[pct-l] Compass vs GPS /// Re: Pct-L Digest, Vol 100, Issue 14

[jcil000-hiker at yahoo.com]

David Harris:Check my link if you can still see it to the case of the woman who went missing on the AT. They foundher two years after she had gone missing and only by chance. A land survey crew happened to bushwhackthrough her campsite and her tent was still visible (she was inside deceased). She was only 3,000 feetoff the trail. And interestingly enough, both she and her hiking companion had spoken about howeasy it would be to get lost if off the trail even a few feet. Her friend had an family emergency and had to leave. The woman who went missing & died went on alone and accidentally went off trail or went offtrail to answer the call. Making the assumption that you can always find the trail could be a dangerous mistake. In the two years that woman was lying there dead in her tent, AT hikers were passing byabout 3,000 feet away. Same with a man who starved to death only 3 miles from rescue in the upstate New York mountains because he took a side trail to bail when he decided he had miscalculatedhis food supply. The trail he took was little used and the S&R people didn't check it. His diary foundlater stated that he could hear the search helicopters. 
As for trail names assigned to those who require emergency evacuation / rescue, yes, some names couldthereafter be assigned that would be somewhat laughable (assuming the victim survived). One name I readabout two years ago was a woman assigned the name of "Trauma." I can only imagine that she was successfulin her hike but not without some damage. How about "Airlift" for someone who gets a helicopter ride out?
Speaking of which, I heard about an airlift locally of a woman hiker. The group was only on a local hike of 11miles but that stretch is not less than moderate in hiking efforts. Lots of rattlesnakes, poison oak, climbing,descending, and bouldering ... w/o any water at all in summer. And no bail routes. She broke her ankle and they airlifted her out.Despite the fact that there were residences in front, below, and a distance to the rear. Had she been alone,she probably could have crawled out but not without risky effort and time. Not sure what her trail name is now.

      From: "pct-l-request at backcountry.net" <pct-l-request at backcountry.net>
 To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
 Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 10:00 AM
 Subject: Pct-L Digest, Vol 100, Issue 14
   
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Today's Topics:

  1. Navigation myths and truths (Douglas Tow)
  2. Re: Navigation myths and truths (Peter Necarsulmer)
  3. Re: Navigation myths and truths (Jim & Jane Moody)
  4. Compass Navigation vs gps (jcil000-hiker at yahoo.com)
  5. Fires (marmot marmot)
  6. Navigation Skills (Herb Stroh)
  7. Re: JMT Yo-Yo & Karen's Hero (hiker97 at aol.com)
  8. Re: Navigation myths and truths (Sabrina Harrison)
  9. Komperdell Carbon Ultralite V4 Compact Trekking Poles
      (hiker97 at aol.com)
  10. Re: Komperdell Carbon Ultralite V4 Compact Trekking Poles
      (Luce Cruz)
  11. Re: Navigation Skills? (Lauzier Alain)
  12. Ensoles are finally out... (Trekker4 at aol.com)
  13. Sierra Exploratory Expedition (Reinhold Metzger)
  14. JMT Yo-Yo & Karen's Hero (Reinhold Metzger)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 10:41:56 -0700
From: Douglas Tow <douglastow at gmail.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Navigation myths and truths
Message-ID:
    <CAOOqOOvZeirTQnRE4=9+2_3UGRgAvn4Yu=v26P_k8nkX=DSztQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Navigation myths:

1.  Every trailhead or trail split will be clearly marked as to where the
PCT goes.
2.  Mapreading and compass skills are not necessary.
3.  If you get off trail (bathroom break, seeking water, finding camp), you
will easily be able to find it again, or see other hikers moving down the
trail.
4.  If there are no trails branching off the PCT, you can't get off it
(think snow, bald rock, meadows before vegetation growth, destroyed cairns,
tree fall, darkness, water crossings, roads, even parking lots).
5.  Trail blazes are everywhere.
6.  Murphy's Law doesn't apply to navigation.

Navigation truths:

1.  You won't like your new trail name if you get lost and require
emergency rescue.
2.  If you can can't explain your paper map to someone else, you've got
some work to do.
3.  Review your hiking day on the map, and look for expected peaks, lakes,
streams, switchbacks, etc.  Don't see them? Hmmm...
4.  Across snow and ice, the beaten path might not be the trail, merely
other clueless people following footsteps.
5.  A good compass, like a seat belt, is worth having and using even if you
never need it.

Can we go get?

