[pct-l] Echo Chalet no longer a resupply point

[Tim Crum]

I was packing in Desolation last fall on the closing weekend of Echo Chalet
and had a long talk with the owner about their decision to stop accepting
supply boxes. They really like and support PCT users and this was a
decision they struggled with, but felt forced to do.

First and foremost is an explanation of their reason for being a contract
post office. It is for the purpose of serving the part-time residence of
Echo Lake. The primary purpose of the store is also to serve the residence,
but to also serve visitors (including PCT users) as well.

What caused the decision to not accept resupply boxes were multiple:

1. Too many boxes.
With the "Wild" effect they got bombarded with boxes. Sometimes up to 4 and
5 boxes for one hiker! So many boxes they ran out of room in the post
office and were running out of room in the store. They were literally
stacking boxes outside during the day and moving them inside at night to
lock up. This was actually a violation of their postal contract but they
had no other choice.
Here is the thing. If you are ultra light packing and mailing more than one
supply box, then YOU ARE NOT BACKPACKING! You are day packing and paying
someone to Sherpa your load! If you are backpacking you should be healthy
and in shape enough to have the ability to at least carry a 20% body weight
load. If you cannot do that then you need to re-examine your ability to be
on the trail if an emergency happens, because if you aren't in the shape it
takes to be able to handle a 20% load you are putting yourself and the
people that have to rescue you in danger.
Over the summer they had a lot of boxes that never got picked up and were
forced to mail back. Another added burden.

2. Rude people

They had several people come through who were frankly rude. She gave me an
example of one hiker who called ahead to confirm her box. Upon questioning,
the hiker said she labeled it with her trail name. The Store owner told her
that postal rules require a valid ID to match the name on the package so
she needs to have her name on the box. It ended up with the hiker screaming
obscenities over the phone to the effect that she didn't need to use her
real name and that everyone on the trail knows her by her trail name so
that should be enough ID. The store owner hung up in tears at that point.

Another example was that people would sort gear from their box and
decide to shed gear. Echo chooses not to maintain a hiker box so hikers
choosing not to mail unwanted gear and food back home would sneak off
behind the building  and make their own impromptu boxes, which bears,
raccoons, dogs, etc. would promptly tear into and scatter around the
contents. As this was now a violation of the stores USFS lease, the store
was liable for conducting the clean-up. This happened several times over
the summer.

As I stated above, Echo does support PCT users, but they felt the service
which is above and beyond its intended purpose (the Echo Lake residents)
was being abused. The compromise they came up with was to have supply
packages sent to either Twin Bridges to the west, or Meyers to the east,
and to increase resupply offering in the store. So now you will find a
better selection of packing supply options in the store.

Long story short is, most PCT users are good people with responsible back
packing ethics. A few people who put too much emphasis and obsession on a
personal goal and finding anyway to do that can ruin a good situation of
the rest of us that just want to enjoy the trail and experience. Just
because you are on a mission does not mean anyone else has to help you meet
it (Hike your own hike, but don't demand or expect others to comply with
your hike).The PCT and its experience is work, but it is not a job. Slow
down, take some time and enjoy the trail for what it is. Above all, don't
abuse our trail support. The angels and businesses and trail magic that
help us use the trail and make it possible to do this journey are a rare
gift to be appreciated and supported with polite gratitude.