[pct-l] Troublemakers

Sun Jan 10 13:59:27 CST 2016

Linda.....over the last 4 years the "I'm too cool because I'm a Thru
hiker" attitude has shown up here from the NOBOs and in chit chat on Face
Book. What I have found up here ....the one's who let everyone know how
special they (think) they are.....are also the one's who are least prepared
for the terrain and snow up north. They are the one's who partied their way
up the trail and are anywhere from a month to two months behind the serious
hikers.  More couples traveling alone and the over 40's show up here late
August and early September. They are done at the Canadian border before the
first new snow hits.

SOBOs don't look at the trail the same. I don't know what the NOBOs are
doing the get the entitlement mentality but it stinks.

Andrea

On Sun, Jan 10, 2016 at 10:12 AM, Linda Sheehan <lwshee at gmail.com> wrote:

> Andrea, that is a very telling point. Im sorry about this print size;
> can't seem to get rid of it now...
> However, one of the issues that has come up is the techno advances on the
> trail. Am I just old fashioned (well old anyway) or am I seeing more 'me
> against the trail' or 'I'm cool and I'm special because I can do all these
> miles' behavior. I've certainly noticed in the blogs and selfies (that word
> tells you something) that the miles per day and the *crowd* behavior is
> the only reason a lot of people do the trail. The experience is a
> reflection of them, not our small part of the wonderful, awesome and
> respectful experience of the wilderness. Anyway, I'll get off my high
> horse. This kind of behavior hasn't always been confined to the outdoors. I
> guess the Continental Divide trail will have to be solace to the younger
> ones to find more peace and solitude than the PCT has to offer now.
>
> On Sun, Jan 10, 2016 at 9:56 AM, Andrea Dinsmore <
> andrea at dinsmoreshikerhaven.com> wrote:
>
>> I see a comparison between NOBOs and SOBOs.   SOBOs aren't into the
>> drinking, smoking, bad attitudes or smart ass behavior. They seem to be
>> more into the trail and their performance and planning.  Partying is the
>> furthest thought of their hike. Maybe part of this difference is that they
>> start a few at a time and have to immediately get serious about their
>> survival. This has been the way the SOBOs have been for 14 years.  The
>> NOBOs (that drink a lot) would hit here and show up with 1-2 cases of beer
>> each were always under 30 yrs old and showed up in a group. Solo hikers
>> occasionally with 1 six pack.
>>
>> Andrea
>>
>> On Sun, Jan 10, 2016 at 9:41 AM, Linda Sheehan <lwshee at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Is there anything we can do about this problem at an individual hiker
>>> level? I respect the attempts by the PCT organization to try and lessen
>>> the
>>> blow on the trail. But when we see things happening what do people of
>>> this
>>> forum think we can do to try to stem the tide?
>>> I have never (being a section hiker) attended, sad to say, the party in
>>> April at Moreno. Would that be a venue to enforce the golden rule in some
>>> way?
>>> Will this issue be dealt with in any way at the San Diego get together?
>>> lover of the hills, Linda S.
>>>
>>> On Sun, Jan 10, 2016 at 5:29 AM, Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> > From: "Ned Tibbits" <ned at mountaineducation.org>
>>> > To: "Roger Carpenter" <pinecone at elkpass.com>, Pct-L at backcountry.net
>>> > Sent: Saturday, January 9, 2016 10:07:08 PM
>>> > Subject: Re: [pct-l] Troublemakers
>>> >
>>> > Just a quick question on this topic of "trail policing..."
>>> >
>>> > What does the AT do about it?
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > As an organization, not much that I'm aware of. With many more hikers,
>>> the
>>> > number of self-centered jerks is proportionally larger than on the
>>> PCT, and
>>> > more concentrated (shorter trail, more trail towns to resupply).
>>> >
>>> > A recent issue of the AT magazine ("AT Journeys") highlighted the
>>> problems
>>> > that hikers are creating in Baxter State Park and Mt. Katahdin
>>> > particularly. Even a thru-runner, seeking to break the time record,
>>> > blatantly violated several BSP rules for Katadhin. Apparently, it's
>>> gotten
>>> > so bad that park officials are considering closing Katadhin as the
>>> northern
>>> > terminus of the AT, which would be a real tragedy.
>>> >
>>> > The ATC is following many of the same strategies that the PCTA is (or
>>> > maybe vice-versa) - trying to get people to spread out their start
>>> times,
>>> > esp. at the southern end; increased education about LNT and town
>>> behavior,
>>> > etc.
>>> >
>>> > One thing for sure - this is a problem in the greater society, not just
>>> > the trails. Bad trail behavior is just reflecting what's happening in
>>> > society. And I don't see it being eliminated any time soon.
>>> >
>>> > Mango
>>> >
>>> > ----- Original Message -----
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Ned Tibbits, Director
>>> > Mountain Education, Inc.
>>> > www.mountaineducation.org
>>> > ned at mountaineducation.org
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Mission:
>>> > "To minimize wilderness accidents, injury, and illness in order to
>>> maximize
>>> > wilderness enjoyment, safety, and personal growth, all through
>>> experiential
>>> > education and risk awareness training."
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>>
>