[pct-l] Constructive Dialog (was: Why I Boycotted the ADZPCTKO . . .)

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

I opined off line reflecting Sly's observation regarding the narrow
window of a PCT thru-hike start dates.

Get through the Southern California deserts before it's too hot. Get to
the high country in the Sierras just as the last major snow obstacles
melt. Get to Washington before the Autumn weather REALLY kicks in...

This year, the thru-hikers have been thrown a fast sinking curve ball
with the snow in the San Jacintos and San Gabriels. The silver lining is
that the weather through The Borrego is downright pleasant right now.
The San Felipes are covered in GREEN GRASS...

But still the window is narrow enough to cause a wave of hikers on the
same section at one time, coalescing around the trail towns and trail
host homes. I suspect that Southern and Central California are the most
impacted sections, as the drop out rate will have thinned out an already
spreading out herd of hikers.

I don't think (and this is just my own opinion) that moving the date or
location of ADZ would alter the size and cohesion of the wave through
California.

BUT...

I DO think that the idea of an earlier, alternate location for a
gathering of thru-hikers has merit. I suggest a location somewhere
centralized to where most thru-hikers spend their lives off-season. For
sake of discussion, let's say Denver. Denver's a hub city so airfare can
be more affordable. It's close enough to the east coast so the AT hikers
can attend easier than going to Morena Res. It can be held sometime
between the time of the previous year's Manning arrival and the current
Campo departure. The last class of thru-hikers should be encouraged to
participate to download all the first hand knowledge while it's still
fresh in their minds to the next class. It will also serve to "extend"
the thru-hike experience for just a few more months...

There's a bit of a lull in the hiking season's excitement between the
last arrival at Manning and the time Carl begins registering for ADZ.
Scott's yo-yo served to keep the excitement going last year, but January
is a fairly slow PCT month. (Is it just me or do the bear can/trail
dog/mountain bike/gun discussions seem to fly around December-January?)

Anyway, Donna raises a very important issue regarding the impacts of
ever larger thru-hiker waves impacting trail towns, Angel hostels and
more importantly- The Trail itself. One of more eloquent personalities
of the PCT community, Donna may have mis-chose her post title with the
word "Boycott". But I'm sure there isn't a single person among us who
questions Donna's devotion to the thru-hikers and The Trail or any of
her intents.

It's an important issue that NEEDS consideration. Better sooner than
latter. Let's bat this around and see what surfaces.

-Oilcan


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of
Slyatpct@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:43 AM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Why I Boycotted the ADZPCTKO . . .

In a message dated 4/25/2005 3:02:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
dsaufley@sprynet.com writes:

> I want to state clearly that the ADZ has grown into the BEST event for

> long-distance hikers this side of the Mississippi, and it is quite 
> simply wonderful.
> 

Key word being "growth".   

It's not just the ADZ that has grown but the popularity of the PCT as
well.  
On the AT they call it, "loving the trail to death.  

In my opinion, regardless of if there is a Kick Off or not, on the PCT,
the window of opportunity is short and in any given year "hiker crunch"
is going to cause an impact.  How do you lessen it?  You don't, you live
with it.  

In normal snow years, the best timed start is the last (full) weekend in
April.  Timed to hit KM for Ray Day and/or the High Sierra for the
earliest possible safe passage.  This year is different, your best date
would be two weeks from now.  If there were no ADZ that's when the
crunch would be.  While the hikers wouldn't have to linger for the
majority of snow to melt, there's a very good possibility they wouldn't
make it to Canada on time.  

Sly
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