Chipmunk


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 11:33:56 -0700
From: Peter Necarsulmer <necarsulmer at mac.com>
To: Pct-L <pct-l at backcountry.net>, Douglas Tow <douglastow at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Navigation myths and truths
Message-ID: <EED05774-1D73-4433-B252-5F47839FA48B at mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8


Excellent advice, as always from the highly reliable Doug Tow (?Chipmunk?).  Take it to heart, please. 

escargot

Peter B. Necarsulmer
Bend OR
+ 1-202-403-4211 U.S. mobile
+ 7-495-760-3303 Russia mobile
necarsulmer at mac.com








> On Apr 12, 2016, at 10:41 AM, Douglas Tow <douglastow at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Navigation myths:
> 
> 1.  Every trailhead or trail split will be clearly marked as to where the
> PCT goes.
> 2.  Mapreading and compass skills are not necessary.
> 3.  If you get off trail (bathroom break, seeking water, finding camp), you
> will easily be able to find it again, or see other hikers moving down the
> trail.
> 4.  If there are no trails branching off the PCT, you can't get off it
> (think snow, bald rock, meadows before vegetation growth, destroyed cairns,
> tree fall, darkness, water crossings, roads, even parking lots).
> 5.  Trail blazes are everywhere.
> 6.  Murphy's Law doesn't apply to navigation.
> 
> Navigation truths:
> 
> 1.  You won't like your new trail name if you get lost and require
> emergency rescue.
> 2.  If you can can't explain your paper map to someone else, you've got
> some work to do.
> 3.  Review your hiking day on the map, and look for expected peaks, lakes,
> streams, switchbacks, etc.  Don't see them? Hmmm...
> 4.  Across snow and ice, the beaten path might not be the trail, merely
> other clueless people following footsteps.
> 5.  A good compass, like a seat belt, is worth having and using even if you
> never need it.
> 
> Can we go get?
> 
> Chipmunk
> _______________________________________________
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> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubscribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
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------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 18:36:56 +0000 (UTC)
From: Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net>
To: Pct-L <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Navigation myths and truths
Message-ID:
    <78940694.9031787.1460486216352.JavaMail.zimbra at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

It seems like a good time to repost this tutorial, which Gary Schenk first almost 3 years ago. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCp-JSVSNZM 

Enjoy - and speaking French is not required. 

Mango 


----- Original Message -----

From: "Douglas Tow" <douglastow at gmail.com> 
To: "Pct-L" <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 1:41:56 PM 
Subject: [pct-l] Navigation myths and truths 

Navigation myths: 

1. Every trailhead or trail split will be clearly marked as to where the 
PCT goes. 
2. Mapreading and compass skills are not necessary. 
3. If you get off trail (bathroom break, seeking water, finding camp), you 
will easily be able to find it again, or see other hikers moving down the 
trail. 
4. If there are no trails branching off the PCT, you can't get off it 
(think snow, bald rock, meadows before vegetation growth, destroyed cairns, 
tree fall, darkness, water crossings, roads, even parking lots). 
5. Trail blazes are everywhere. 
6. Murphy's Law doesn't apply to navigation. 

Navigation truths: 

1. You won't like your new trail name if you get lost and require 
emergency rescue. 
2. If you can can't explain your paper map to someone else, you've got 
some work to do. 
3. Review your hiking day on the map, and look for expected peaks, lakes, 
streams, switchbacks, etc. Don't see them? Hmmm... 
4. Across snow and ice, the beaten path might not be the trail, merely 
other clueless people following footsteps. 
5. A good compass, like a seat belt, is worth having and using even if you 
never need it. 

Can we go get? 

Chipmunk 
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All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. 
Reproduction is prohibited without express permission. 



------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 18:53:05 +0000 (UTC)
From: <jcil000-hiker at yahoo.com>
To: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: [pct-l] Compass Navigation vs gps
Message-ID:
    <1222264856.1465112.1460487185744.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

