[pct-l] Fwd: end of an era

Sun Sep 5 23:57:32 CDT 2021

Hey Marmot,

I had a few weeks free time this summer, as our big trips had all been
canceled due to Covid, and I jumped back on the PCT at Sonora Pass and
hiked about 350 miles to Fire Fly's place at Old Station, and I have to
say, the young folks and the older ones, were a wonderful bunch.  There
were a few wasteoids hanging around the hostel in South Shore Tahoe, but
for the most part, the trail was populated with a motivated, often highly
educated, and fun bunch of thru hikers.  I really enjoyed meeting them,
camping with them and getting to know them.  Drugs were not the central
thing for most, and living in the beauty of the trail was.  Of the older
crowd, I hiked with the usual, doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, etc.
 and with the younger set, young men just out of the service, and lots of
young folks just out of college, and quite a few who had decided on a
nomadic life for a while.  I had been ready to be unimpressed with the
pack, but found myself really liking the vast majority of whom I met.  So
maybe the PCT hasn't totally gone the way of the unmotivated, drugged out
hikers you met on the AT.  At least my limited 350 mile sample left me
thinking so.  And it was so nice to see Georgi on her home turf!

Nice to hear from ya,

Shroomer

On Sun, Sep 5, 2021 at 8:07 PM marmot marmot <marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com>
wrote:

>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: marmot marmot <marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com>
> Date: September 5, 2021 at 5:53:50 PM PDT
> To: David Hough reading PCT-L <pctl at oakapple.net>, PCT <
> pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] end of an era
>
> 
> I guess the PCT will survive. It will exist for hikers to continue to
> attempt to hike to Canada. As we all know ,people used to fly,bus, take a
> train to San Diego catch the trolley then Bus to Campo and walk to border.
> It used to really bother me when there was a switch from people talking
> about where they were on the trail using place names—certain passes,water
> sources, lakes. I had to just let it be true that all they talked about was
> miles.  I got used to running into hikers who could not read a map and did
> not even carry one. Except of course on their phones,that as most hikers
> know,can easily break and often do. We used to know/learn how fast we could
> hike given the elevation gain and loss and therefore know how much
> water/food we needed to carry. Those skills may never be learned by most
> hikers out there these days. The sense of where we are in space is internal
> and can be tapped into. Awareness of the shape of the trail tread and the
> corresponding Mtns and valleys—how it all fits together tells your brain
> where you are especially if you can read a map and verify. I did start,
> when I was new to long distance hiking, carrying an extra meal in case I
> miscalculated. Sometimes I came into town a little hungry. Just recently I
> injured myself on a trail and hikers gave me extra food to make it to town
> because I was walking so slowly. But I checked out my maps (re -checked it
> with another hiker)and saw a short cut I could take to get to town faster.
> I was lucky that I got to stay on trail and not miss any of the route.
> Just as most birds and animals know where they are, can place themselves
> in their surroundings, humans to a lesser extent (don’t know what we could
> actually capable of doing) can do the same. But not if they are looking
> constantly at their phones. It disconnects your brain from its inner
> navigational sense.This skill takes time and it is not easy. It can get a
> bit scary while you learn. Some people might not try. It’s difficult I
> admit.
> I want as many people as possible to experience a long distance trail. I
> love that we all encourage new people to go on all the trails. But
> sometimes all the “help” disconnects people from what the trail offers.
> It’s as if they get rescued over and over as they head north and never
> learn what they can do. I know how seductive the town stops are. Sometimes
> all I can think about is a hot shower—more than food.
> Frankly ,from both ends of the AT(my most recent hike ) northbound and
> southbound I got so tired of  hearing the endless  conversations about how
> much dope they were taking(of all kinds)and how many miles that meant they
> could mindlessly hike. It seemed to take about 200-500 miles for those
> people to disappear. I would hate to see the PCT turn into that mess. Maybe
> it already has. The last time I was on the PCT was 2015. Could be that is
> is unalterably changed. Maybe It’s just rushing from town to town, trail
> angel to trail angel and not “living” on the trail which was always ,for
> me,the best feeling.
> What is wrong with allowing yourself to learn what is possible?
> Marmot
>
>
>
> <image0.jpeg>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 5, 2021, at 2:31 PM, David Hough reading PCT-L <pctl at oakapple.net>
> wrote:
>
> 
>
> https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/pacific-crest-trail-angels-retiring/
>
> Another scarce resource exploited until exhausted.
>
> Still, the PCT in a drought year without water caches is a pretty big
> challenge.    Without free food, lodging, and laundry, not so much.
>
> Of course, if more hikers were willing to pay for personal services, there
> might be more personal services available.
>
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