[pct-l] Yee gawdz, get ahold of yourselves! Or, smallberries speaks andall listen in a state of rapture.

[johnsmallberries@xxxxxxxxxx (johnsmallberries)]

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Smallberrries tries to assert his opinion and I get called a "troll" which
is demeaning, but more importantly, indicates to me that my post should be
read more carefully by you all. The title was, in part, "An observation." I
would be the last person to say to members of this list or anyone "do what =
I
do." I don't even do what I say I "should do." I am far from perfect.

I gave my opinion on safety, footwear, dress appropriate for varied and and
unpredictable changes in climate, my opinion on ultralight (directed at sol=
o
trekkers, as if one has a partner it is a good  technique, if you know what
you are doing), weight management (keeping pack weight down to critical
essentials) and equipment. I directed my comments to fellow listers because
I noted a litany of bad experiences with heat, feet, poison oak, logistics
and what I consider unsafe and poorly thought out practices on a long and
difficult trek.

Perhaps I am wrong. Maybe the PCT is long but not difficult. But I doubt it
after studying the topos, seeing some tapes, reading journals and this list=
,
and discussing it with two friends who thru-hiked it in 1985.

Perhaps the deaths of three of my friends over the past 20 years-one in the
Shawangunks, one in Tuckerman=B9s Ravine, and one in the Catskills (very
experienced all)- motivates me to urge folks to be wary of the plunging int=
o
another world as if it were another form of our privileged lives of comfort
in our society, because it is not at all. I did not lecture anyone. I gave
my opinion. If you feel lectured, you must also assume you know all there i=
s
to know. I suggest it is better to learn from one another=B9s experiences o=
n
this list.

Finally, the number of people trekking has increased 150% over the past 5
years (see Sierra Club, Green Mountain Club, ADK, AMC, and Outward Bound, a=
s
well as sales of big packs, boots, crampons, technical gear, etc. You don=
=B9t
need to =B3guess=B2 when the facts are readily available) and shows no sign=
 of
abating. I will not bore you with this topic anymore right now, but when I
observe people extolling the virtues of being a jerk to others, I reserve m=
y
right to  comment, as others may think it is good path to wander down. I
have no problem with anyone being a jerk when trekking (I often am) but I
don=B9t spread the word to others to risk their bodies as I might. So cool
out, and try to be smart so you can trek until senile dementia kicks in. Oh
yeah, don=B9t call me names. It does not reflect well upon your character o=
r
intelligence. Thanks, Marc Adin.


=B3This list goes to to folks of all ages, experience and
condition. Care of your feet is a trekkers number one priority.=B2

