[pct-l] A bit much

[yogihikes at sbcglobal.net (yogi)]

I work as a waitress in a busy steak house in Kansas City.  By 
listening to my guests' conversations, I can tell if they live in the 
metro area, in a nearby small town, or if they are tourists.  Yes, 
believe it or not, we get tourists here in Kansas City.  I've never 
figured out why, but they do exist.
 
Anyway, the point of this story is that people draw on different 
experiences.  And then they speak.  By listening to others, we 
form general opinions on where those people are from.  
 
It's the same thing with hikers.  Weekend-hikers, section-hikers, 
and thru-hikers draw on different experiences.  And then they 
speak.  Based on what the hiker says, it's easy to form a general 
opinion about whether that hiker is out for the weekend, a couple 
weeks, or 5 months.
 
Thru-hikers are great.
Section-hikers are great.
Weekend-hikers are GREAT (capitalized because they always 
have extra food).
 
I realize that emails and forum posts are frequently interpreted by 
the recipient in a different light than the sender intended.  I've 
certainly been on both ends of a forum/email misunderstanding.  
Please don't think that section-hikers are not welcome on this 
forum, at the Kickoff, or any other trail-related place.  Many of 
the frequent posters on PCT-L are section-hikers.  Everyone has 
something to contribute. :)  :)  :)
 
yogi
www.pcthandbook.com
 
 
 
 

Glkroeker@aol.com wrote:
Right on, be nice to the section hikers.

This is my first post, I have been lurking for about a year now, gleaning all 
sorts of info and ideas. My husband and I (61 and 57) are section hikers. 
We hiked Oregon the summer of 2003, half of Washington last summer until 
sidelined by a knee injury and hope to finish Washington this summer and tackle 
California the summer of 2006. Our longest hikes are about 6 days, then I go back 
to work for a week, and then out we go again. We are very proud of what we 
have accomplished, and to my knowledge, have never told anyone what we "do" 
unless we are asked - and then we just say Gary is retired and I work.

This summer in Washington we met (actually, were passed) by some of the first 
thru hikers. We were so excited to meet them, we are in awe of the 
tremendous dedication it must take to thru hike - and want to know all about them, how 
much weight they carry, how long they have been on the trail, how far do they 
go each day etc, etc, etc.

We were thinking about coming to the Kick Off this year, but when I read what 
I consider somewhat disaparaging remarks about section hikers, I wonder how 
welcomed section hikers really are into the PCT community. I think section 
hikers bring a lot of interest and support to the PCT and our experiences, though 
not the same as thru hikers', certainly bring us to the same place of awe and 
appreciation for the wilderness. Lots of people are wrapped up in their 
identity - and they aren't just the section hikers.

Respectfully,

Judy Kroeker
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