There was a fascinating documentation a number of years ago about a manwho went hunting, in mid winter, in upstate New York / Adirondack mountains.The snow was deep. Temperatures were below freezing and nearing zero at nightas I recall. The tale was described in a book entitled, "At the Mercy of the Mountains."
He went solo into those conditions but felt that his carrying a gps and two compasseswould suffice to get him back to his truck where he parked on a dirt forest road.
A storm came in and he attempted to retreat. He was unable to find his truck and waseventually found deceased due to exposure.
Rangers and police of the area retrieved his gps and determined that it was actually functional.It WAS working. But its screen had failed. He could not see data nor direction. The rangers couldsee the data through tech evaluation. They could see his tracks and how he went out and theattempted to retreat. He came right back past his truck, passed it, and then reversed course again.He fell into a small creek while making his flee for life. He went back and forth several times.
The final determination showed that he had used his compass(s) as his tool to escape. They HADsuccessfully taken him back within 100 yards of his truck but he couldn't see it as it had beendusted with snow / covered with snow.
Bottom line: a compass works. A gps can fail. The GPS is more precise, certainly. But most expertsstill say the compass is the primary tool and the gps is secondary. The gps can be used to confirmyour compass readings. A quality GPS is also something that has a learning curve. I'm not surewhich would be more difficult to learn but both a compass and gps require learning. But neitheris hard and just takes practice at the local state park.
If I remember correctly, the death of John Donovan was partially determined to be that hismap was of poor quality and "not useful for navigation." Perhaps poor resolution and largerthan 1:24,000. Perhaps only of the tourist variety for the region.
Personally, I carry both map/compass AND gps.?



------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 19:17:55 +0000
From: marmot marmot <marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com>
To: "pct-l @backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: [pct-l] Fires
Message-ID:
    <CY1PR20MB02655739286C38EEF15C0B6EC8950 at CY1PR20MB0265.namprd20.prod.outlook.com>
    
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

To all of you starting on the trail soon,remember just because you have a fire permit it does not mean you should make a fire. Some folks have a romantic dream of cooking their food each night over a fire---I ran into a few last year. Please leave that idea at home.  Most fires are dangerous to our forests and deserts. Even though we've had some rain, a lot of the plants/low bushes are highly flammable. Watch the fire permit video. Do you have any of that stuff. A shovel?Water? A ten foot diameter area without vegetation?----of course not. If there's any spot like that it's filled with tents. So please use a backpacking stove so we don't end up with even more forest burned. You don't have to be experienced to do the PCT. Just don't burn it down while you're learning 
Have a wonderful hike 
Marmot


Sent from my iPhone

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 19:42:45 +0000
From: Herb Stroh <HStroh at sjmslaw.com>
To: "'pct-l at backcountry.net'" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: [pct-l] Navigation Skills
Message-ID: <5a39b68962774735b478204e060f6a2b at MALAWI.SJLM.local>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

David-

I tend to agree with you. I grew up a map-and-compass guy and had a decent skill set in using them. All of the effort it took to orient the map, cite in landmarks, triangulate, etc., was a great incentive to learning to read a topo and keep a mental map in my head. I can't recall the last time I actually went through the process of triangulation, but it has been many years.

The rap against GPS is that they fail. That is true, of course, but one can drop a compass over a cliff or just step on it. Paper maps can get lost, wet, or otherwise destroyed. Every means of navigation has a failure risk associated with it.

As you note, the problem with GPS-centric navigation is that one can become complacent and just push a button to see 'where am I' without developing a natural location awareness. Constantly reviewing the map for landmarks and tracking time walked at expected mph is by far the best way of remaining oriented while hiking. I would encourage all hikers to develop this skill-all it takes is reviewing the map at frequent intervals and comparing map features to the world around you. After a short while a quick glance at the map and terrain will suffice for orientation. Then just keep checking at frequent intervals and you will always have a sense of where you are. In addition, it is fun to know the names of the features you are passing.

I do still bring a compass, but it is a cheap small one. I have found it useful as a means to save GPS battery life when orienting off trail to a particular feature. I use my GPS to determine direction of travel, dial in the compass to point me in the desired direction, hang it around my neck, and keep referencing the compass to stay on track. I can then verify direction without firing up the GPS repeatedly. That is the only way I have used my compass over the last 5+ years.

Herb

Herb Stroh  |  Partner
Sinsheimer Juhnke McIvor & Stroh, LLP
1010 Peach Street  |  PO Box 31  |  San Luis Obispo, CA  93406
P 805 541 2800  |  F 805 541 2802
HStroh at sjmslaw.com<mailto:HStroh at sjmslaw.com>  |  www.sjmslaw.com<http://www.sjmslaw.com/>

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------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2016 05:20:50 -0400
From: hiker97 at aol.com
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] JMT Yo-Yo & Karen's Hero
Message-ID: <1540eec56d3-167-34c8 at webprd-a75.mail.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8


