[pct-l] RE Official

[Adam Bradley]

This is some of the official hub bub I hear about non
stop before I set out this year.  You will be breaking
the law, rangers will fine you, arrest you, flog you
and make you leave the park.  Of course that was all a
bunch of hogwash.  for example:

1.  in a high snow year rangers hibernate like the
bears do and do not wait on top of forrester to nab
thru hikers.  instead the spend their time down in the
valley where all the kooks are.

2.  the rangers when they do make it into the
backcountry aren't out cracking thru hikers skulls.  I
hiked with several people who did run into a lone
ranger and he asked for the thru permit.  didn't ask
about bear barrel.  when asked why not the ranger
stated "you guys are thru hikers and are on a
different mission than the rest of folks we see so no
worries."

3.  moral of the story, yes it is illegal.  no, not
everyone who ignores the law gets busted.

4.  another very important point.  when listening or
working with government agencies regarding the pct you
the "thru" hiker must determine what route you want to
take.  skip several hundred miles of trail due to a
fire 12 miles off trail?  not finish the PCT because
of a fire?  its up to you.  do you want to finish.  do
you want to go light?  are you thinking for yourself?

5.  My man sly has been getting antsy about my
Mythbusters... I have to warn everyone this is a work
in progress.  I won't post them here.  They will be on
my own website.  I will give a sneak peak as to some
of the things I will be writing about.

The guidebook and its accuracy, opinions
San Jacinto/ Not marked well?
Water Caches/ a call for clean hiking
Fires/ ignore closures or not
Bear Barrels/ think for yourself
necessary equipment for the sierras and san jacinto/
are snowshoes and crampons needed?
post holing/ hear a lot about it but does it really
happen?
betting trail angels pints of ben and jerries/  who to
bet , who welches
ultralight pack manufacturers/ who stands behind their
warranty, who doesn't, who can repair/ who can't



man that is just off the top of my head so im sure
there are some I missed.

Listo Del Norte

--- dsaufley at sprynet.com wrote:

> In the Sierra's, it's official.  When you obtain a
> wilderness permit, the rules are clearly stated, the
> ranger at the desk makes sure you understand the
> rules and carry the permit.  And, in many areas in
> the Sierra backcountry, the seasonal rangers are out
> on the trail patrolling.  They can and do ask you
> questions to ensure that you are following the
> rules. 
> 
> Of course, you can choose to violate or ignore the
> rules.  You then run the risk of being issued a
> ticket with a fine attached, or have your permit
> pulled, and/or potentially be asked to leave.  Last
> year the couple hiking with Sid, their goat, were
> made to hike 35 miles back out to the point where
> they started because the goat was not allowed. 
> 
> The rules are set up to keep standard-issue idiots
> and morons, who think they can do whatever they want
> to do out there, from hurting themselves, the
> wildlife, and the health of the fragile environment.
> 
> L-Rod
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Adam Bradley <tooloouk79852 at yahoo.com>
> >Sent: Oct 17, 2006 5:25 PM
> >To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> >Subject: [pct-l] RE Official
> >
> >Listo must ask, What is official on the PCT?  Or
> any
> >trail for that matter.  Did I not get a copy of the
> >official PCT thru hiking handbook with all the
> >official rules of a thru hike?  Where does it say
> you
> >have to filter water, carry two pairs of shoes, a
> >plastic barrell or ice axe, emergency beacon, flare
> >gun, axe....
> >
> >Official?  Give me a break.  I argue there is no
> >official.
> >
> >Listo Del Norte
> >
> >
> >
> >Officially, hiking with a bear canister is the only
> >acceptable 
> >suggestion
> >that can be made, like filtering/treating water. 
> It
> >MUST be 
> >recommended,
> >whether it's really necessary or not.  Like an
> >ice-axe, they're safety
> >precautions that must be made in any official
> guide,
> >regardless of the
> >author's personal opinions.  I don't think peer
> >pressure is a factor.
> >
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> 


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