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

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

Absolutely! This discussion (IMHO) has so far been the most relevant,
important, thought-provoking and widely-participated, discussion I've
seen on this List. I haven't yawned yet while reading the various
posts...

In an attempt to maintain organization, the following are the ideas
raised to address the issue that I've heard so far. They are in no
particular order of appearance, nor in any order of
relevance/feasibility/effectiveness:


Simply raise the awareness of the issue. (I'll really like the analogy:
"It is sort of similar to seeing the brake lights on the car in front of
you, the wise driver will take notice and slow down until the situation
is more clear." This alone seems to already be in place and I think it
should be reiterated to future thru-hiker classes.)

Staggered start dates and an organized shuttle effort to get those
thru-hikers who want, back to ADZ and then back to the trail afterward.

Move ADZ's date or location.

An organized database of thru-hikers registering their start dates.

Emphasize and Teach LNT principals.

Develop an additional means of disseminating the info provided at ADZ in
order to relieve the perceived necessity of attending ADZ, thereby
reducing the size of the wave starting out the last day of ADZ. (Perhaps
a Bulletin Board or hand-outs can be maintained and provided at the
Border Patrol Station in Campo?)

Discontinue water cache support ostensibly to return to a more
challenging thru-hike experience and perhaps dissuading potential
thru-hikers, thereby reducing the size of the wave.

Alternate southern approach trails. (VERY intriguing idea, for 2nd, 3rd,
4th timers to think about...)


Did I miss any? Or are there any more to consider? 


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: larry hillberg [mailto:walkinglarry@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 6:27 AM
To: Mike Saenz; pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Let's pull it together people...

It is great that this discussion has gone from a few quick negatives to
a more thoughtful and positive dialog.  Certainly there is hiker
clumping due to the kickoff.  Here are a few thoughts regarding minor
changes that I passed directly to the organizers.

Advise the thru hikers, at the time they register for the kickoff, of
the event's size and the unintended clumping of thru hikers that
results.

Encourage and enhance the ride board and ferrying of thru hikers to and
from the kickoff (from additional points along the trail).

Consider holding the event a couple of weeks later. 
This would lessen the risk of a bad or late winter affecting those who
started early, and also help to spread out the hikers.  More hikers
could start early and get rides back to the kickoff.

Consider moving the event somewhat further along the trail, somewhere
early enough to benefit the hikers, yet far enough to allow hikers to
spread out while hiking to the event.  This would allow hikers to start
either before the event and hike to it, or start after it while allowing
the crowds to get well ahead.  While Lake Morena has been great, perhaps
another site could be found that could not only accommodate more folks
but also be easier to reach.

The kickoff is a great event.  Yet a few small changes could make it
better for thru hikers, the purpose of the event in the first place.

--- Mike Saenz <msaenz@mve-architects.com> wrote:

> 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!
> 
=== message truncated ===


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