[pct-l] Everest verses PCT/"Firsts"/ Gothic Girl/ Mike Nuebig

[CMountainDave@aol.com (CMountainDave@aol.com)]

Yeah Gina,  I agree. It's all part of the "instant gratification" culture. 
Why bother to work your way up. Just start at the top instead. (Got some more 
climbing/hiking storys if you're interested)
  Now here's a touchy subject. I won't mention any names, but if someone 
states that they are going to do a triple thru hike and then skips a section 
because Mother Nature throws a curve and/or they are ill prepared does it 
count as an "official" triple thru hike? Or does it leave the door wide open 
for some future nit picker to claim they are going to attempt a "real" triple 
thru hike and claim previous attempts at a one year triple crown to be 
"close, but no cigar." Betcha any money that is exactly what will happen. Now 
I'm in no way a "purist" when it comes to thru hikes nor do I think it 
matters much whether one actually completes a thru hike and that one should 
"hike their own hike" with their own dreams amd guidelines but when someone 
claims they are going to accomplish a first, they better dot all their i's 
and cross all their "t's" or some future wanna be is going to make a case out 
of it. Mountaineering is full of such stuff. For example, a "first" summit 
only counts if you get back down alive. (Yeah,  Mallory might have summited 
Everest "first" but the glory went to Hillary because he survived the 
effort.) And I believe the "first" PCT thru hike is considered questionable 
because it wasn't well documented. Guess I believe that if you're gonna talk 
the talk you better walk the walk. Or am I perhaps being a little too 
negative by bringing this up?
  On a more positive note:
    Gothic Girl -- more recipes, please
   Mike Nuebig -- excellent writing style!! more please