Marc =B3smallberries=B2 Adin, 6 January 2003

> From: "Steve Courtway" <scourtway@bpa-arch.com>
> Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 14:52:02 -0800
> To: "johnsmallberries" <johnsmallberries@hvc.rr.com>, "pcta"
> <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Northeast trekking versus west trekking: An observat=
ion
>
> a troll is a post of narrow minded material in the hopes
> of sparking "discussion".........
>
> regarding trekking becoming the running boom of the mid-70's.......
>
> It has already peaked out.  The majority of people who got into
> hiking into the mid 80's already hate it, and go no more.
>
> Last year had the lightest Yosemite visitorship in years, 3.4M folks.
>
> blame it on the economy (sept. 11 included) but my hunch is that out
> of 5 people who get into hiking or camping, 1 becomes an actual enthusias=
t
> who isn't deterred by bugs, snow, pain, blisters, boredom, etc.
>
> this downward trend in hiking enthusiasm is a GOOD THING !!!!
>
> last year, I basically had the JMT to myself the 1st week and 1/2 of July=
,
> save about a 1/2 dozen thru hikers passed daily.
>
> p.s. I had the opportunity to hike around Sedona, AZ this last weekend,
> and boy, it is now in my top 6 hiking locations.  My list:
>
> 1. the high sierra PCT, CA
> 2. Kenai Peninsula, AK
> 3. Bryce, UT
> 4. Sedona, AZ
> 5. Zion, UT
> 6. Hardangervidda Region, Norway
>
> Steve "diggin' them vortexes" Courtway,
> obviously biased towards the west. hahahahaha
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "johnsmallberries" <johnsmallberries@hvc.rr.com>
> To: <Slyatpct@aol.com>; "pcta" <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 1:11 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Northeast trekking versus west trekking: An observat=
ion
>
>
>>> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not
> understand
>> this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.
>> --
>> [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
>> Yes, I have been on the trail for a few miles, but that means nothing. A
>> trail as long as the PCT requires conditioning, right gear for condition=
s
> of
>> the trekker and the terrain, varying microclimates, altitude, etc., and
>> knowledge/experience. Any less and the recent discussion about money spe=
nt
>> saving misguided Onot as smart as I am=B9 trekkers will dominate not onl=
y
> this
>> list, but much of the future national agenda of the use of public lands
> for
>> the sublime joy of the wilderness experience. Trekking is on the verge o=
f
>> being the running boom of the mid-70=B9s. The baby boomers are coming. T=
his
> is
>> not a rant, but an observation and a belief. It is not going anywhere. I=
t
> is
>> here and folks like us are the best ones to take the lead on the future
> use
>> of these precious resources, not pols. And whatever a =B3troll=B2 is wil=
l have
>> to be defined to me b4 I respond or ignore it. By the way, the majority =
of
>> 24 year olds I see are morbidly obese. Why is that? This is a list for
>> discussion, larger issues are certainly as important as whether MSR
>> snowshoes are as good as Atlas 1225=B9s. No? Thanks for reading. Marc Ad=
in.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>> LOL...   Have you ever been on the PCT?  It's like a side walk!
>>>
>>> Plus, if you haven't noticed lately, nearly everyone has switched to
>>> trailshoes.  I suspect this rant is nothing but a troll...
>>>
>>> Sly
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> johnsmallberries@hvc.rr.com writes:
>>>
>>>> I am a relative newbie to this list, but not a newbie to
> mountaineering. I
>>>> have been doing all iterations of the sport-adventure for 40 years. My
>>>> observations of the discussions are many, but I will only address the
> issues
>>>> which are important to safety, enjoying the experience and challenge,
> weight
>>>> management of pack and asides on equipment.
>>>>
>>>> The discussion regarding footwear implies some very dangerous
> practices.
>>>> Wearing lightweight running. Xtraining sneaks to do any form of hiking
> is
>>>> irresponsible. This list goes to to folks of all ages, experience and
>>>> condition. Care of your feet is a trekkers number one priority. You
> must get
>>>> the right boot for the job. It must deal with the vagaries of
> supination,
>>>> pronation, foot volume, ankle strength and what the most demanding
>>>> conditions one may encounter unexpectedly on the trail. I bold
>>>> 'unexpectedly=8F because the future is always invisible to us, only pa=
st
>>>> experience portends to guide us, and it is often a poor one. But it is
> the
>>>> best we have to guide us ahead. So, get the freekin=8F best boots you =
can
> for
>>>> what you want to do. As I read descriptions of the PCT, I would chose
>>>> something the Tecnica=8Fs Dunagiri GTX or Scarpa=8Fs SL M3=8Fs. I woul=
d get
> OR=8Fs
>>>> Croc Gaiters. You won=8Ft have to worry about wet feet, blisters, snow=
,
> ice,
>>>> post-holing (anyone who post holes today is a masochist, in my opinion=
)
> so
>>>> get some Atlas lightweight snowshoes and instep crampons. Forget the
>>>> Yaktrax. They stink. I field test equipment and they are not for
> trekking.
>>>> The key is be safe and live to trek another day. Cheaping out on
> equipment
>>>> is a drag when when you are futzed up 20 miles from nowhere because yo=
u
>>>> saved a couple of bucks.
>>>>
>>>> Safety. Carry a damn good kit. Well thought out: something for
> splinting,
>>>> sprains, inflammation, pain (get good pain meds from your doc, they
> will
>>>> prescribe something which will able you to get someplace for help
> despite
>>>> the the pain), antiseptic, wound care, steristrips, liquid bandage,
> blister
>>>> gunk, gauze, benadryl, something for burns. Whatever you have have on
> your
>>>> back is your life and will save your life or save someone else's.
> Always
>>>> carry 50=8F of a good nylon rope, and, of course, some duct tape.
>>>>
>>>> Get a damn good pack to carry all this gear. Get a sleeping bag
> w/polarguard
>>>> delta or 3d, forget hv and down. Get a tough 3 season tent or a solid =
4
>>>> season one. Always wear long pants, no matter how hot it is. Always
> wear a
>>>> long sleeve shirt. Pick out 2 pair of both, one for heat and one for
> cool.
>>>> Bring poly for layering. Never wear cotton. Have a brimmed hat
> (supplex,
>>>> golite, etc.) and a cool, cold weather hat. Always use poles, and wear
>>>> biking gloves all the time. Make sure you have a good water filter and
> and a
>>>> camelback, 100oz.
>>>>
>>>> An ice ax3e is handy, but get a freekin=8F light one. Learn how to use
> all
>>>> this stuff b4 you go out. You don=8Ft need a gps, but have the best ma=
ps
>>>> available and learn how to use your compass. Scissors, a small
> knife...a la
>>>> leatherman microtool will handle everything.
>>>>
>>>> And last, get into the best shape you can. Wear a 55 lb pack wherever
> you go
>>>> for up to six months b4 attempting a long thru hike. Run stairs. Being
> tough
>>>> physically will toughen you up mentally which will toughen you up
> physically
>>>> (or something like that). Blow of all that ultralight crap. It will
> kill
>>>> people. Unless you do 3-4 ironman triathalons a year. Then wear pastie=
s
> and
>>>> a g string.
>>>>
>>>> It seems to me that a lot of folks on the west coast yak like you are
> 24 and
>>>> are in the best shape of your lives, and the PCT is sooooo easy you ca=
n
> flop
>>>> around in sandals. It sounds like the bravado and 'I=8Fll live 4ever=
=8F
> mindset
>>>> I hade a long time ago until a few very experienced friends died
> playing
>>>> around and beyond the coagulated edge.  Don=8Ft fuel yourselves. Marco
> the
>>>> Mad/xxx
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
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