[pct-l] Permits 2017

[Charles Stuart]

This is entirely anecdotal; I have no data:

I spent most of my 2016 thru-hike ahead of the herd. By the end I was
barely ahead, or maybe more accurately in the front half.

During my hike, the only time I had trouble finding campsites or achieving
some degree of solitude was in relatively close proximity to
road-accessible trailheads, and most of the people I met in those areas
were not thru-hikers. This was most true in Washington - the closer I got
to Seattle, the more crowded the trail got. With the possible exception of
areas in SoCal closest to L.A., these were also the most disgustingly
impacted areas of trail in terms of unburied human waste and toilet paper.

I found my experience along the JMT especially interesting. Although I got
there early - I'm pretty sure I ascended Whitney on May 27th - fewer than
half the hikers I met along this heavily-used section of trail were PCT
thru-hikers. And I met a lot of hikers. When I hiked sections of the JMT in
July and August of 1998, I met almost nobody.

Along the entire PCT, the farther I got from road-accessible trailheads,
the less impact I saw, and dramatically so. During the first few hundred
miles of my hike I really thought that most of the impact I saw was the
responsibility of thru-hikers, but the longer I was on trail the less
likely this seemed. Areas free of weekenders and day-hikers seemed much
more pristine, even though there were lots of thru-hikers around.

While it is certainly true that the number of PCT thru-hikers has increased
dramatically in recent years, that isn't enough to conclude that the
crowding and impact problems discussed in this thread are primarily or even
substantially caused by PCT thru-hikers. Use by other categories of hikers
has grown as well. I'm not saying that it isn't caused by thru-hikers, but
I am saying that there's no publicly available, hard evidence that it is.

I'm not going to offer an opinion on the legal or scientific validity of
the current PCTA-issued long-distance permit, because I really haven't
reached a conclusion. I do think that most of this thread hasn't
really addressed the very specific concerns of the original post, which I
took to be the lack of specific evidence supporting the current system, as
well as the misconceptions (perhaps intentionally fostered by people in
positions of authority?) surrounding the legal status of the long-distance
permit.

-Oolong



On Wednesday, September 28, 2016, James Vesely <veselyjames at gmail.com>
wrote:

