[pct-l] Disrespect of the PCT

[Gail Van Velzer]

I agree whole-heartedly.  It took me three years to plan my "ride".  Yes, it 
involves horses, and the logistics are even more challenging because I need 
20 gallons of water each day for my steeds.  I didn't even know so much help 
was on line until recently.  Maybe I'm not too good at searching the 
internet, but I didn't find much info at all.  I still can't rely on water 
caches because I need so much water and I certainly don't want to take what 
is available from the hikers.  I did read a couple of books about the PCT, 
"Cactus Eaters" and "Wild" and my first thought was how ill-prepared they 
were.  While I am all for making the load as light as possible....and that's 
a concern on my horse too, there are many people out there who aren't 
carrying even the bare essentials for safety.  This concerns me.  I am also 
concerned about the number of people who have never backpacked at all, let 
alone long distances.  I believe water caches should be there for safety, 
but not in the amounts that they are.  Trash pickup, food, etc. shouldn't 
even be part of the water cache.  They should not be relied upon, but used 
only if absolutely necessary.  But, of course, all those "party animals" and 
inexperienced probably aren't reading this, so I'm preaching to the choir, 
right?
Golly
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wayne Smith" <bumblefist at gmail.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2014 5:24 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Disrespect of the PCT


> This is a topic I've considered bringing up on here for a few years.  Is 
> it
> maybe time for there to be LESS help and services for thru hikers?  I've
> noticed over the years a growing sense of entitlement among hikers on the
> trail and I blame this mostly on the fact that as the years have gone on,
> there have been more and more people wanting to help hikers with trail
> magic and make it easier for them to hike the trail.  This has allowed a
> different breed of hiker to grow in numbers on the trail, the kind of 
> hiker
> who isn't as self reliant as hikers in the past had to be.  A lot has
> changed in the 16 years since I first hiked the PCT.  Back then the PCT 
> was
> more of a solo endeavour where hikers had to rely on themselves and their
> own ability to plan and carry out the logistics of hiking the PCT.  These
> days it seems more like a supported, group effort where many of the
> challenges have been removed or made easier by well meaning trail angles
> and former thru hikers who want to help the current hikers any way they 
> can.
> The ADZPCTKO is a good example of how I think things have gone too far in
> trying to help hikers and it is helping to create or promote the growing
> sense of entitlement on the trail.  When you start out, right from the
> beginning with a big party for hikers, where volunteers fall all over them
> trying to make them feel special, giving them free food and telling them
> about all the free services to expect from people along the way like 
> rides,
> places to stay, and water caches. It would be hard not to feel like you
> deserve special treatment from that point on. You're a PCT thru hiker!
> People love you and want to help you anyway they can!  And you have barely
> even started yet!  The KO sets a tone for many of the hikers who attend it
> each year which I believe only encourages a sense of entitlement.
> Trail angels are great people, don't get me wrong, I just feel that 
> helping
> the thru hikers too much may be contributing to the growing number of
> "party hikers" who in the past would not have lasted long on the trail at
> all, if they even made it through the planning stages.  Every water cache
> contributes to the sense that it is reasonable to expect outside help when
> things get a little challenging.  Why carry your own trash when there are
> other people going back to town who can take it for you?  Everyone wants 
> to
> help you, right?  That is what they are being taught right from the
> beginning.  Something freely acquired is never appreciated as much as
> something earned.  New hikers who have never known anything different 
> don't
> think there is anything wrong with expecting all the help that is offered.
> That's just part of the PCT experience as far as they know.  I'm sure many
> hikers this year were genuinely surprised to learn that some trail angles
> were upset about not receiving donations for their hospitality.
> With all the information available on the Internet, it is easier than ever
> for anyone to plan a thru hike, and we see that in the growing number of
> people hiking the trail each year.  Don't have what it takes to plan a 5 
> to
> 6 month hike?  No problem, plenty of people online will help you.  And
> with all the help on the trail it is easier than ever for people to stay 
> on
> the trail so even the people who can't learn to rely on themselves can 
> keep
> hiking and surviving off the good intentions of others.
> The natural filters that weeded out the unfit and undeserving in the past
> are being eroded as time goes on.
> Perhaps it is time to restore some of those natural filters that have been
> lost and work towards eliminating that sense of entitlement many hikers
> have been developing.
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