[pct-l] Fwd: Re: PCT Echo Lake & Etna

[benschif@xxxxxxxxxx (Ben Schifrin)]

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>Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:11:09 -0800
>To: "Bill Irey" <bjirey@aaahawk.com>
>From: Ben Schifrin <benschif@sonnet.com>
>Subject: Re: PCT Echo Lake & Etna
>Cc:
>Bcc:
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>>
>>Rather than put up with the sometimes hassle we have heard about at
>>the Echo Lake PO, I heard that the City of Berkeley runs a camp
>>there. They will hold packages and provide a tent cabin and a
>>choice of three meals a day for about $ 35.00 (as of last year). I
>>called the Parks and Recreation Dept. at the City of Berkeley and
>>talked to them regarding the mailing of the package. My
>>understanding is the Echo Lake PO is in a resort and keeps very
>>short hours and have been less than nice to hikers. This seems like
>>a good alternative. Their mailing info:
>>
>>Name
>>PCT Hiker
>>c/o Berkeley Echo Lake Camp
>>PO Box 228
>>Echo Lake Chalet
>>Echo Lake, CA 95721
>
>Thanks for this tip. The experience at Echo Lake has been quite
>variable. There seem to be just as many hikers who get a good
>reception, as a poor one-- it seems to be dependent upon who is
>behind the desk. I've personally had friendy encounters, as well as
>cold-shoulders, myself. Compared to many other sites, where hikers
>are universally greeted with open arms,  I guess you could say that
>Echo Lk Resort is unfriendly. The PO is in the resort, and does have
>short hours, especially for thru-hikers who pull in late and get out
>early. I think that the reason is that the resort is there for a
>huge group of dayhikers and fisherman who spend lots of money
>between 9AM and 3PM on easy things like bait and sodas and don't
>make many demands for wierd stuff like denatured alcohol or explode
>in a stinky mess on their front porch while repacking their food
>drops. The PO is there just for a small number of well-heeled
>vacation cabin owners, who send a few "wish you were here"
>postcards, and don't make bizarre requests to airmail batteries,
>ice-axes and trekking poles back to Germany or to unheard of Post
>Offices like White's Pass. Other small communities get a
>considerable portion of their summer cash from PCTers and their
>ilk-- we are irrelevant to Echo Lake's bottom line. All that said,
>I've heard that they've been much nicer in the last few years. I'm
>sure we can  get supporting or dissenting opinions on this list.
>
>>
>>Another spot for hikers to stay is a recently upgraded bunkhouse in Etna.
>>
>>Name
>>PCT Hiker
>>c/o Bradley's B&B
>>836 Main St
>>Etna, CA 96027
>>
>>There also is, as I have heard, another hiker hostel in Etna, but
>>after talking to Joyce Bradley this sounded great.
>>
>  Great. I'll check it out this summer. On my hike through last
>summer, I didn't hear of it. We bypassed Etna in '73, but it seems
>like a real nice stopover now, and increasingly easy to get to-- I
>didn't have any problems hitching in or out.
>
>Thanks again,
>
>
>--
>
>Ben Schifrin
>Wilderness Press
>17360 Highgrade Lane
>Sonora CA 95370
>benschif@sonnet.com
>209 586-5767