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I take a curmudgeonly position on "documentation" of numbers of hikers
and other information. I know it will happen eventually. However,
look at the "technology" that's developed around hiking the PCT.
Pretty much an intelligent neophyte can, with luck, start and finish a
hike based on all the published and web-based information about the
trail. While "mystery" will always exist on a thru-hike, the "unknown"
element in this mystery is lessened. <br>
<br>
<br>
The CDT is different. There is a great unknown you're hiking into.
There is little sense of the "herd" or the kind of trail angel supports
on the CDT that exist on the PCT. You can get lost on the CDT in a way
you can't on the PCT with its 18" wide track. Documentation of
peoples' experiences outside of the journals posted on the two main
journal sites pretty much doesn't exist. There are trail guides, but
nothing like those documenting each step on the PCT. <br>
<br>
<br>
So, in the spirit of Edward Abbey railing against the intrusion of big
brother into the wilderness, I protest this documentation. I do so in
good humor...<br>
<br>
<br>
Jeffrey Olson<br>
Martin, SD<br>
<br>
On 4/15/2010 10:38 AM, Josh Shusko wrote:
<blockquote
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">We often get the question at CDTA,
"How many thru-hikers attempt the CDT each year?" We usually respond
with a ballpark figure of 50-100 hikers, but we would like to get a
better sense of how many people are out on the Trail and begin to track
these numbers over time.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">One of our volunteers and triple
crowner<span class="587202516-15042010"> - </span>Anneliese Ring
"Frische Luft" <span class="587202516-15042010">- </span>has offered
to assist us. We hope to make this an ongoing annual project and we
will share our findings on the number of hikers with the listserv and
with the public through our website (though we will keep individual
demographic info confidential and we will not share email addresses).</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">If you are attempting the Trail this
year, please provide the following to </font><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Anneliese@cdtrail.org"><font face="Arial" size="2">Anneliese@cdtrail.org</font></a><font
face="Arial" size="2"> (or even just a trail name and start date<span
class="587202516-15042010"> and direction</span> if you aren't
comfortable providing more):</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><strong>Name<br>
Trail name<br>
Start date</strong></font></div>
<br>
</blockquote>
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