[pct-l] Let's pull it together people...

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

I must spend more time in meetings than actually getting work done (no
cracks about all the posts I write, please...).
Most the time in meetings is spent strategizing about how to get work
done! It's a sick irony.
Steve Courtway knows what I'm talking about...

Anyway.

I'm glad we're seeing an intelligent discussion about the real issue
that started this thread: The impact of a large wave of people on our
trail.

Just a couple observations from me:

Section A is a wide, well beaten trail that very often can be walked
side-by-side with another hiker. It's as wide as a dirt road in many
places between Campo and Morena. As the trail gains miles, the trail
becomes more of a trail and you can go miles without seeing roads and
houses. To me, THAT'S more of a wilderness experience. The wide portions
are a direct result of the larger numbers of hikers, immigrants, horses,
mountain bikes, etc. that have easier access to the southern portions of
the trail. As the number of thru-hikers is more at the beginning and
significantly less at the end, it only stands to reason that the only
adjustments we, as the PCT community, can make is to send less
thru-hikers through at any one period of time. We may not be able to
control the total number of hikers passing any portion of trail within a
single hiking season, but we CAN try to reduce the stampede effect and
allow at least a little time for the natural forces to heal the trail as
much as it can.

Morena Res has the special quality of being one day's walk from the
border. A thru-hikers first day's walk. The first day of a 4-6 month
long walk. It can accommodate ADZ. It's the place ADZ has always been.
There's a lot to be said for tradition...
After a thru-hiker's first day's walk, to drop into the park and be
greeted by fellow class members and a throng of supporters. To maybe
make that final mile at sunset and to hear the music of Weathercarrot's
DVD (Last year it was the 70's soundtrack of the `77 slide show- Jethro
Tull wafting through the fog...), and a hot meal and a beer handed to
you as you drop pack. That's magic...

Even if ADZ was moved somewhere further north, the number of thru-hikers
planning their start date with an ADZ arrival a significant factor in
their planning, would still mean a wave of people starting out at the
same time. Unless, of course, ADZ was moved up a month or two's hike
north, then we'd see a natural thinning. But I don't think that's what
the majority wants to see happen.

So if a thru hiker is as far north as Agua Dulce in late April, or
points south, an organized shuttling effort would allow them to attend
and participate in ADZ. And the added benefit of giving info on what
they've encountered to those who are just starting out.

Are there any other ways to lessen the size of the wave/pulse/tsunami?


Michael Saenz, Associate Partner
McLarand    Vasquez    Emsiek   &   Partners,   Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e  |  P l a n n i n g  |  I n t e r i o r s
MVE       MVE    Institutional       MVP    International
w  w  w   .   m  v  e   -   a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s   .   c  o m

-----Original Message-----
From: Judson [mailto:judson@jeffnet.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 10:26 PM
To: Mike Saenz
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Let's pull it together people...

Very impressive organizational skills, Oilcan! And here we thought you
were just a dude who like beer! ;)

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Mike Saenz
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 1:52 PM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Let's pull it together people...

In an attempt to address the issue Donna raised, instead of debating the
validity of the issue itself, here's an agenda for discussion (yeah, I
do WAY too many meetings....)

Issue:		Alarming increase in the number of thru hikers
concentrated in a wave.

Impacts:	Adverse destructive impacts of The Trail itself.
		Overwhelming Trail Angel Resources (Hostel/water
caches).
		Overwhelming trail town services.

Causes:	Narrow window of thru-hike start dates.
		Concentration of thru-hike starts based on ADZ.
		Coalescing thru-hikers along trail due to resources
(Hostel/cache/trail town).

Remedies:	(Open for discussion, but possibilities may be:)
		Organized staggering of start dates based upon
anticipated hiker's mileage/strength/experience.
		Alternative (yet in addition to) gathering to
disseminate info on trail conditions.
		Organized effort to minimize overwhelming trail
resources.


If I read Donna correctly, these are the core issues/impacts she's
trying to address. Does this cover it Donna?
Thru Hikers- Don't be too quick to discount the ideas and suggestions of
non-thru-hikers. You may be surprised at the organizational capabilities
of some of us behind our computer screens.

That said, allow me to initiate the discussion:

It's been said that the number of thru hikers has increased year to
year. I think we all can agree with that.
The reason appears to be the growing popularity of the PCT as a result
of increased media exposure. It's also been said to be easier to
thru-hike the PCT due to the help of trail angels, water caches, more
"hiker friendly" trail towns, and (IMO) more sophisticated gear systems.
I think the class of 77 would agree to that.
More to Donna's point, starting a large portion of thru-hikers out at
one date, ostensibly because of ADZ attendance, creates an initial
concentration that takes longer to thin out. The net result is heavier
and heavier pressure on The Trail and trail resources each passing year.
This, I think, is the essence of Donna's concern.

I don't believe it's out of the question to ASK each thru-hiker class to
consider this looming problem and voluntarily organize staggered start
dates within their ranks. I've heard that walking along with a hindered
people around you for a month isn't the epitome of the PCT experience...
Perhaps strong hikers could later, only to catch up near KM? Perhaps
those who don't expect (or want) to start out with 20 mile days can
start early and build up to the 20 miles by the time they get to KM? And
the rest of those who fall in between, well, start in between!

As for ADZ attendance, perhaps a NEW trail angel category of
transportation to and from where a thru-hiker is when ADZ begins to
Morena Res. I had the distinct pleasure of providing a ride to two
thru-hikers back to Idyllwild from ADZ last Sunday. I met two
extraordinary people who I'll now be rooting for as I follow their
progress north.

And...Perhaps there is some way trail condition information can be made
available at additional points along the trail. Maybe not an ADZ event
scale gathering, but perhaps "bulletin board" type of gathering to
provide a means of allowing thru-hikers to communicate amongst each
other and share info about the trail ahead of those at the rear of the
herd...

All just off-the-top-of-my-head ideas. Your contributions expected.


Michael Saenz, Associate Partner
McLarand    Vasquez    Emsiek   &   Partners,   Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e  |  P l a n n i n g  |  I n t e r i o r s
MVE       MVE    Institutional       MVP    International
w  w  w   .   m  v  e   -   a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s   .   c  o m
<http://www.mve-architects.com> 

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