[Cdt-l] Benchmark Wilderness Ranch need our help

[Jack Haskel]

A Hiker Shelter sounds pretty great. My .02 would be to sell HEET.
That'd be a help.

      See ya soon,
             jack

On 6/17/10, Jackie McDonnell <yogihikes at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello CDT'ers!  I received this email from the new operators of Benchmark
> Wilderness Ranch.  Please respond to both the list and the Heckmans with
> your ideas for their proposed hiker shelter.  I think their idea is
> terrific!
>
> yogi
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Darwin Heckman <bmwranch at 3rivers.net>
> Date: Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 3:35 PM
> Subject: CDT HIKER SEVICES
> To: yogihikes at gmail.com
>
>
>  Hello Yogi:
>
>      My husband Darwin and I have taken over full operation of the Benchmark
> Wilderness Ranch as you know located just 1.5 miles from the CDT.  Thanks to
> you we have become well known as one of the resupply stops for the CDT
> hikers.  It was very apparent to us during the 2009 season that the hikers
> need a “Hiker Shelter” of some sort to hang out, rest, repack, shower and
> pitch a tent for the night if they choose.  We would also like to include
> stove/refrigerator for the hikers to utilize.  Two of the main challenges we
> face are; being at the ranch 24//7 and the USFS requires us to place the
> packages in a “bear proof” container if the packages are out on our front
> porch.  Our thought was to build a Hiker Shelter with storage area near the
> shower house so we could easily solve both of these issues.  We are
> currently trying to come up with the $$ funds to make these improvements for
> the CDT thru hikers.  Knowing that you are at the center of the Backpacker
> Crowd and you know first hand what the hikers need/desire at their resupply
> stops we would  appreciate any ideas you would have to offer.  We would
> surely appreciate any financial donations toward the Benchmark Hiker
> Shelter!  Thank you so much for your continued support of our Guest Ranch as
> a resupply destination!  Looking forward to any feedback/ideas you may have.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Darwin and Shellie Heckman
>
> Benchmark Wilderness Guest Ranch
>