Snow Bunny Reinhold wrote: BTW Switchback...my time for the JMT was 5 days 10 hrs in 2003 and 5 days 7 hrs in 2004,...not just over 4 days. But that was when I was still a young 62 & 63...I don't know if I could still do that now at 75.
------------------------------
Switchback replies: Thanks for the good wishes on the double knee replacement.  And I have made a correction to my hiking PPT program slide on your actual time doing the JMT.  That was some accomplishment.  Truthfully, I would like to do Mt. Whitney this August.  And also do 3-days of modest walking and camping on the PCT may be this May or June.  I know the perfect area out of Tuolumne Meadows and Lyle Canyon.  My base pack weight should be around 12-13 pounds (with a Big Agnes Fly Creek Platinum 2 tent) and 23 pounds total with a few liters of water.  Luxury gear and camping - no problem for a 69 year old senior?  
 
 
 


------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2016 07:49:39 -0500
From: Sabrina Harrison <troopharrison at gmail.com>
To: Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net>
Cc: Pct-L <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Navigation myths and truths
Message-ID: <DDDBD154-2928-46DE-BA03-6C77580F61DA at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=us-ascii

That was hilarious! I'm going to go get one of those right away...

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 12, 2016, at 1:36 PM, Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> It seems like a good time to repost this tutorial, which Gary Schenk first almost 3 years ago. 
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCp-JSVSNZM 
> 
> Enjoy - and speaking French is not required. 
> 
> Mango 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> 
> From: "Douglas Tow" <douglastow at gmail.com> 
> To: "Pct-L" <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 1:41:56 PM 
> Subject: [pct-l] Navigation myths and truths 
> 
> Navigation myths: 
> 
> 1. Every trailhead or trail split will be clearly marked as to where the 
> PCT goes. 
> 2. Mapreading and compass skills are not necessary. 
> 3. If you get off trail (bathroom break, seeking water, finding camp), you 
> will easily be able to find it again, or see other hikers moving down the 
> trail. 
> 4. If there are no trails branching off the PCT, you can't get off it 
> (think snow, bald rock, meadows before vegetation growth, destroyed cairns, 
> tree fall, darkness, water crossings, roads, even parking lots). 
> 5. Trail blazes are everywhere. 
> 6. Murphy's Law doesn't apply to navigation. 
> 
> Navigation truths: 
> 
> 1. You won't like your new trail name if you get lost and require 
> emergency rescue. 
> 2. If you can can't explain your paper map to someone else, you've got 
> some work to do. 
> 3. Review your hiking day on the map, and look for expected peaks, lakes, 
> streams, switchbacks, etc. Don't see them? Hmmm... 
> 4. Across snow and ice, the beaten path might not be the trail, merely 
> other clueless people following footsteps. 
> 5. A good compass, like a seat belt, is worth having and using even if you 
> never need it. 
> 
> Can we go get? 
> 
> Chipmunk 
> _______________________________________________ 
> Pct-L mailing list 
> Pct-L at backcountry.net 
> To unsubscribe, or change options visit: 
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l 
> 
> List Archives: 
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/ 
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. 
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission. 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubscribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors.
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.


------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2016 11:37:22 -0400
From: hiker97 at aol.com
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Komperdell Carbon Ultralite V4 Compact Trekking Poles
Message-ID: <15410450d57-679d-5afe at webprd-a12.mail.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8


These are at REI Outlet for $135.  Each pole weighs around 6.5 ounces.  Normally a pair cost around $190.  They seem to have an excellent wrist strap, which is key to using a hiking pole correctly.

Your obedient servant and trail rascal,
Switchback the Trail Pirate


------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:48:50 -0500
From: Luce Cruz <lucecruz13 at gmail.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Komperdell Carbon Ultralite V4 Compact Trekking
    Poles
Message-ID:
    <CAPdO7FwjXNbXetXAh5Er-XBZs=aD7Z9m62XRbqaJuUpwzmKQ8g at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

On Wed, Apr 13, 2016 at 10:37 AM, <hiker97 at aol.com> wrote:

>
> These are at REI Outlet for $135.  Each pole weighs around 6.5 ounces.
> Normally a pair cost around $190.  They seem to have an excellent wrist
> strap, which is key to using a hiking pole correctly.
>
> Your obedient servant and trail rascal,
> Switchback the Trail Pirate


And if those are still unaffordable for you despite being in the REI
Outlet, last time I was in a Costco in Tucson I saw the CF hiking poles
they sell there for less than $40.

