[pct-l] Response to Albert regarding resupplying with RV at Lake Edison

Sun Oct 10 11:40:43 CDT 2010

Hello Albert,

What a great friend indeed!  I wanted to write in response to Mountain
Mike's suggestion that they could drive to Lake Edison's Vermillion Valley
Ranch.  This is indeed a great place to resupply along the JMT stretch of
the PCT.  For one, you'll get your first beer for free, if you partake, but
I'm not sure about an RV being able to drive up there.  The road is listed
as being for high clearance vehicles, although when I was there I did indeed
see some that didn't look all that off road oriented.  I would just double
check to make sure your friend is up for that adventure.  In addition, if
you're planning on resupplying a couple of times along the JMT stretch, most
of the trailheads you would head to will be on the East side of the Sierras,
making the RV's trip to the West logistically awkward.  Your friend could
certainly meet you at Reds Meadow though!

Crustyfoot

On Sat, Oct 9, 2010 at 9:54 PM, <pct-l-request at backcountry.net> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: water (Jim & Jane Moody)
>   2. kick off (Michael Herrera)
>   3. Thoughts on having a full time trail angel.
>      (albert at survivalcrafters.com)
>   4. Snake bites (Rod Belshee)
>   5. Re: Thoughts on having a full time trail angel. (eckert)
>   6. Thru hikers south of snoqualmie (tokencivilian at yahoo.com)
>   7. Re: Thoughts on having a full time trail angel. (Mike Welch)
>   8. Water- I rarely filtered or treated (Edward Anderson)
>   9.  Thoughts on having a full time trail angel. (Wes Rose)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 17:07:17 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] water
> To: jomike at cot.net
> Cc: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Message-ID:
>        <
> 524078644.122822.1286644037116.JavaMail.root at sz0094a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net
> >
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
>
>
> Maybe you can buy Aqua Mira if a doctor certifies that it's for medicinal
> purposes only.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: jomike at cot.net
> To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Sent: Saturday, October 9, 2010 12:18:54 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] water
>
> Apparently I have made a major mistake. I, in reading the bottle, have
> Portable Aqua. Different critter but with the same purpose. I am sorry for
> my error.
>
> are we there yet
>
>
> ...going to the mountains is going home.
>
> John Muir
> _______________________________________________
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 12:12:32 -0700
> From: "Michael Herrera" <mikeh at casaherrera.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] kick off
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <1F8DE07CE58F44B3A4E701A6966E0F71 at CASAHERRERA.LOCAL>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> is april 4 the kick off? if so that gives you music lovers 11 days to get
> to coachella music festival i will have our bbq the week after the kick off
> .mike h
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 10:38:53 -0700
> From: <albert at survivalcrafters.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Thoughts on having a full time trail angel.
> To: <pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <6317F6336B744A97A06EE33E40A6A950 at TOSH1>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"
>
>
>
> Hi All,
>
>
>
> I'm starting preparations for the PCT this April. I have a roommate that
> would like to make the trip in an RV and suggested that she could prepare
> the food boxes ahead of me and leave them at the drop boxes as I progress
> up
> the trail from Campo. On the one hand I kind of feel like if I'm going to
> be
> that lazy and spoiled I might as well just ride in the RV too. On the other
> hand since she's going to be driving around in her RV anyway it would just
> be cheaper for me in the long run and I'd have much fresher food boxes
> during the trip, and what difference does it make if the post office or
> someone else puts the boxes there?
