[pct-l] Emergency Notifications

[Ken Murray]

Having people contact the PCTA is an EXTRAORDINARILY BAD idea.  

The PCTA is not a travel agency or a government agency set up to facilitate travel.  Calling the Sierra Club would be about as useful.  Likely, they have NO information whatsoever, excepting, perhaps the permit....and that says somewhere between Mexico and Canada....maybe.  In fact, there is NO overall agency to which such a thing could be reported, nor which would be likely to respond with any action.

This comes down to the issue of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.  It is NO ONE ELSE'S responsibility to be wandering the woods looking for someone to deliver messages to.  And no one will.  Other people, such as rangers, trail crews, and even volunteer Trail Angels have ACTUAL work to do.

If one is concerned about this, then it is THE HIKERS RESPONSIBILITY to write up an itinerary of where they are going to be, anticipated dates of being there, and the contact information  to get a message there to waiting when the hiker arrives, NOT for the poor family to figure out when there is a need.  You is also a responsibility to update this information as one travels the trail, and the schedule changes (as it will!)

( By the way, this is something that EVERY hiker should do- who knows what could happen during a six month hike! )