[pct-l] Water Cache at Scissors Xing

[Gail Van Velzer]

I have thought many times about putting teeth behind permits.  Just the fire 
permit alone should make a person prove they know what they are doing. 
Permits are issued for the asking.  That doesn't ensure safety.  Not even a 
question is asked when you get a permit and certainly nothing is enforced! 
I agree that a PCT permit should only be issued after a person has proven 
they have the experience to tackle such a thing.  Too many people begin with 
no experience with a long distance hike let alone any backpacking knowledge. 
I just met a person today at the Kickoff that told me they have only 
backpacked a few times....and they are tackling the PCT?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Luce Cruz" <lucecruz13 at gmail.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 9:43 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Water Cache at Scissors Xing


> On Apr 24, 2014 6:20 PM, "Judson Brown" <judsonwb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
> . Make the permitting process much more stringent, with some teeth
>> behind it, or even start charging for the permit. Maybe before being
>> allowed a permit, you have to pass a class on LNT, fire/stove safety,
>> long-distance hiking logistics, etc., which could be administered, say,
>> through REI outlets. Or taken online.
>
> This is not the way I picture open access to public land. The need is
> enforcement of current laws and regulations, not more hoops for users to
> jump through. I've always imagined that enforcement could be self
> sustaining in that fines should pay for the enforcers, but they are human,
> too, and might abuse that system.
>
> I am not "on the ground" so to speak for the trip on the trail, but I can
> easily imagine that the reason folks get away with their terrible behavior
> and treatment of their surroundings is simply because most of the time, if
> someone sees their transgressions, no one says or does anything about it.
> If that is the case, it makes me sad.
>
> Where have all the "stand up" people gone?
>
> Luce Cruz
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