> https://www.outsideonline.com/2087776/what-are-all-these-hikers-doing-pct
>
> Is it BS that I was witness to overcrowded trails and  campsites last year
> that I have never seen in over 30 years of backpacking?  Let me ask
> everyone's opinion?  Would you enjoy backpacking as much if everywhere you
> go you were to unable to find a solitary or near solitary place?  Why have
> quotas in the first place?
> On Sep 28, 2016 12:24 PM, "Sabrina Harrison" <troopharrison at gmail.com
> <javascript:;>>
> wrote:
>
> > As are many of you, I'm anxiously awaiting JMT Reinhold's wit and wisdom
> > on this
> >
> > Hacker
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > > On Sep 28, 2016, at 1:25 PM, Cody B <moonbeams13 at gmail.com
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> > >
> > > James,
> > >
> > > I agree that the system needs improvements, particularly surrounding
> > alpine
> > > environments which take much longer to rebound from environmental
> impact
> > > than most ecosystems at lower elevations. This is one of those annoying
> > > little intersections of science and policy that will probably never
> have
> > a
> > > perfect solution and requires an ever-evolving approach. The Southern
> > > Terminus permit limit is a good starting point because it addresses the
> > > majority of hikers and doesn't dictate things like how fast one has to
> > > move. It is minimally intrusive to people's plans compared to quotas
> that
> > > may be implemented along the way. I think that there are a couple ways
> > this
> > > could be approached in the Sierra, perhaps by utilizing semi-flexible
> > > permitting for that section (say ability to enter within a certain
> range
> > of
> > > dates depending upon your hiking speed cuz as we all know, things never
> > go
> > > according to plan), but there is still a lot of work that needs to be
> > done
> > > before a mid-way restriction could be responsibly implemented.
> > >
> > > Wikipedia
> > >
> > >> On Sep 28, 2016 1:02 PM, "James Vesely" <veselyjames at gmail.com
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Interesting discussion but it fails to resolve the issue of overuse
> and
> > >> potential negative effects of PCT hikers who are entering high use
> > >> wilderness areas such as in Cleveland/Descanso, Mt. San Jacinto
> > >> wilderness,  Sierra Nevada mountains and others.
> > >>
> > >> Large slugs of PCT hikers are entering National Forest, and National
> > Park
> > >> regions that have very stringent entry quota permits, some of which
> are
> > >> almost impossible to obtain outside of having a "PCT hiking permit".
> > I
> > >> am aware that not all PCT hikers with "PCT permits" that start at the
> > >> Mexican boarder make it to "permit required areas" but a substantial
> > number
> > >> of hikers that do make it, seem to have a carte blanche pass that
> allows
> > >> them to bypass all entry point quotas for any given day of the week in
> > at
> > >> any point on the trail system.  Quotas that were setup to reduce
> impact
> > and
> > >> crowding are basically worthless when 50 or more (assuming 50/day
> > >> separation) are allowed to enter at their convenience.
> > >>
> > >> A good example of this is what happens in the Sierra Nevada mountains
> > >> during the short hiking season.   In the past PCT hikers were fewer in
> > >> number and a majority of them would normally have completed the
> southern
> > >> Sierra's by the end of June.  In the year 1993 when the golden spike
> was
> > >> hammered into the ground to commemorate the PCT, 35 people had
> completed
> > >> the trail and in the year 2016 the number was 647.   The total number
> of
> > >> permits issued in 2015 was 4453 and this does not include the hikers,
> > whom,
> > >> as Brick stated do not bother to get thru-hike permits. The number of
> > PCT
> > >> hikers will no doubt continue to rise.
> > >>
> > >> I am a big fan of the PCT and although my attempt at hiking the PCT in
> > 1978
> > >> failed, I have always thought I would give it another try.  In the
> mean
> > >> time, I still love to do local hikes in the Sierra Nevada mountains
> and
> > >> during one of my hikes last year I saw first hand evidence of huge
> > crowds
> > >> of hikers (> half were PCT) that I have never seen before.  We all
> love
> > >> backpacking for different reasons but I believe the main reason so
> many
> > of
> > >> us enjoy the sport is for the solitude it can offer and for the
> amazing
> > >> uncrowded pristine scenery it can provide.  Having uncontrolled
> numbers
> > of
> > >> people entering sensitive back-country wilderness, in what was once a
> > >> thoughtfully regulated quota system, can not only damage sensitive
> > >> wilderness areas but also make the backpacking experience much less
> > >> meaningful.
> > >>
> > >> The impact of large numbers of hikers that basically game the system
> and
> > >> have legal uncontrolled access to any wilderness area at any time, at
> > any
> > >> place throughout the summer will have to, someday, be addressed before
> > it
> > >> destroys all the main reasons we all enjoy the sport of backpacking so
> > >> much.   I would love to hear input from the backpack community on
> > whether
> > >> they believe this is an issue or not and what should be done if
> > anything.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Concerned hiker.
> > >>
> > >>> On Tue, Sep 27, 2016 at 11:01 PM, Cody B <moonbeams13 at gmail.com
> <javascript:;>>
> > wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> Richard -
> > >>>
> > >>> Permits are required in Yosemite, but not necessarily PCT permits.
> You
> > >>> could have had a wilderness permit specifically for that are issued
> by
> > >> the
> > >>> NPS instead.
> > >>>
> > >>> Wikipedia
> > >>>
> > >>> On Tue, Sep 27, 2016 at 11:44 PM, Richard Brinkman <
> > richardb10 at live.com <javascript:;>>
> > >>> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>> In Yosemite, I was asked by a Ranger to show my PCT thru-hiker
> permit.
> > >>>> Thank goodness I had it, albeit folded in a ziplock.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Roadwalker, '15
> > >>>>
> > >>>> -----Original Message-----
> > >>>> From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net <javascript:;>]
> On Behalf Of Cody
> > B
> > >>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2016 3:39 PM
> > >>>> To: Robert E. Riess
> > >>>> Cc: PCT-L
> > >>>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Permits 2017
> > >>>>
> > >>>> BR,
> > >>>>
> > >>>> The permit limits are in place to protect the fragile environments
> and
> > >>>> ecosystems that the Pacific Crest Trail passes through from overuse
> by
> > >>>> hikers. They are there for a very good reason and it is indeed
> backed
> > >> by
> > >>>> research on environmental impact. The first several hundred miles
> are
> > >>>> particularly vulnerable as there are very limited water resources
