[pct-l] A Modest Proposal For Herd Management

[Andrea Dinsmore]

Very Good...........:) Can those of us not hiking donate to the HOOEY fund
??

PCT MOM

On Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 1:18 PM, David Plotnikoff <david at emeraldlake.com>
wrote:

> Hello from a long-time list-lurker.
>
>
> Regardless of how you feel about the ADZKO, I think most of us can
> take one step back and agree on the validity of the underlying
> problem: The adverse impact and stress the herd imposes on trail town
> services, trail angels and the trail itself is hard to deny.
>
> With that in mind, I would suggest that we set aside any calls for
> cancelling, moving, rescheduling or otherwise messing with the ADZKO.
> There is no need for such a drastic and divisive step. Instead, I
> would offer a modest proposal: Economic sanctions to make the
> thru-hikers manage their own itineraries. The fee structure would be
> very simple, and the mechanism for administering it is already in
> place and has been functioning for years.
>
> When a potential hiker submits an application to the PCTA for a
> thru-hike permit (ANY hike longer than 500 PCT miles) they shall be
> assessed a modest fee. The Herd Overload Offset, Expensed Yearly fee
> will be calculated on a sliding scale: Persons leaving the southern
> monument on the third Saturday in April will be charged a top HOOEY
> of $100. For each day of deviation from that date, the HOOEY will
> decrease by $4. Thus someone leaving Campo 25 days before or after
> the peak date would pay no HOOEY at all.
>
> Brothers and sisters, are you with me so far?
>
> The proceeds from the HOOEY fund would eventually be applied to
> trail maintainance and acquisition of key right-of-way. But first it
> would be directed to address the adverse impact the herd has on trail
> towns. The long-suffering postmistress at Warner Springs could apply
> to the HOOEY grants committee of the PCTA for a new storage trailer
> to be on-site during the peak month. The owners of the Raccoon Saloon
> in Wrightwood would be given a small grant to hire extra security to
> handle the "Animal House" antics of the herd. (Don't dispute me. I
> was there in '05 myself when the earth shook and grown men cried out
> in terror.) Donna and Jeff Saufley would receive one of the largest
> grants, covering daily truckloads of water, laundry detergent, a
> Shiatsu massage therapist on call (for Donna, not you, you dolt!)
> and several cases of premium wine. The Andersons will receive an
> generous ongoing stipend for bulk taco salad ingredients and certain
> herbal supplements as needed.
>
> As someone who has been on the trail for nine years now, I am as
> invested in the overall well-being of the trail - and the trail
> community - as anyone. And it's with the most sincere intent that I
> say to you, brothers and sisters:
>
> It's time to go with the HOOEY. The trail we love depends on it.
>
> David Plotnikoff
> http://www.emeraldlake.com/pctguide/
>
>
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