[pct-l] Why I boycotted the ADZPCTKO

[yogihikes at sbcglobal.net (yogi)]

to repeat what Strider said a couple hours ago:  YAWN.
 
 
 
 


Ginny & Jim Owen <spiritbear2k@hotmail.com> wrote:
Donna ? what you and Jeff do is very much appreciated. A lot of PCT hikers 
have enjoyed your hospitality and warmth. You are truly good people. I 
also know how easy it is for trail angels to get burned by a community that 
takes their kindness for granted or that takes advantage of the generosity 
of those who love the trail. I would hate to see that happen because of 
'too much of a good thing.'

I have really enjoyed ?hearing? your voice on this forum. Yes, you 
absolutely have a right to express what you think, especially since you are 
very much affected by the hordes that benefit from your kindness and 
generosity, but even without that, because you are a part of the PCT 
community. It isn?t only thruhikers who have a right to an opinion. I 
can't believe anyone actually believes that.

When we hiked the PCT in 1999, the Kickoff was still young, perhaps ¼ the 
size it is now. Although it sounded like a lot of fun, and there were 
several people we really wanted to meet, we decided against attending it and 
making it our starting date. Instead we started a week early so that we 
would be ahead of the crowd, instead of in the middle of it. Why? Because 
of issues that were raised here: we don?t hike to be part of a mob, we hike 
to enjoy the illusion of wilderness; we didn?t want to be competing for 
services in town or water, etc. When we watched ?Walk? both of us looked at 
the lines of hikers in lockstep and agreed, ?no way?. Even without the 
group start, the trail was crowded in the early days ? not unbearably, but 
places like the Sauffleys and the Fire House at Big Bear were overflowing. 
I can?t imagine what it would have been like to be part of the crowd a week 
later.

As to the question about whether people attend the kickoff to get water 
information - that is probably partly true. But this list is a good 
resource for all of those who don't attend the ADZPCTKO. Or put it on the 
PCTA website. It isn't that hard to share the information with the list, so 
everyone knows it, instead of just those who attend the kick off. Any kind 
of current trail information should be shared as widely as possible - that's 
one of the things PCT-l is good for, besides arguing bear canisters and ice 
axes.

Ginny



http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/


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