[pct-l] Scott & Joe update

[Ellen Shopes]

Dang, I swore I wasn't going to get sucked into further debate on this one! 
Reinhold, are you deliberately baiting us?
I do embrace the HYOH perspective for everyone.  I admire those whose 
athletic abilities exceed mine (usually by a wide margin :-)).
Let me try to give you a perspective from someone who has been involved in 
backcountry search and rescue and firefighting...
Those who are not habitual wilderness folks tend to "do as they see done". 
Like the child who follows the example of his/her parent, the novice hiker 
often patterns his/her behavior on those around them who are 'older and 
wiser'.  (Gosh, that's part of the concept behind this chat room.)
Most experienced folks could relate at least one story of some novice who 
got into trouble...went out with too little water, tried to negotiate a 
snowfield without an ice ax, misused equipment, drank unsafe water, got 
lost, etc, etc, etc....because they saw or heard of someone who got away 
with it.
So, when I hear of someone getting a bucket-load dumped on them while hiking 
thru an actively burning area, I have an objection.  I don't mind 
experienced people taking their own risks, but they should be cognizant (and 
regretful) of the example they are setting for others.
Kudos to Scott and Joe for what they've accomplished!  But shame on them for 
the risks they, by example, are encouraging others to take.
This is not SOUR GRAPES; my world does not consist of only black and white, 
good and bad, fast and slow, tall and short...

Ellen
Your slow, gray-haired hiker
(And don't ask my age!)

It has been my observation that every time a hiker like Scott, Joe, Brian or 
Michael goes on a
> speed hike it evokes a lot of criticism from a certain segment on this 
> list who can not
> understand why anybody in his right mind would want to speed through a 
> pristine wilderness and
> how they can not possibly enjoy their hike.
In my mind they are hypocrites for thinking their way of hiking is the only 
proper way to hike
> and enjoy the trail.
> They embrace the HYOH principle but only if it's based on their own hiking 
> criteria.
 STILL SEEMS LIKE SOUR GRAPES TO ME.....you know, short ones envy tall 
ones.....slow ones envy
> fast ones.
>
> JMT Reinhold
> Your slow, short trail companion.


>
> Kerry wrote:
> rheinhold, you are a backbone of this list. But it is wrong to call people
> who disagree with you "grumblers." Nobody comes down on you for being the
> Scott and joe marching and chowder society. Sour grapes are not involved.
> Individuality is. There is always more than one opinion, yours (or mine) 
> is
> certainly not always correct.
>           Kerry,
>              Covina Ca
>