking, Bears Lions and Rattlesnakes, The Geology
of the PCT, Overuse Injuries, Mountain Safety and Snow Travel, Dicentra's
One Pan Wonders, The Snow and Water Report, PCT Trail Conditions Report by
the PCTA, Psychology of Thru Hiking Panel Discussion, and several more
still in the works.  If you've got a question for Half Mile or Yogi,
they'll be there.  Last year he helped me set up my GPS for the CDT!

Then of course Switchback the Notorious will be there with his Tips and
Secrets of Ultra Light Backpacking and a box of free gear.  The PCTA will
be cutting Thru Hiker Permits on the spot (see there was no reason to worry
about getting yours in the mail) and answering questions or just getting to
know you, and the National Parks and National Forest Service also have a
booth with information about their jurisdictions and cut you a Camp Fire
Permit.

After their terrific introduction last year as the preeminent Trail Angels
to the Trail Angels, the folks who help out the folks who help you all out,
the Wolverines of the PCT are returning.  This group of experienced long
distance hikers raised thousands of bucks last year for the Angels and
they'll be doing it again if the need arrises.  They will be operating the
"Shakedown Shack and Beta Booth"  SSBB, where they will take a look at your
gear and "explode your pack."  You may hear in no uncertain terms why that
big bottle of shampoo, metal utensils, full on Army mess kit, metal canteen
and backpack weighing 8 lbs (no kidding, I've seen all those and more) are
going to kill you down trail.

If you decide to switch out some of that ungodly heavy gear for newer Ultra
Light stuff, there will be vendors from the Nation's finest UL gear
providers.  In past that has included, Tarp Tent, Gossamer Gear, ZPacks,
Light Heart Gear, Ultra Light Adventures packs (ULA) and others.  I don't
know who is lined up this year, but Yogi is putting together the vendors so
it should be good, and if you haven't gotten them yet, her books will be on
sale at the site as well.

So, you buy a new tarp, pack, and bag right there on the spot, you're not
saddled with what to do with the old stuff as a US Post Office will be open
in the campground and you can mail it all home, or give it to the
Wolverines or Switchback for redistribution to folks in need with even
heavier gear.

Then of course there's the Gear Contest, MC'd by Squatch and Jester, always
a hoot, where folks like me get to show off their on trail yogurt maker,
and the really sharp ones who spent a lot of time inventing cool and
sometimes ridiculous stuff, strut their creations.

The evenings are spent meeting some of the legends of the PCT, and watching
last years Class Film, a PCT Shorts Festival and much, much more.

When I started the PCT, I planned to hike for 5 weeks in the desert as a
section hike.  Ten days into the hike we'd been snowed on and, drowned rats
that we all were, we hitched a ride back to the ADZPCTKO and I was a ruined
man after that.  The infectious fun, the wonder and beauty of what we all
were engaged in dug it's way so deeply into my brain that I knew there was
no way I was not going to finish that trail.  I met folks at the event,
that sea of little tents, who are still dear to me.  With over 700 folks
there in the past, it is simply the place on the West Coast to meet people
who love long distance hiking and the PCT in particular.

Starting out with the ADZ even before finishing the semester is a great way
to begin your hike, and by the way, GO BEARS!!!!  My own daughter will be
graduating from Berkeley this May.  Great place to go to school!!!

Shroomer



On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 10:26 PM, Anna Pieper <apieper at berkeley.edu> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I have a few questions about Kick-Off at the end of April. What time do
> kick-off festivities typically begin on the 26th, and are there any events
> (besides getting water information) that I should make sure to be there
> for? I unfortunately won't be able to start with the pack because I have to
> finish school in Berkeley, so I'm planning to come down for kick-off, come
> back to finish school, and start hiking around May 10th.
>
> Like Elizabeth I'm also a (21 year-old) solo female and I'm slightly
> worried about meeting up with people since I'll be starting late. Is it
> likely that I'll run into others near Campo, or will I be on my own until I
> catch up with the herd? Thanks so much for all of your PCT advice and
> wisdom, it's been incredibly helpful!
>
> Anna
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