[pct-l] enough with the chicken thread

[Ikem Freeman]

DP,
 
I agree with almost everything you suggested, except for one: #6 laminate your thru permit ... Don't waist the weight!
 
In '08, I ran into about 4 rangers, mostly after KM. I had to ASK THEM to look at my thru permit, and quite frankly, none of them wanted to nor did they care! My thought was this ... I've been carrying the silly thing since CAMPO, I at least wanted someone to see it! Don't get me wrong here, EVERY THRU HIKER NEEDS ONE ... just don't add more weight to your pack to laminate it. Rather, bury it deep in the unknown pockets of your back and know that it's safe there, along with your passport and your stash of emergency cash..
 
O. Ikem Sofar

--- On Mon, 3/16/09, David Plotnikoff <david at emeraldlake.com> wrote:


From: David Plotnikoff <david at emeraldlake.com>
Subject: [pct-l] enough with the chicken thread
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Monday, March 16, 2009, 2:43 AM


Hello from a longtime list lurker.

I was disappointed to see one of our campfire circle's notorious 
jokers bring up the walking chicken thread again. I suppose there are 
newcomers every season who haven't tired of it.

Everyone who is anyone on the PCT knows that this is a sad, worn-out 
joke and the only serious way to get walking protein (as opposed to 
protein you have to carry) is goats. (Carolyn Eddy, forgive me. I 
will burn in hell, I know.)

In 2005, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the so-called "Goat 
People" who I'd been hearing about through most of Southern 
California. Unfortunately, I met them on a day that they'd probably 
log as one of their worst. Sid the Goat and his people had entered 
Sequoia National Park, nobo on the PCT and made it as far as almost 
Crabtree before encountering a NPS backcounty ranger. The ranger took 
one look at the thru permit, which listed Sid as "pack stock" and 
said conclusively, "This ain't gonna wash." He then escorted them 
back from whence they came -- ending their contiguous thru-hike. By 
the time I saw them around Chicken Spring Lake, they were in a 
white-hot rage. And wondering how hard it would be to hitch down to 
Lone Pine from the Horseshoe Meadows TH with a GOAT! Lotsa luck with 
that, kids. (Actually, it's possible Sid wasn't any more offensive to 
the nose than your standard thru-hiker ...)

Personally, I didn't see what the problem was. Use a pack goat from 
Campo to KM. EAT a pack goat from KM to Kearsarge. Pick up a second 
goat once you clear Sonora Pass. No fuss. No problem. (Unless you're 
the goat.) Anyone who's familiar with California's taqueria scene 
probably knows a half-dozen recipes for birria and cabrito. I prefer 
mine beer-braised in a Dutch oven over very low heat for six hours. 
Others say spit-roasting (al pastor style) is the only way to go.


On a more sober note, I sense some of you are getting a case of the 
antsy pants, waiting to board that plane to San Diego. Don't go all 
twitchy on me. Here are some things you might do to fill the 
remaining days:

1) Get a tetanus booster if you haven't had one in the past 10 years. 
Why: Because the PCT is a filthy place. And you know you're not 
equipped to really sterilize a major abrasion or laceration in the 
backcountry.

2) Get a bunch of .5 oz. mini Purell hand sanitizers and throw them 
in your resupply boxes. Why: Because gastrointestinal problems end 
more thru hikes than lions, tigers, bears, acts of God and grad 
school combined. Seriously cheap, lightweight trip insurance. It is 
also civilian-grade napalm, which will get your survival fire started 
on the wettest, most windy night.

3) Add a garbage bag to your packing list. Why: For a few grams, 
you're getting peace of mind that you will have a dry sleeping bag 
and a dry change of clothes on the one day it REALLY opens up on you. 
Seriously cheap, lightweight trip insurance.

4) Go to a drugstore and laminate your thru permit. Why: Because a 
wad of wet mush isn't very impressive to a ticketing ranger.

5) Put your name and home phone on your poles. Why: Because they all 
look the same. And this will increase the chances you will be 
reunited with them after you leave them in the back of someone's 
truck at the end of a hitch. (Seriously, this happens more often than 
you think...)

6) Don't make an emergency first-responder play detective trying to 
find your next-of-kin contact info. I know it sounds grim, but if a 
husband/wife/parent/whomever has medical power of attorney for care 
decisions when you are not conscious to make the call yourself, 
plainly label that person's contacts: "PRIMARY EMERGENCY CONTACT" in 
big, bold letters.

7) The Manns/Bob Reiss. The Saufleys. The Andersons. The Braatens. 
The Heitmans. The Dinsmores. And the rest of the angels. This is of 
critical importance. Either write it down or make an indelible mental 
note: When you encounter these people, you need to ask yourself, 
"What did *I* do to help?" Doing the dishes, chipping in for gas 
money or groceries, whatever. Why: Because it's the right thing to 
do. You're part of a community. Nobody on the PCT succeeds alone.


All the best to the Class of 2009!

DP

www.emeraldlake.com/pctguide/
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