[pct-l] The Big Hole with gumbo roads

[goforth@cio.net (Joanne Lennox)]

----------
> 
> << And the reservation system in the Grand Canyon is ridiculous.
> 
>  >>
> oops I can't agree on this one. I've gotten a permit every time I've
applied 
> for one (8 times). The trick is to be flexible, and basically let THEM
define 
> your itinerary AND dates and work with what you get. 

Most of us want to plan our itinery and know the dates of our trip!!!

Another thing to think about in my experience is that the park service may
give you an itinery that has not reached its quota because the trailhead is
impassable due to muddy roads.  This has happened to me.  I finally ended
up hiring special vehicles with very high clearance and 4 wheel drive and
still the driver said maybe we would get to the trailhead and maybe we
would not.  They also told us that they might not get to us when we came
back to the trailhead(we had one person with a continuing heart problem,
who nonetheless was a good climber).  There was only one person and no
vehicles at the trailhead: the ranger who had walked half way in -8 miles.
It had been a dry winter but there had been a series of rainshowers before
our arrival- in April, height of the hiking season.

Joanne