-- 
Luce Cruz


------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 09:25:13 -0400
From: Lauzier Alain <alain.lauzier at outlook.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Navigation Skills?
Message-ID: <BLU436-SMTP75264715051BB098A8E2CBE5950 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; format=flowed

You all bring out points but from a practical point of view , what kind 
of maps do you use?
The full length of the PCT is  a massive amount of paper and I am 
planning only a few resupply points.
What are your suggestions?


Le 2016-04-12 00:58, ambery-80243 at mypacks.net a ?crit :
> I think there are a couple other considerations.  No matter how prepared you are with back-up batteries, etc, sometimes devices just crash.  I had a GPS that just crapped out and quit working, and at that point was nothing but a hockey puck I carried for the rest of the section I was hiking.
> But I wasn't dependent on the thing, because like you, I can read a map and understand terrain. (And unlike most hikers today, I use the GPS as a back-up to my map, not my maps as a back-up to the GPS.)
>
> Additionally, here's what I have noticed about people who learn to use a GPS and don't develop map skills.  They tend to walk constantly looking at and referring to the device and following wherever it says to go; there seems to be less associating what they are seeing on the device with the actual features and landmarks around them.  In my opinion, associating the features on the map with what's around you is even more important than compass skills.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: David Money Harris <David_Harris at hmc.edu>You all bring out
>> Sent: Apr 11, 2016 10:30 A
>> Subject: [pct-l] Navigation Skills?
>> rnia and Oregon
>>
> ">Electronics can run out of charge, but I?m careful about that kind of thing and have never run out on the trail.  If I did, there?s no emergency ? just stay on the trail and follow the map. If something doesn?t look right, backtrack to the last known good landmark. If I became seriously confused, the PCT is a hiker superhighway and sitting and waiting an hour will bring help.  If the weather is bad and it?s off season, I won?t go forth solo or carrying only ultralight gear.
>> For ultralight backpacking on the PCT these days, I?d be content with halfmile maps, a smartphone with the map on some app, a backup battery pack, and a toy compass on my whistle for emergencies. I?d love to hear from compass advocates if I?m overlooking something."
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubscribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors.
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.


---
L'absence de virus dans ce courrier ?lectronique a ?t? v?rifi?e par le logiciel antivirus Avast.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus



------------------------------

Message: 12
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 11:42:37 -0400
From: Trekker4 at aol.com
To: erinsaver at walkingwithwired.com, mkwart at gci.net,
    natureprotection at hotmail.com
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net, cdt-l at backcountry.net, at-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Ensoles are finally out...
Message-ID: <27705d.2756f770.443e716d at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

for the well wired woman:
http://www.solepowertech.com/ensoles/
    Here's my take: I got on their  mailing list at least 3 years ago, so 
it took them awhile. They're expensive  ($200 on preorder), not waterproof 
(water resistant-stream crossings & rain  okay), heavy (10 oz less the wt of 
your current insoles}, and not delivering  pre-orders until Winter 16.. 
    I sent a query about their arch support vs  Superfeet, and I'll send 
another about river crossings (up to 3 ft deep for  over 5 minutes, say)  My 
gut feel is they may have a ways to go.
    The other thing to remember is that at, 20 oz less  your current 
insoles leaves 17-18 oz more on your feet. The old adage of 1 lb on  one's feet 
equals 5 lbs on one's back was retested by the Army over 2 decades  ago; the 
new info is that 1 lb off your feet equals 6.3 lbs off your back. At  17-18 
oz, adding Ensoles is adding 6.5 lbs or more to your back.
    Ms Wired, since you could presumably get rid of a  solar panel and 
perhaps some battery weight, you might come close to breaking  even. But, this 
old fart is not about to add 6.5 lbs or more,
 
Bob "Trekker"  Brewer
Genealogy is chasing the dead, while irritating the  living.


------------------------------

Message: 13
Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2016 22:45:22 -0700
From: Reinhold Metzger <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
To: "Hiker97 at aol.com" <Hiker97 at aol.com>, PCT <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: [pct-l] Sierra Exploratory Expedition
Message-ID: <570B39F2.8020803 at cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Switchback wrote:
Snow Bunny JMT Reinhold wrote: Back from another week of skiing at Mammoth in the Sierra.
Again, Switchback the "Trail Pirate" was nowhere to be found.
-------------------------------------
Switchback the Double Knee Replacement Pirate replies: I will be over in the eastern Sierras on my motorcycle trike the last week in April.  I will be scouting backpacking expedition locations for later on.  I know I am going up Mt. Whitney in August with my new hiking kit setup.  Nice.
.................................

Switchback,
Get better soon,...I hope you have a full recovery and are able to blaze
down the trails like you used to.