>
>
>
> I read here a while back that some people don't carry any form of
> communications with them because that kind of builds an obligation and
> expectations to people in the outside world during the hike and they don't
> want those kinds of pressures during the hike, I guess I'm worried about
> the
> same kind ties to an RV'er. I'm 53 and this will be my first ever long hike
> and I'd like to hear any experiences/opinions about this if you have some
> to
> share.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Albert
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 13:55:47 -0700
> From: "Rod Belshee" <rbelshee at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Snake bites
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <SNT128-DS9E548E0244827D221C051CD510 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Informative article:
>  Large Snake Size Suggests Increased Snakebite Severity in Patients Bitten
> by Rattlesnakes in Southern California
>  WILDERNESS & ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE, 21, 120-126 (2010)
>
>   Full article:
> http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/1080-6032/PIIS1080603210000645.pdf
>
>  Key findings:  most snake bites are provoked (especially by young males
> and alcohol is often a factor); dry bites without envenomation are rare;
> death or long-term disability is extremely rare; the popular belief that
> small snakes inject more venom is a myth; where you get bit is not a big
> deal (e.g. arm vs. ankle), and the variation between rattlesnake species is
> not correlated to severity.  Basic conclusions for PCT hikers: don't provoke
> snakes, give them their space; but if bit anyway do not panic, just get to
> medical care and you will be okay.
> Article Abstract
>  Objective.-To correlate rattlesnake size and other characteristics of
> envenomation with the severity
>  of envenomation.
>
>  Methods.-We retrospectively reviewed 145 charts of patients bitten by
> rattlesnakes in Southern
>  California between 1995 and 2004, measuring Snakebite Severity Scores
> (SSS) and characteristics of
>  envenomation that might be correlated with snakebite severity, including
> rattlesnake size, rattlesnake
>  species, patient size, and anatomic location of the bite. Outcomes
> measured included SSS, complications
>  of envenomation, number of vials of antivenom used, and length of hospital
> stay.
>
>  Results.-Of the patients bitten by rattlesnakes, 81% were men, and 79% of
> bites were on the upper
>  extremities. Fifty-five percent of bites were provoked by the patient, and
> 44% were unprovoked.
>  Neither location of snakebite nor provocation of snakebite affected the
> SSS. Only 1 patient had a
>  snakebite without envenomation, and only 1 patient died from envenomation.
> Rattlesnake size was
>  positively correlated with SSS, and SSS was positively correlated with the
> number of vials of
>  antivenom used and with the length of hospital stay. Rattlesnake species
> and patient mass did not affect
>  SSS.
>
>  Conclusions.-Larger rattlesnakes cause more severe envenomations, which
> contradicts popular
>  belief.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 09 Oct 2010 17:16:22 -0700
> From: eckert <jape1 at cox.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Thoughts on having a full time trail angel.
> To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <4CB105D6.3040309 at cox.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
>  It really doesn't matter what anyone thinks.  But, it sounds like a
> great way to take a hike.  And you won't be the first to use that method.
>
> Besides,You might even be able to subsidize your trip by delivering
> other packages as well.  Muir Trail Ranch gets $50 a bucket.  You ought
> to be able to come up with a price that might pay for the gas in the RV.
> <g>
>
>  If you do decide to go that way, I'd have contingency plans in case
> your roommate would like to stop at some point.  I think it would take a
> special person to be able to meander up the trail at the speed of walking.
>
> eckert
>
> On 10/9/2010 10:38 AM, albert at survivalcrafters.com wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hi All,
> >
> >
> >
> > I'm starting preparations for the PCT this April. I have a roommate that
> > would like to make the trip in an RV and suggested that she could prepare
> > the food boxes ahead of me and leave them at the drop boxes as I progress
> up
> > the trail from Campo. On the one hand I kind of feel like if I'm going to
> be
> > that lazy and spoiled I might as well just ride in the RV too. On the
> other
> > hand since she's going to be driving around in her RV anyway it would
> just
> > be cheaper for me in the long run and I'd have much fresher food boxes
> > during the trip, and what difference does it make if the post office or
> > someone else puts the boxes there?
