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[pct-l] Class of 05 thru VS Seciton attitude

I've found (in *general*) that those who are outside of the "PCT culture" (which, I think, evolved to what it is over the last 10 years) seem to be the most friendly (in my experience). These are the ones who are out for a good time and are challenging themselves by setting out on a adventure - they love life, the wilderness, and people.  Mostly, it's a matter of maturity.  I used to tell people when I was on one of my AT thru-hikes that I was just a dayhiker. You can imagine some of the various reactions.........

There are good and bad people in every group or clique, so I'm not trying to stereotype. These are just my observations.

For me, my section hikes have been my most rewarding - and make me a hiker. A friend of mine coined it this way (in one of his articles): "A thru-hike is about the destination; a section hike is about the journey." [-BW]

One of my other hiking buddies tell these hiker-wannabees that have the "oh, you're only a section hiker" attitude that he's done the entire trail a half-dozen times and that they should learn a lot along their way....and to hang in there....they can build up to becoming a consummate section-hiker.

Here's another quote from my friend: "There is no trail without sections, and no sections without section hikers who maintain them."

Also, did you know that every thru-hiker is a section hiker until they complete their hike? That's another good thing to tell them.

So, when we are thru-hiking, we need to remember the people (which may include you) who maintain the trail, and the trail angels, ... and all the others that you depend upon to complete your hike (e.g. hostel owners, those who give you rides...).

Oh, and it all this doesn't move people with that attitude, maybe the idea that "what goes around comes around" may change some attitudes. In other words, someone giving a section hiker a hard time, may just find him or herself not able to complete a thru-hike and have to resort to saying "I completed a section."  You don't know what can happen to you out there - especially with a condescending attitude toward others.

I think that a "Kick Off" is not complete without words of appreciation for *ALL* (even those section hikers) who use, maintain, and protect the PCT.


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Shutterbug steiner" <shutterbugg313@yahoo.com>
> To: pct <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Class of 05 thru VS Seciton attitude
> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 09:32:38 -0800 (PST)
> 
> 
> This "keeping record" sort of thing reminded me of some attitudes 
> that I met on the trail the past two years when I was doing Wash or 
> OR.  On both section hikes I was going against the grain and was 
> running into many THRU hikers.  I ran into MANY friendly people and 
> I looked and smelled like a thru hiker.  I can remember a few who 
> were FRIENDLY to a point but as soon as I let them know I was "JUST 
> a SECTION HIKER" there face would change and they would just keep 
> on hiking on - basically coppping me an attitude.  Some would try 
> to convinvce me to become one of "them" and be a thru hiker - I 
> would have to try to convince them why I was HMOH.   Trust me MANY 
> were not this WAY.  I can remember one couple that I met near 
> Crater Lake in 05 that pulled a reverse --- when I said I was "just 
> a Section hiker" ....... he was so impressed and even engaged with 
> me more.  Truly emphasizing the HYOH mentality with out me needing 
> to go through the litany of why I HMOH.  Pretty COOL attitude
>   instead
>   of the hierarchy of I am better than you attitude that I get 
> sometimes.  OR the "hikerism" against section hikers, or people who 
> do not complete, or people who are NOT ultra lite, or people who do 
> carry an ice axe, or people who don't sleep under a tarp tent 
> .......... "hikerism" is used when someone does not conform .  This 
> runs against the grain of BEING FREE and escaping FROM THE WORLD 
> that I strive for when I hike my hike.
> 
>    SB
> 
> M A <raeba@lycos.com> wrote:
>    I agree too. I, personally, think that the keeping records is 
> not likely to work...in the long run. Again (to me) it kind of is 
> taking away from the raw beauty of the the hiking - almost adding a 
> commercial edge to it. I think the HYOH over=shadows it, if one 
> holds to HYOH philosophy. But everyone is entitled to their own 
> ideas and viewpoints. I know of others who don't want anything to 
> do with the 'organized' hype, cliques, and what some believe is 
> organization.
> 
> The numbers may be going up, in part, due to seeking them (i.e. 
> keeping closer tabs). Don't know...don't really care. I don't mean 
> to sound harsh, but I just feel that some of this stuff just makes 
> some sort of commercial edge on the PCT (pardon the redundancy). 
> This breeds people who try to position themselves as 'somebody' 
> important or special with regard to the PCT -- AND NOT ONE PERSON 
> IS OVER THE OTHER.
> 
> This year's newbie is just as significant as any other to me. Do I 
> have close friends, yes, but I just don't like the ranking and 
> merit badge mentality. Believe me, this is not coming from someone 
> who feels jealous by any stretch - that would be impossible with my 
> philosophy and respect for each person's priveledge and standing on 
> the trail. I admire all who will take to the trail in a respectful 
> manner, and who challenge their minds and bodies........
> 
> Just my thoughts. You may certainly disagree and it won't me move a 
> bit. I'm sure some of you will, but that's life. The trail is mine 
> and yours. Anyone can build a club or association around it and do 
> what they please (within the law).
> 
> Ciao
> 
> 
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Ken Powers" Subject: Re: [pct-l] Class of 05 thru-hike 
> > completion rate?
> > Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 22:18:05 -0800
> >
> >
> > they probably didn't sign the registers.
> >
> > BTW I agree with L-Rod, who cares if anyone completes the trail 
> > or not.The real point is did they enjoy their hike. I just like 
> > to know anonymous numbers - How many hikers hiked the PCT in 2000 
> > vs in 2001, 2002, 2003? I think the numbers are going up, and the 
> > numbers in Yogi's post kind of indicates that.
> >
> > Ken
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "M A" To: "Ken Powers" Sent: 
> > Tuesday, February 07, 2006 7:43 PM
> > Subject: Re: [pct-l] Class of 05 thru-hike completion rate?
> >
> >
> > I know of several who don't want to be listed... I'm sure others 
> > do too. So, there must be so many more who have successfully 
> > completed the trail.
> >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Ken Powers" > To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> > > Subject: Re: [pct-l] Class of 05 thru-hike completion rate?
> > > Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 17:13:29 -0800
> > >
> > >
> > > On the other hand it is the only measure we have to compare one
> > > year to another. Assuming that we miss a similar percentage each
> > > year we can still gauge one year against the others.
> > >
> > > In 2000 I got to work on the data. They (Meadow Ed, Bob Norton, &
> > > others) gave me the names and dates from several registers along
> > > the PCT. It was interesting trying to match naes with mispellings,
> > > trailnames to real names, changed trailnames, & lots of day hikers
> > > thown in. In a few cases you could pick out flip-floppers because
> > > of the dates. It was an interesting exercise.
> > >
> > > Ken
> > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "dsaufley" > To: "'David Plotnikoff'" ;
> > >
> 
> > > Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 4:54 PM
> > > Subject: RE: [pct-l] Class of 05 thru-hike completion rate?
> > >
> > >
> > > > Just an FYI -- Puck is no longer with the PCTA. There's a 
> > very nice > lady
> > > > named Jean there now. I think 2005 finishers would be very difficult to
> > > > sort out. There is a Yahoo group for the 2005 hikers, but 
> > their > contacts
> > > > are only as comprehensive as, well, their contacts.
> > > >
> > > > Personal observation: trying to count finishers is a slippery 
> > slope > with
> > > > big rocks below.
> > > >
> > > > L-Rod
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> >
> >
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