[pct-l] Really Mexico to Canada

[Ken Powers]

We hiked the Arizona Trail last year starting at the Mexican border (?). We 
camped within a few feet of the monument at the border on the US side of a 
barbed wire fence. The next morning we crossed the fence to the monument, 
took pictures and felt we had started in Mexico.

Later I was reading about the border there and found that the "border" is an 
international treaty zone of some kind and is 50 meters or so wide. The 
actual border was not marked. And we figured out we we camped outside the 
international zone inside the USA. When I think about the ports of entry at 
all the border crossings this all makes sense. The guard shacks must be 
outside this international zone.

Wish I knew where I read all this and how it applies to the PCT. I assume 
the border fence at the PCT terminus is also outside the international 
treaty zone since the US put up the wall.

All this rambling probably doesn't make any difference to your quest, but it 
makes Mexico harder to reach from the PCT terminus.

Ken (who stuck his foot under the fence at Campo twice)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mark v" <allemande6 at yahoo.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 10:46 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Really Mexico to Canada





I asked this Q over at trailforums once but didn't really get an answer, so 
i'm going to try here.

We all probably know that the PCT doesn't start in Mexico.  Even if you 
stick your foot under the border fence, the problem is both sides of that 
fence are still USA soil.  You have to go some further distance before it's 
actually Mexico.  (What is that distance?  50 yards?  A quarter mile???)

So, i'm wondering if anyone has started their hike IN Mexico, how they did 
it, or if nobody has done it, how might you try?

In looking at a road atlas, it seems the closest legal/normal checkpoint is 
about a half-days walk to the west of Campo.  One could get dropped off, 
walk up to the checkpoint, explain what you're doing (show your passport) 
and that you'll be walking back in moment, and then just roadwalk to Campo. 
I'm wondering if this would create a problem, or if there is a better way.

I thru'd in 08, and sometime when i'm back like for Kickoff or whatever, i'd 
like to connect those steps so i can feel like i've gone all the way from 
Mexico.  Thanks!



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