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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Although this questionnaire was posted to the pct-l
first, all thru hikers can learn from the experiences of those who have gone
ahead.... </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So, for the health, safety, and success of future
thru hikers on long trails where they might have to deal with long, high
stretches of snow and ice, would all of you just coming off the CDT (and those
who have completed it in the past) take the time to fill out these questions and
send them back to me at Mountain Education to compile and post on our website
for future reference for all.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>******</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thus far, we have about a dozen returns in and they
are confirming that each hiker is different, what works for one, or even
several, may not work for you, thus HYOH. The point, here, is going to be
that every hiker planning a long trail hike must, somewhere in planning, test
each aspect of himself and the thoroughness of his preparation to find what
details will really work for him, especially above and beyond simple weights and
measures and paper logistics. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We are finding that too many hikers are preparing
for their hikes solely based on the suggestions of others without going out and
testing them for themselves. When they hit the trail at the beginning of their
5-month expedition, having little practical reality of what it's going to take
and a whole lot of romanticized expectations, they either become quickly
disillusioned because things aren't going for them as they did for "all the
others" or they get injured and quit the chance of a lifetime.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is the goal of Mountain Education to help
aspiring hikers realize what it takes to accomplish such a life-changing
experience as a thru hike through the teaching of thorough preparation coupled
with on-trail practical applications of needed skills to get through the
mountains safely and enjoyably.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>*****</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>To all of you
who finished this outrageous trail experience and are trying to begin your new
lives, can you take a few minutes and share your thoughts on the following
questions? What you say may be used in presentations at ALDHA-West, the ADZ, REI
and other public seminars. Can we quote you? If you have any specific
pictures that would help others understand your point of view on a subject
below, could you include it in your response and can we use it for
presentation?<BR><BR>In light of your snow and ice
challenges:<BR><BR> - What would you say was the best method
of traveling over the snow and handling the icy stretches? (snowshoes, boots
only, runners only, ice axe,
crampons...)<BR> - which was the
safest, most injury-free?<BR> -
which allowed you the most miles?<BR>
- which kept you the driest?<BR>
- were you glad you had snowshoes?<BR><BR> - How
many of you were injured in any way while on snow? (strains, sprains,
cuts, infections, submersions, hypothermia, overexposure, dehydration,
blindness, cramping, weight loss...)<BR><BR> - How would
you recommend hikers avoid these injuries next year?<BR><BR>
- What techniques worked best for stream
crossings?<BR> - any troubles
with clothes drying out?<BR> -
what worked on your feet while
crossing?<BR> - anyone fall
mid-stream and how did you get to
safety?<BR> - any lost
gear?<BR><BR> - How many miles a day was
realistic?<BR> - did you have a
strategy for accomplishing your miles? (passes/streams early, really
early starts, simply long days...)<BR><BR> - Were you
prepared for how hard it was?<BR>
- how would you help the next class understand what to
expect?<BR><BR> - Did you have enough
food?<BR> - which worked best,
Hot meals or Cold?<BR> - what
would you carry more of next time?<BR>
- did you go through more fuel or less than on summer
trail?<BR><BR> - Did your poles work
out?<BR> - baskets hold
up?<BR> - poles bend or
break?<BR> - wish they were
designed differently??<BR><BR> - Ice axe
use:<BR> - did they help while
glissading?<BR> - did any one
fall and need to arrest their
slide?<BR> - did they help on
the climbs?<BR> - did anyone
wish they had learned how to use them before the
trip?<BR> - anyone injured by
the axe, itself?<BR><BR> -
Crampons:<BR> - how often did
you need them & under what conditions and
circumstances?<BR> - what design
worked best on runners or boots?<BR>
- did you feel more secure with them
on?<BR> - did they add to the
safety of your trip through the snow?<BR><BR> - Were you
warm and dry enough?<BR> - what
clothing combinations worked for
you?<BR> - any trouble with
frozen items in the
morning:<BR>
- water bottles, tent floors, pants, shoes, socks, gaiters, bags,
flies?<BR>
- did you take time somewhere in the day to dry
out?<BR>
- if you had trouble with wet and frozen shoes, socks & gaiters, how
would you recommend others avoid what you experienced?<BR><BR>
- Shelter: Tarp or
Tent?<BR> - did anyone
experience bad weather on snow? (wind, rain,
snow...)<BR>
- which type of shelter worked best for you or for
others?<BR><BR> - What techniques worked best on sun
cups?<BR><BR> - Any troubles with
navigation?<BR> - how would you
advise/reassure future hikers regarding following buried
trail?<BR> - what
techniques/tools worked best?<BR><BR> - Traction and
Sure Footedness:<BR> - did you
slip a lot walking on the snow or in mud once off the
snow?<BR> - what would you do
differently?<BR><BR> - Climbs and
Descents:<BR> - did you go
straight up or switchback?<BR> -
did the snow ever make any strange noises in the pack as you
passed?<BR> - did you get sick
of the snow and choose rock routes up or
down?<BR> - did you posthole
down and was it the safest way?<BR>
- did you sit down and slide, stand and skate or traverse
down?<BR> - was walking in
other's footsteps helpful, awkward or dangerous?<BR><BR>
- Sanitation:<BR> - how
did you deal with your used toilet paper?<BR><BR> -
General:<BR> - did everyone
carry sunscreen, lip balm, and dark glasses and use
them?<BR> - did you drink more
water or about the same as summer
trail?<BR> - did you have any
food cravings (like you were missing something
dietary)?<BR> - any issues with
communication out?<BR> - any
safety problems with group members getting spread out on
snow?<BR> - any advice regarding
resupply in the High Sierra (KM to Echo)?<BR><BR> -
Ultralight,
advantages/disadvantages:<BR> -
does the ultralight philosophy adequately prepare you for the snow experience or
does it, basically, get thrown out the window during this
time?<BR><BR> - Forums, ADZ, PCT-L, publications,
professional schools and training:<BR>
- can these methods adequately and realistically prepare thru hikers for
the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges of the long
trail?<BR> - what helped you and
why?<BR><BR><BR>There is so much that can be said about the benefits of time
spent in Wilderness. What did this experience do for you and what do you want to
do with it?<BR><BR>A Thousand thanks!!!<BR><BR>Mtnned
</FONT><BR></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><BR>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</DIV>
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