[pct-l] Sensationalist

[Brett]

> It doesn't matter where I live, but the date I'd pick to 
> start the trail,
> which would be the last weekend in April regardless of the 
> Kick Off.

But... but, there's a big difference between most hikers 
starting at Campo within two weeks of each other, and many 
hikers starting out from Lake Morena on the same day 
following a large social gathering. Previous to the KOP 
hikers sort of trickled north, whereas now they flood, 
denuding the trail of vegetation and leaving a tangled mass 
of destruction in their wake.

Is it that bad yet? Probably not, but the KOP is a focal 
point for a more concentrated impact on the southern PCT, 
for a clannishness among hikers that creates and maintains 
larger groups heading north, and for an AT-style high 
starting head count based around the philosophy of safety 
and comfort in numbers.

I've been to a KOP event, and thought it was a great time, 
with good company. I wasn't heading north that year, though. 
And had I been, I don't think I'd have timed my hike to 
include the KOP... My memories of a lonely and pristine 
trail corridor are still too vivid and magical.

- blisterfree




----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Slyatpct at aol.com>
To: <dsaufley at sprynet.com>; <pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2006 3:27 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Sensationalist


>
> In a message dated 9/4/2006 11:02:09 AM Eastern Standard 
> Time,
> dsaufley at sprynet.com writes:
>
> Where is  it that you live?  I live close to the trail, 
> and live with the
> effects  of the KO.  Please don't tell me or others that 
> the KO is not having an
> affect in the start date patterns, because it most 
> definitely is.  And,  IMHO
> it sucks, in plain English.
>
>
>
> Here we go again....
>
> Donna,
>
> It doesn't matter where I live, but the date I'd pick to 
> start the trail,
> which would be the last weekend in April regardless of the 
> Kick Off.
>
> i could start earlier, but I wont because I'd get to the 
> Sierras too  soon.
> I could start later, but I wont for it's too hot in the 
> desert and  Canada is
> a long way away.  I could start southbound, but the sun's 
> always in my
> eyes....  That leaves the end of April.
>
> Sly
>
>
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