[pct-l] Respect

[Gail Van Velzer]

What do you think the best trail guide is?
Gail
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Karl Jorgensen" <twizstix at gmail.com>
To: "JoAnn" <jomike at cot.net>
Cc: "PCT" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Respect


> JoAnn,
>
> I agree with you on this.   When i hiked the trail in 2006 i tore the 
> guide
> books apart and included the section that i was going to cover next in 
> each
> of my resupply boxes.    Almost every evening after writing my journal
> entry (which i did on paper and sent home where it was added to my 
> journal)
> i read what i would be covering the next day.  There were some sections
> that i reread the next day, because i came across something that i would
> have missed if i did not have the guide book pages with me.
>
> I have been reading Shroomers journals as he adds to them when he is 
> hiking
> the AT and he brings a lot of interest out because he adds a historical
> point to it.   This is what i enjoyed with the guide book pages.
>
> jorgy  pct   06
>
>
> On Mon, May 26, 2014 at 11:09 AM, JoAnn <jomike at cot.net> wrote:
>
>> I’m not always good at expressing my feelings but I’ll give this a try.
>>
>> I have long maintained that not reading the guide books  (do most of you
>> even know what I am referring to?) runs the risk of a far lesser 
>> experience
>> with the PCT. For some years now the youngest thru hikers make reference 
>> as
>> to their location on the trail by just mileage numbers. I fear they loose 
>> a
>> lot of emotional and psychological connection to the trail by seeing it 
>> as
>> just numbers and not really knowing the trail. There are three books in 
>> the
>> series, two for CA and one for OR and WA. and the reading of these
>> addresses virtually everything having to do with the trail: history,
>> geology, rocks, biology, the role of fire, etc. It describes each section
>> of trail and warns of possible dangers. The guide book, though out dated,
>> has very inclusive maps and the authors give escapes routes in case of 
>> need
>> to leave the trail due to emergency. It gives mileage between landmarks 
>> and
>> gives step-by-step descriptions of the trail. Yes, again, it is a bit out
>> dated: it is missing a fair amount of trails washed out due to very
>> aggressive storms and miscellaneous closures. It is not the end all, be 
>> all
>> and yet, hiking the trail without reading it, is to deny yourself  a real
>> emotional identification and alignment with the trail.  With no 
>> attachment
>> to the trail I fear there are hikers who see no need to respect and 
>> protect
>> it. They are missing the heart connection to the PCT.
>>
>> are wee there yet
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