[pct-l] Foreign visitors

["Riches, Jamie/CHIL/LON" <jriches@ch2m.com>]

Haven't written to the list for a while but have read with interest the
delightful and often quite heated debate - some of the trailnames do seem
rather appropriate for the writer's personalities!

Not long now until my Dad and I head across the big pond and begin our
northward journey up your big country.  Although the
ADZKOPTCT.com.uk.us........ party is not set in stone we are aiming to fly
out to San Diego for around 25th April to give us a few days in which to
finalise our preparations and mail ahead the required items before somehow
travelling across for the commencement and party.  How do a couple of old
Englanders sort out travelling up to the party?  Who should be contacted?

In addition we are getting down to the nitty gritty of entering your country
- does anyone know of the most effective way of applying for a 6 month
non-working Visa and what information is required to prove you are not
sneaking into the US to seduce some fair damsel and get yourself a green
card!?  I previously "worked" as a volunteer for the Student Conservation
Association in Kentucky and was rejected when I naively turned up at the US
embassy the first time.  The fact that my company (a US enviro-engineering
giant) is allowing me to head off for a while on unpaid leave should help
matters.

On the training front my Dad (52) is putting me to shame - he currently runs
4 miles a day up and down dale and reports enthusiastically that his initial
knee stress has all but disappeared (He is taking those Glyco-whatever pills
but doesn't know whether the ease of pain is due to the pills or just to an
increased level of fitness and stronger knees).  

Following the advice given to my previous posting we are now setting off
from Campo with 4 months of walking ahead of us - we shall have a prepared
itinerary but will be totally flexible.  We are not aiming to finish the
whole trail but if we do feel good and think we can push ahead of schedule
we will.  Conversely if we find the proposed itinerary is proving a bit too
much we will not be scared of cutting back.  

US prices for all these gadgets discussed on the list are significantly
cheaper than the European equivalents.  Could anyone summarise all the best
gear websites in order to purchase some essentials and familiarise myself
with the new equipment to replace my tried and tested (but sadly decaying)
gear? 

Looking forward to meeting some of you trail guru's at the kick off party.


Jamie Riches(the nameless hiker)
     CH2MHILL 
     Avon House, Kensington Village
     Avonmore Road
     London W14 8TS

     Mailto:jriches@ch2m.com
     TEL: + 44 (0) 171 471 6112 (Direct) 
     TEL: +44 (0) 171 471 6100 (Switchboard) 
     Fax: +44 (0) 171 471 6101 
     http://www.ch2m.com

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