> >
> >
> >
> > I read here a while back that some people don't carry any form of
> > communications with them because that kind of builds an obligation and
> > expectations to people in the outside world during the hike and they
> don't
> > want those kinds of pressures during the hike, I guess I'm worried about
> the
> > same kind ties to an RV'er. I'm 53 and this will be my first ever long
> hike
> > and I'd like to hear any experiences/opinions about this if you have some
> to
> > share.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Albert
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Pct-L mailing list
> > Pct-L at backcountry.net
> > To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> >
> > List Archives:
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2010 03:07:58 +0000
> From: tokencivilian at yahoo.com
> Subject: [pct-l] Thru hikers south of snoqualmie
> To: "PCT L" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID:
>
>  <1295119412-1286680080-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-264071956- at bda549.bisx.prod.on.blackberry
> >
>
> Content-Type: text/plain
>
> 3 of us PCTA volunteers were out cutting brush today about 21 miles south
> of snoqualmie pass.  We had 7 thru hikers come through the work zone between
> about 10 and noon.  They said they were the last major grouping still going.
>  I don't recall if they mentioned if there were further stragglers behind
> them.  They should have made the pass tonight about dark or shortly
> thereafter.
>
> A note to those planning a hike in the coming years:  so far, folks have
> lucked out this year here in Washington.  While quite wet, its been
> relatively warm (as in no snow yet - not that it was WARM).  Do plan your
> hike, and keep moving along such that you'll be done by the first of October
> if at all practical.  '06 lucked out that it didn't snow until later in
> October while '07 was shut down in late September.  At his point in the
> year, its a crap shoot on the weather with the odds becoming progressively
> worse with each passing day.
>
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 20:16:49 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Mike Welch <encinomw at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Thoughts on having a full time trail angel.
> To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net, albert at survivalcrafters.com
> Message-ID: <693360.16879.qm at web44811.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Albert, ?I have sectioned hiked for the past 4 years. ?Started with the
> John Muir section and have been moving North at about 220 miles at a time
> each Summer. ?If you have a friend that is willing to follow you in an RV
> and drop off food and supply packages for you...wow! ?You've just solved a
> major logistical issue for yourself. ?Besides that I would say you have a
> true friend whom you should cherish, but I'm sure you probably already do.
> The John Muir section is the only section for about 220 miles that a major
> road does not run through the PCT. ?The best point of resupply would
> probably be Edison Lake. ?He or she can drive to the resort at the West end
> of the lake and you can come a mere 1 & 1/2 mile off the trail and take the
> ferry across the lake to meet your friend with your package. ?Mountain Mike
>
> --- On Sat, 10/9/10, albert at survivalcrafters.com <
> albert at survivalcrafters.com> wrote:
>
> From: albert at survivalcrafters.com <albert at survivalcrafters.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Thoughts on having a full time trail angel.
> To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Date: Saturday, October 9, 2010, 9:38 AM
>
>
>
> Hi All,
>
>
>
> I'm starting preparations for the PCT this April. I have a roommate that
> would like to make the trip in an RV and suggested that she could prepare
> the food boxes ahead of me and leave them at the drop boxes as I progress
> up
> the trail from Campo. On the one hand I kind of feel like if I'm going to
> be
> that lazy and spoiled I might as well just ride in the RV too. On the other
> hand since she's going to be driving around in her RV anyway it would just
> be cheaper for me in the long run and I'd have much fresher food boxes
> during the trip, and what difference does it make if the post office or
> someone else puts the boxes there?
>
>
>
> I read here a while back that some people don't carry any form of
> communications with them because that kind of builds an obligation and
> expectations to people in the outside world during the hike and they don't
> want those kinds of pressures during the hike, I guess I'm worried about
> the
> same kind ties to an RV'er. I'm 53 and this will be my first ever long hike
> and I'd like to hear any experiences/opinions about this if you have some
> to
> share.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Albert
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
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>
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>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 20:29:04 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Water- I rarely filtered or treated
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <635868.76749.qm at web111608.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> For what it's worth - here's what I did. And it worked for me. I never got
> sick
> from water while living on the trail for over five months.? I didn't go
> into
> towns as most of the hikers do.?I usually camped alone in off- trail places
> -
> often at spots where there was no signs that anyone had ever camped there
> before. Yes, you can discover, and enjoy, a true?wilderness setting within
> a
> quarter of a mile of the well-traveled PCT.?
