[pct-l] Words about the HERD

[dsaufley at sprynet.com]

Separate, but interesting issue.  I doubt seriously that the majority of the '07 hikers are on this list, or even on the '07 Yahoo list. Some are on Trail Journals. Most nobo thru-hikers I talk each year to are not on any list.  

I wonder:  HOW MANY '07 THRU-HIKERS ARE ON THIS LIST? I'm willing to bet real cash money that they are a small percentage of this year's class.  Any takers?

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
>From: Pea Hicks <phix at optigan.com>
>Sent: Mar 13, 2007 5:54 PM
>To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] Words about the HERD
>
>
>
>Slyatpct at aol.com wrote:
>
>> They could do that and it wouldn't make a bit of difference to when I  
>> started.  Regardless, you're still going to have 300 hikers starting from  mid April 
>> to mid May with the majority starting in-between.
>
>with all due respect to those most impacted by the herd (and believe me, 
>i do fully understand and respect your positions on this issue), i have 
>to say that i agree with sly's statement. i think the current herd issue 
>that we're seeing has more to do with the overall increasing awareness 
>and popularity of the pct thru-hike, largely due to the internet. i know 
>that i for one would never have gained the confidence to even THINK that 
>i could attempt a thru-hike were it not for forums such as the pct-l and 
>trailjournals.
>
>if in the coming years we have, say, 400 people starting a thru-hike (or 
>a section hike of considerable length) at campo, and we spread them out 
>evenly between april 15th and may 15th, that's still about 12 people 
>starting per day, which means that you're going to end up with a clump 
>at some point, human nature being what it is. even if you double that 
>start date window from april 1st to may 31st, that still makes about 6 
>people starting per day, which to my mind still makes a significant 
>clump likely.
>
>i guess the bottom line for me is that we shouldn't be arguing about 
>whether or not the herd is a problem. clearly it is. the question really 
>is, what is the major reason for the herd? i personally suspect it's 
>mostly a matter of more thrubies every year, combined with the 
>relatively narrow start date window. and what can be done about this? i 
>dunno, but i personally don't like the idea of actively dissuading folks 
>from thru-hiking altogether.
>
>
>girlscout
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