[pct-l] Disrespect of the PCT

[Andrea Dinsmore]

Unless you are in a place where almost every hiker stays with you. Then you
meet everyone of them. That's why hikers on the trail never see them. They
usually show up in groups.  We hear about the groups but don't know when
they will arrive.
On May 23, 2014 8:53 AM, "Ned Tibbits" <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:

> Very good, Jeff!  Agreed.
>
>
> Ned Tibbits, Director
> Mountain Education
> www.mountaineducation.org
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeffrey Olson
> Sent: Friday, May 23, 2014 8:32 AM
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Disrespect of the PCT
>
> 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.
> >
> >
>
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