[pct-l] Why I Boycotted the ADZPCTKO . . .

[scourtway at bpa-arch.com (Steve Courtway)]

I used y'all Agua Dulcians only as an example, you guys are clearly above
and beyond the call of hospitality along the PCT.

s.c.

----- Original Message -----
From: <dsaufley@sprynet.com>
To: "Steve Courtway" <scourtway@bpa-arch.com>;
<pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 12:01 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Why I Boycotted the ADZPCTKO . . .


> I wrote this yesterday, but somehow I sense it's not being heard:
>
> >It's funny how things get misconstrued.  We have not (yet) reached
capacity at Hiker
> >Heaven, we're not (yet) even near being overburdened, and truthfully,
this is not
> >about us or what we do.
>
> >I believe there's a bigger picture here, and it's the consideration of
all of the
> >ramifications of an ever-increasing number of hikers starting near
simultaneously
> >from Campo.  It affects everything -- water caches/sources, hosts, small
towns,
> >the PCT thru-hiking experience, and some have said even the environment
itself.
>
> We'll buy or lease the land next door to us to get more space if we have
to (in fact, we're planning on adding onto our house to make a better hiker
palace in near future -- including the HOT TUB!!!).  I'll never turn a hiker
away unless I'm too sick or too old to be a good host.  We handled 50+ last
year, and didn't feel like we were at or near our limit.
>
> -=Donna Saufley=-
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Courtway <scourtway@bpa-arch.com>
> Sent: Apr 26, 2005 11:29 AM
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Why I Boycotted the ADZPCTKO . . .
>
> It seems since the value of the kick off is so great, those hospitable
souls
> impacted uptrail due to hiker packs may have to simply fashion NO VACANCY
> signs......I mean sure it maybe nice to stop at the saufleys and get your
> laundry done and meet up and all, but thru hikers are all about
> flexibility - if the word gets out it's overcrowded in agua dulce, I can't
> see it being a problem for some folks to not get stop and get their
laundry
> done there.....
>
> Morena campground is nearing capacity as it is isn't it ?  It seems as if
> that alone would put a finite cap on the number of people leaving San
Diego
> at the same time and attending the kick off........
>
> just some thoughts,
> s.c.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <dsaufley@sprynet.com>
> To: <Bighummel@aol.com>; <Slyatpct@aol.com>;
<pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 10:54 AM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Why I Boycotted the ADZPCTKO . . .
>
>
> > The number of hikers will increase; that is a fact.
> >
> > The ADZ has definitely affected the concentration, and altered the
natural
> flow of starters; that is also a fact.
> >
> > It's BECAUSE the number of hikers will increase that I'm sounding a
> warning about creating a problem by concentrating the start dates.
> >
> > Greg, there continues to be an unwillingness to acknowledge that the ADZ
> is creating a horde, or that creating a horde of hikers may eventually
cause
> issues along the trail.  I brought this up to you months ago, with the
exact
> same reaction:  denial.
> >
> > Sly & Yogi, you'd have to have seen what happened last year to
appreciate
> where I'm coming from.  It's nothing like what we'd experienced prior to
> wild popularity and large attendance of the ADZ.  I wouldn't be so adamant
> about this if we weren't genuinely concerned.  There was always a peak to
> the seasons in years past, but the pack caused by last year's ADZ was
> unbelievable.  And, it will only get worse unless some changes are made.
> >
> > Ironically, I've chosen to raise this issue in a year where the snow
will
> stagger everyone out.  But the facts remain, and need to be considered for
> the future.
> >
> > -=Donna Saufley=-
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Bighummel@aol.com
> > Sent: Apr 26, 2005 9:43 AM
> > To: Slyatpct@aol.com, pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> > Subject: Re: [pct-l] Why I Boycotted the ADZPCTKO . . .
> >
> > Sly, this is my point perfectly.  Take away the ADZ and the numbers of
> hikers
> > and the concentration are still there and will increase.  When and where
> we
> > hold the ADZ is irrelevent to the issue of the increase in popularity of
> hiking
> > the PCT.
> >
> > Greg
> >
> > Sly writes:
> > 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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