[pct-l] Disrespect of the PCT

[Jeffrey Olson]

Have no fear.  The likelihood of running into jerks is pretty low. I've 
been doing section hikes of varying lengths for 35 years and have met 
only one  young man who felt "sketchy" to me.  Most people are very  
welcoming, if they are not in an emotional funk or in a hurry.  The One 
Percent (or less) who are overly narcissistic are easily recognized and 
avoided or left behind.

The trail angel focus will work itself out.  It's called growing pains.  
I personally think that until Kennedy Meadows South it would be better 
if there were NO trail angels.  The herd would cull itself of the 
inexperienced and out-of-shape, the naive, and emotionally unprepared.

Jeff

Rapid City, SD, soon to be (joyfully) of Arcata, CA...

On 5/23/2014 8:32 AM, Elizabeth King wrote:
> As a newbie to the trail (NOT a thru-hiker.... yet...), this conversation
> is very disheartening.
>
> 1. Because all of this seems like common sense. When you're in the
> backcountry hiking and backpacking, you should more or less expect to rely
> on your own preparation and wits. However, how beautiful to have a
> community where the members love the experience and the land so much that
> they are willing to help make the experience possible for others who* want
> to take the experience seriously,* and treat the land with respect. Just
> reaching out to this list has been so tremendously helpful with planning,
> and I hope I've adequately expressed my gratitude and followed the proper
> etiquette guidelines in my requests for help.
>
> 2. On my short, first hike, I am hoping for a challenging, enjoyable *learning
> experience*--this conversation is making me think I am likely to encounter
> a bunch of grouches who feel I have no right to set foot on the trail and
> wouldn't help me find north if I were dead lost, or a bunch of frat boys
> whose moms read Wild. It can't all be bad... right...? This list alone has
> shown me there's plenty of great folks.
>
> 3. I'm troubled by all this talk about entitlement. Technically, all US
> citizens are "entitled" to the trail. So I think that creating a discourse
> of an exclusive community belonging only to the most hardcore backpackers
> who started hiking before some of us were born is unfair. However, I agree
> 1000% that to expect and even demand free help from perfect strangers is
> out of control. I suspect that those in this conversation have been
> referring to a sense of an entitlement to certain benefits of the community
> (including the extremely generous assistance of TAs and others willing to
> help), that have to be earned by displaying respect, etc.
>
> Now, I'm coming from a place where I am hoping to be let in to this
> community, and want to learn it before I claim to be a true member, so I
> hope I am not speaking out of turn. I haven't seen the trail change over
> the years, I haven't seen it at all yet! But I would hope that some out
> there have faith in those of us who really believe in Leave No Trace and in
> common courtesy to others. I can at least promise that my 2 travel
> companions will be hoping to learn, and will maximize our respect of the
> trail, fellow hikers, all who help, and a general ethics of human decency.
> We DEFINITELY will not be leaving errant trash bags.... good grief.
>
>