[pct-l] Fw: a bit much

[dsaufley at sprynet.com (dsaufley@sprynet.com)]

JoAnn,

Excuse me, but I thought this was a place where people could share their thoughts about their experiences with the trail and the trail community.  I've shared mine.  

As to section hikers, there was nothing untrue or ill-intended in what I said.  I have learned how to discern a section hiker from a thru-hiker based on the things they talk about.  Think about it -- it's only logical that people talk about what they're immersed in, and it's consistently the case.  It is a skill that I've honed not to be discriminatory, but to be safety-conscious.  There have been interlopers from outside of the hiking community who have tried to take advantage of our hospitality.  I really listen to what people are saying when I meet them; they give away a lot of clues about what they're doing.  I ask questions to verify whether someone is really out hiking the trail or trying to squat at our place.  Through this process I have learned that thru-hikers almost never identify themselves by their occupations, but short-term section hikers will.  Just an observation, not a criticism.

We host and support section hikers just the same as we do thrus; we've never discriminated, and enjoy being able to host everyone, regardless of destination or duration.  Every section hiker out there who's stayed here knows that is true.  The fact is, we have the utmost of respect for those who do the PCT in sections; in many ways it takes more effort and commitment to cover the ground over a period of years than it does to do it in five or so months.  I myself am a section and not a thru hiker!!!

If you do not like my use of language, this sounds like a personal preference.  My writing is indicative of how I speak and express myself as well;  the vocabulary you protest is not limited to my writing.  (Hope "discriminatory", "interlopers", and "indicative" weren't too over the top for you.)  I have no expectations that everyone will like my style, but as I respect others, I guess I have an hopeful expectation to be respected in turn. 

May I suggest you use your delete key, rather than being unkind, in future?  Thank you.

-=Donna Saufley=-


-----Original Message-----
From: "JoAnn M. Michael" <jomike@cot.net>
Sent: Jan 8, 2005 4:02 PM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Fw: a bit much


----- Original Message ----- 
From: JoAnn M. Michael 
To: dsaufley@sprynet.com 
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 4:01 PM
Subject: a bit much


Gracious Donna, was your latest post a little heavy?  

I respectfully ask are you trying to honestly communicate or just wax eloquent via your creative writing skills?  "antithesis; bohemian existent; many-faceted jewels..." Also, be nice to the section hiker. We fall under virtually all the same categories as the thru hiker with some obvious exceptions.

We had 10" of snow here in the Shasta Valley on the 26th and not much since. Now, Mt.Shasta is a bit different, they have about 3' of the white stuff. It never ceases to amaze me that there can be such a weather difference within such a short distance.

JoAnn
_______________________________________________
pct-l mailing list
pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
unsubscribe or change options:
http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l