>
> Although I brought iodine water treatment along I never once used it.?I
> dislike
> using chemicals.? I did bring along an MSR filter and used it a few times
> while
> in Southern C. - maybe six times.? More often I could find a small spring
> or a
> small creek with fast moving and well aerated where I could fill up my
> containers.? I carried a 44 0z. canteen and four 20 oz Gator Aid bottles.?
> This
> is a total of 124 ounces.? I was riding a horse and sometimes walking.?
> That
> amount of water, I discovered, could last me up to two days if I was
> careful.
> The hikers, especially thru hikers who want to cover big miles would need
> more.
>
> In N. California, Oregon, and Washington, again, I never treated water with
> chemicals?but did filter about three times.?I topped up my containers
> whenever I
> found what I considered a safe source.? Here is what I was looking for:? A
> spring is the best?place to find good water.?I would get my water at the
> source
> - the place where it is coming out of the rock or ground.?Springs are
> usually
> indicated on the maps.? Just check the WP maps.?I would always try?to go to
> the
> source.?The other good source of what I considered safe water?is small
> creeklets
> which are moving fast and coming from places where my map would show that
> there
> are no trails or roads upstream - AND not in cattle country. Another place
> where
> I sometimes dipped water was from?the surface water?of still, clear ponds
> and
> lakes - provided that the wind was not blowing and there was full, direct
> sunlight on the water. The top three or?four inches will have been purified
> by
> the ultra-violet components of sunshine.? There were times when I simply
> laid my
> four clear plastic Gatoraid bottles in the full sun for three or
> four?hours.? I
> would heat water for a solar shower at the same time.? A solar shower is a
> great
> thing to have along.? It also provides the convenience of?running water
> from a
> faucet at your camp location. My old solar shower holds 10 quarts and
> weighs 11
> 1/2 ounces.? For next years' ride?I will replace it with a Pocket Shower
> which
> holds just as much and only weighs 4 1/2 ounces.? I learned about that from
> Dianne. Thanks Piper.
>
> Some people are, indeed,?paranoid about water.? Here is an incident that I
> came
> across in central Oregon, just a few miles south of McKenzie Pass.? The
> place
> was Minne Scott Spring.? I set up camp about 400' from the spring.? When I
> went
> down to the spring to fill up with water there was this man filtering the
> water
> that was coming directly?out of the rock.? I asked him why. Told him that
> this
> was beautiful water - you don't need to filter it. He replyed that he
> trusts NO
> water. He filtered all of his water!? Oh well - - -.
>
> MendoRider
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 21:54:17 -0700
> From: "Wes Rose" <wb104475 at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: [pct-l]  Thoughts on having a full time trail angel.
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <7DF24B9BDA104201B22D30C55A058985 at rose>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> On a not-so-serious note, IF you do have a full time support person
> assisting
> you along the trail, I'm going to step out and make a prediction that you
> will not
> find yourself lacking for friends on the trail.
>
> On the other hand, I can recall two hikers off the top of my head who had
> significant trail assistance via an RV support person.  One was Fireball in
> 2007:
> http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=198857  This is a married couple
> who
> appeared to manage their trip successfully if one defines success as,
> "finishing".
> She drove and he hiked.
>
> Another in 2007 was "Disco Dan".  I cannot find the link to his trail
> journal, but I
> recall that the comfort of the RV lured him into excessive "zero" days.
> Disco's
> arrangement was with a married couple; she hiked, he provided the support.
> He was stopped by heavy Washington snows less than 100 miles from the
> Northern
> Terminus.  Needless to say, he was not a happy camper.
>
> Whatever your decision, best success!
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> End of Pct-L Digest, Vol 34, Issue 25
> *************************************
>