> and
> > >>> many
> > >>>> of them cannot support hundreds of hikers draining them in addition
> to
> > >>>> supplying the necessary water for the native plants and animals.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> It is possible to hike the PCT legally without a long-distance
> permit
> > >>>> published by the PCTA, but that does require seeking out each permit
> > >>>> individually and doing the research on your own. The permit issued
> by
> > >> the
> > >>>> PCTA is actually a collection of permits by the National Parks
> > Service,
> > >>>> State Parks Systems, Forest Service, and others that allows you to
> > pass
> > >>>> through the entire trail corridor without seeking out each necessary
> > >>> permit
> > >>>> individually. It is a service provided to us and there is a limit on
> > >> that
> > >>>> service so that the trail is still there, beautiful, and most
> > >>> importantly,
> > >>>> usable for years to come.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I saw a lot of disregard for permits on the trail this summer and it
> > >>>> concerns me. People ranted about "the government trying to control
> > >> their
> > >>>> rights saying when they can or can't hike" (I would like to note
> that
> > >> the
> > >>>> PCTA is not a government organization) while not paying any regard
> to
> > >> the
> > >>>> reason those permits are there.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> PLEASE be conscientious about this. If we aim to be stewards of the
> > >>>> environment and participate in LNT practices then paying mind to the
> > >>> permit
> > >>>> system and the permit limits is extremely important. They are not
> > there
> > >>> to
> > >>>> limit us. They are there to protect us and the beauty we love to
> > >> indulge
> > >>>> ourselves in.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Passionately,
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Wikipedia
> > >>>>
> > >>>> On Tue, Sep 27, 2016 at 5:19 PM, Robert E. Riess <
> > robert.riess at cox.net <javascript:;>
> > >>>
> > >>>> wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>>> Congratulations to the Class of 2016, who were lucky enough to
> draw a
> > >>>>> PCTA Long Distance Permit starting at the border, and who had no
> > >>>>> ADZPCTKO to inspire and enlighten them. I am saddened by what I
> hope
> > >>>>> is a temporary halt to the world-class hiking event which for 17
> > >> great
> > >>>>> years gave so much to so many, provided by so few, and who did it
> so
> > >>>>> very, very well. I am thankful for the opportunity to have
> partaken.
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>> Certainly, a 2016 PCT through hike is an accomplishment of great
> > >> pride
> > >>>>> and satisfaction.  Some were not so fortunate.  Some from overseas
> > >>>>> could not get a permit to conform with their travel arrangements
> and
> > >>>>> just gave up on their goal of hiking the PCT in 2016.  At least one
> > >>>>> hiker known to me had to cancel his airline ticket and rebook to
> > >>>>> conform with his PCTA permit at an additional cost of over $1000.
> > >>>>> Some were scared to death of being stopped by the US Forest Service
> > >>>>> because their only chance to hike did not conform with the date of
> > >>>>> their PCTA Long Distance Permit.  They were in genuine fear of
> having
> > >>>> their passports confiscated for “illegal hiking.”
> > >>>>> Many US and foreign hikers had permits which were at variance with
> > >> the
> > >>>>> actual dates of their starts, and many more hiked without a permit
> of
> > >>>>> any kind.
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>> In 2015 and 2016, the PCTA, on its own authority as trail manager,
> > >>>>> established a daily quota of 50 Long Distance Permits starting at
> the
> > >>>>> border during the height of through-hiker season.  I was told by
> Beth
> > >>>>> Boyst, the PCT Trail Manager for the US Forest Service, that the
> > >> limit
> > >>>>> of
> > >>>>> 50 permits per day was her idea, stating also that she arrived at
> the
> > >>>>> decision based upon exhaustive research into the increase in hiker
> > >>>>> numbers experienced during the years 2012-2014, and their attendant
> > >>>> impact on the
> > >>>>> first 100 miles of the PCT.   This confused me in that one agency
> > >>> limited
> > >>>>> the number of permits and another took credit for the decision, so
> on
> > >>>>> April
> > >>>>> 14 of this year, I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request
> > >>>>> asking for all documentation discussing or supporting the 50 permit
> > >>>> daily limit.
> > >>>>> The US Forest Service reply to my FOIA request providing 4 pages of
> > >>>>> responsive documents was received on July 7.  I will provide my
> > >>>>> original FOIA request and the Forest Service’s response by email to
> > >>>>> anyone who requests them.  I have read these documents many times,
> > >> and
> > >>>>> I have found no basis whatsoever for limiting daily hiking permits.
> > >>>>> This is the official response of the government of the United
> States
> > >>>>> to a valid request for information.  By law, it is exhaustive and
> > >>>>> complete.  There is no more information to consider.  No anecdotes,
> > >> no
> > >>>>> feelings, no opinions, no guesses.
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>> So, with the 2016 PCT through hiking season drawing to a close,
> there
> > >>>>> will be many hikers with recent experiences on the trail who may be
> > >>>>> willing to share their experiences and offer their opinions
> regarding
> > >>>>> the necessity and efficacy of the 2015-2016 permit limitations.
> IMO,
> > >>>>> this is necessary if the PCT hiking community wants to influence
> the
> > >>>>> 2017 hiking season on the PCT, either in favor of permit
> limitations,
> > >>>>> or opposed to them.  You should not expect to be asked for your
> > >>>>> experiences and opinions by the US Forest Service or the PCTA.
> Some
> > >>>>> of us recall how the permit limitations were implemented for the
> past
> > >>>>> 2 years.  There was no public discussion, there was no opportunity
> > >> for
> > >>>>> hikers to state their positions, and there was no advance notice.
> > >>>>> Hikers first became aware of the 50 permit per day limitation
> > >>>>> simultaneously with the opening of the issuance of permits by the
> > >>>>> PCTA.  There is every indication there will be more of the same in
> > >>>> 2017.  Congratulations to the Class of 2016.  Good Luck to the Class
> > of
> > >>>>> 2017.   BR
> > >>>>> _______________________________________________
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> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>> --
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> > >> matter
> > >>>> and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
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