[pct-l] Troublemakers

[ambery-80243 at mypacks.net]

I agree that more people are hiking for social reasons as opposed to the backcountry experience or the challenge.  So if you want it to be about the outdoors and not "society", then stop bringing the front country to the trailhead.  We don't need to have snacks and rides and coolers at every road crossing.  Once it's gone, then hikers won't be depending on it (or feeling entitled to it).  Trail magic is something helpful and unexpected; what is being provided now is becoming a trail circus. 

The AT is partly what it is, because there is so much help and so much access from the trail to town. The PCT is considerably more isolated, so it will only become like the AT if we who aren't currently hiking keep bringing town to the trail.

   

-----Original Message-----
>From: James Vesely <JVesely at sstinternational.com>
>Sent: Jan 12, 2016 7:10 AM
>To: "pct-l @backcountry.net" <Pct-L at backcountry.net>
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] Troublemakers
>
>
>I think we are not seeing the forest through the trees.     In the early days almost all PCT hikers were seasoned in that they were not out on the trail for the first time.    The seasoned hiker was doing the PCT for the backcountry experience and or challenge that it provided.  Today we see a lot more people that are total newbees that have little or no experience and are hiking the trail for more "social" reasons.      These people tend to be less knowledgable of the proper eor of the type that really don't care how other people think  
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Nancy Thomas
>Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2016 10:17 AM
>To: Linda Sheehan <lwshee at gmail.com>
>Cc: pct-l @backcountry.net <Pct-L at backcountry.net>
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] Troublemakers
>
>Do you all think it is because of the  trails publicity (Wild)?
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>In the early days almost all PCT hikers were seasoned, in that they were not out on the trail for the first time.    The seasoned hiker was doing the PCT for the backcountry experience, isolation and or challenge that it provided.  Today we see a lot more people that are total newbies that have little or no experience and are hiking the trail for more "social" reasons.      With the huge increase in the number trail participants  it is inevitable that at least some of these people will  tend to be less knowledgeable of the proper trail etiquette  or of the type that really don't care what other people think.   Maybe it would be advisable to stop telling people to Hike Your Own Hike as this can create a sense of selfishness in some people.    I don't know.     
>
>I would also like to mention that  number of PCT hikers is on a hockey stick curve and sooner or later  something is going to have to be done about it. 
>This last July I was on a 3 week hike through the southern sierra's and found that the uncontrolled access by PCT hikers to be in my opinion a problem.  
>Getting a permit for the average non PCT hiker to go into the backcountry of the southern sierra wilderness, especially in certain areas,  can be actually very difficult.   There are reasons for making trail entry quotas,  to reduce the number of hikers to prevent overcrowding.    I go backpacking because it offers a chance to get away from the crowds and to experience nature in a natural setting.    At least half of the hikers I encountered on my hike this July were of PCT origin and there was just to many people on the trail.   Is it fair that I and others have to struggle to get a backcountry permit to reduce overcrowding when thousands of hikers can enter via the PCT whenever they want?    Sooner or later someone is going to have to set an upper limit of how many hikers can start the PCT in any given year or at least limit them when they traverse through already crowded sensitive wilderness areas.    I think in the past if you were considering  a PCT hike you were thinkin
> g it would be a  physical/mental challenge where you could find isolation and only occasionally meet fellow hikers.  That has now changed.    
>
>Is there an upper limit on how many hikers that can start the PCT in any given year before it ruins the PCT experience?  Before it overloads certain parts of the trail and ruins the backcountry experience for non-PCT hikers?    Before it causes damaging impact to towns?  Before more and more people decide they had enough and stop accepting PCT mail?    I think these are the questions that the PCT community must answer and in one way or other find a solution for.    Every trail has its upper limits before overcrowding can ruin it for all and I believe the PCT has reached that number and I believe we are starting to see evidence of that.   
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>Jim 
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