OK you guys,....wish Switchback a speedy recovery,... he has done a lot for
the hiking community, especially the "Thru-Hiker" community.

I know how you feel Switchback,....seems like as we get older the body
becomes more fragile and vulnerable to injury.
In my younger days I used to have high speed  skiing crashes, get up and
keep on going....no problem.
Now that I am older, it looks like every time I have a high speed crash
something brakes ore tears.
14-15 years ago, ruptured disk from a fall in the Grand Canyon.
13-14 years ago reconstructive shoulder surgery on the left shoulder
from a high speed ski crash.
10-11 years ago same  on the right shoulder.
8-10 years ago Arthroscopic surgery on my right knee, probably due to
to many miles on the trail.
I am like an old "Tom Cat" all beat up and cut up, take a liking but 
keep on
ticking.
Like I said,....wishing you a speedy recovery....you can't keep a good man
down.

JMT Reinhold
The old cut up & beat up Tom Cat.



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Message: 14
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 20:38:12 -0700
From: Reinhold Metzger <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
To: PCT <pct-l at backcountry.net>, "Hiker97 at aol.com" <Hiker97 at aol.com>
Subject: [pct-l] JMT Yo-Yo & Karen's Hero
Message-ID: <570DBF24.2030201 at cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

Switchback,
GET BETTER SOON...the "Newbies" need crusty "Old Timers" like you to
show them the way.

OK guys,...wish Switchback a speedy recovery.

I had my share of hiking and skiing injuries..reconstructive shoulder
surgery on my left shoulder from a high speed skiing crash, surgery
on my right shoulder also from a high speed skiing crash, ruptured
disk from a bad fall in the Grand Canyon, surgery on my right knee,
probably the result of to many miles with a heavy pack....4 years in
the USMC Infantry, where backpacking is a way of life, not a hobby,
as a Bazooka Gunner hauling ungodly heavy packs with heavy weapons
and extra ammo strapped on our packs and 30 yrs of hiking with Karen
(my wife) and the Scouts as a "High Adventure Leader" hauling a 55 to
65 lb pack to make the packs of the scouts & my wife lighter.

I remember my first Whitney hike in 1968..I was a recently discharged
USMC Grunt (Infantry) used to hauling heavy loads and it went against
my grain to burden my recent bride with a pack, so everything went
into "ONE" monster pack on my back.
I also had to carry "Shatzy" our miniature Dachshund most of the way.
But, with Karen "coooooing" into my ear "REINHOLD,...YOU ARE MY HERO"
made it all worth it...that is all I ever wanted to be "KAREN'S HERO".
Of course, I was Shatzy's Hero also.

I also remember my first JMT "Thru-Hike" with the Scouts in 1996
hauling an 85 lb pack.

However, a few years later, on my Solo Unsupported JMT" speed hikes I
was UL to the extreme...the pack with all the gear,...tent, sleeping
bag, cold weather gear, rain gear, first aide kit, emergency kit, water
purification, map & compass and yes,..Potty Trowel, whistle, etc., all
the food for the "Thru-Hike" and 2 liters water, weight only 22 lb.

As you can see, I hike on both sides of the fence...."Heavy Trucker"
with my wife and the Scouts...."UL" on my solo speed hikes.

So, as you can see Switchback, I also had my share of injuries.
But we old timers, we can take a licking and just keep on ticking.
They don't make'm like us anymore...they just don't make'm out of the
same metal anymore.

As far as you doing a 4 day JMT Yo-Yo?...Unless you got some super
knee replacements, I would not recommend it Switchback.
Now, if you can convince Mrs. Switchback to carry your pack for you,
a 4 day JMT Yo-Yo might be possible.

Again, get well soon Switchback, the "List" and the "Thru-Hiking"
community needs crusty "Old Timers" like you.

BTW Switchback...my time for the JMT was 5 days 10 hrs in 2003 and
5 days 7 hrs in 2004,...not just over 4 days.
But that was when I was still a young 62 & 63...I don't know if I
could still do that now at 75.

JMT Reinhold
Karen's & Shatzy's Hero
............................

Switchback wrote:
After my double knee replacement a few months ago, I plan to be back on
the trail.
I am walking a half mile every day on a dirt trail near my house and then
to the indoor pool.
Snow Bunny did the 211 mile JMT in just over 4-days, when he was younger.
I will easily break that old record, when I get back out there.
In fact, I think I will yo-yo the JMT in 4-days just to make it interesting.
No problem.

  



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