Re: [pct-l] A word of warning...

["R.J.Calliger (510.651.1876)" <calliger@infolane.com>]

So- what are you warning us about?

Not to take illegal immigrants east of San Diego? Or look at the
weather channel before doing such?

Obviously this has no relationship to the PCT as one hiking the
PCT is <hopefully> slightly better prepared than the group that
perished wearing t-shirts, shorts and sandals and having no
outer garments, food, shelter or storm gear whatsoever.

The alitricty of the post is clearly suspect.


At 7:33 PM -0000 4/2/99, Travis Williams wrote:
>It was a rough time on the trail out of Mexico yesterday, regardless of
>your motives or destination.  April hikers should beware; winter isn't
>over yet.
>
>Storm Kills 2 Illegal Immigrants
>
>                     By BEN FOX Associated Press Writer
>
>                     ALPINE, Calif. (AP) -- An overnight
>                     snowstorm in a mountainous route used by
>                     illegal immigrants overtook dozens of people,
>                     killing at least two and prompting a major
>                     rescue effort for the others.
>
>                     The U.S. Border Patrol got a call about 1:30
>                     a.m. today that a group of people, believed to
>                     be illegal immigrants from Mexico, was
>                     stranded in the mountains about 40 miles east of
>                     San Diego, said Bill Strassberger, spokesman
>                     for the regional office of the federal
>                     Immigration and Naturalization Service.
>
>                     The Border Patrol initially found seven people,
>                     but soon found other groups of immigrants who
>                     were suffering from the cold. By daylight,
>                     agents had rescued 35 people. Two were
>                     confirmed dead, apparently from exposure,
>                     Strassberger said, and agents expected the toll
>                     to grow.
>
>                     ``They tried to cross and a freak snowstorm
>                     blew in,'' Strassberger said.
>
>                     Authorities with the Border Patrol, U.S. Coast
>                     Guard, U.S. Forest Service, California
>                     Highway Patrol and San Diego County Sheriff's
>                     Department used dogs, helicopters and officers
>                     to scour the Cleveland National Forest south of
>                     Interstate 8.
>
>                     The border patrol brought in paramedic teams
>                     to provide first aid and buses to transport the
>                     people to hospitals, Border Patrol agent Ralph
>                     Thomas said.
>
>                     ``We have a full-scale rescue operation going
>                     on,'' Strassberger said. ``Anyone available is
>                     active and out there.''
>
>                     There were several different groups, not one
>                     large group of men and women, Strassberger
>                     said. He didn't know if there were any children.
>
>                     ``Smugglers take them into rugged areas to
>                     cross and the weather can change there very
>                     quickly,'' he said.
>
>                     The National Weather Service reported today
>                     that up to 16 inches of snow fell in the
>                     mountains in the past two days and temperatures
>                     were in the low 30s overnight.
>
>                     More than 140 illegal immigrants died last year
>                     crossing from Mexico into San Diego and
>                     Imperial counties. Since 1994, when the federal
>                     government increased patrols along the border
>                     at San Diego, migration has pushed to the more
>                     treacherous mountains and desert east of the
>                     city.
>
>                     AP-NY-04-02-99 1348EST
>
>                     Copyright © Associated Press. All rights reserved.
>This
>                     material may not be published, broadcast,
>rewritten, or
>                     redistributed.
>
>
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