[pct-l] Subject: Subject: 2 Questions

[Ann Marie]

Wow. A very important topic that hasn't arisen until almost too late before kickoff !

I third (or fourth) the comments: do not leave the trail without leaving a visible trace, OR veer off a trail junction without knowing, and verifying two times, that your partner has seen you veer off. As one half of a couple, I implore you to heed this simple advice that has taken me three years to learn and consistently re-learn.


As a couple, we've had scares where we've lost contact with one another and it's has taken long minutes to reconnect. Even worse, as the female I've stupidly allowed him to carry the maps and GPS, while I just followed without any. He just turned at an obvious turn (yes, they were obvious) and I just didn't notice since I frequently hike within myself, hearing only nature sounds when I hike out of sight of another person (my personal happy space.)

What has already been spelled out about being off-trail at times is right on. Communicate. If you hike apart (we do) make sure that no more than 5 minutes have passed since you last caught sight of one another (which can be a quite a distance....), or be really sure you are headed to the right meeting place.

Unfortunately, although I carry a whistle, I learned its sound does not carry far or clearly. I've learned this three times, once in snowy Sierra conditions and twice in desert conditions.  Really, I have to keep re-learning this lesson, which is quite ridiculous. Just communicate beforehand.