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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I agree with Greg. The trail angels open
their homes and their hearts. The hiker that wants to remain anonymous
might want to avoid the Trail Angels altogether. The Dinsmores, the
Heitmans, the Saufleys, etc. are what we family members know are out there
looking after our hikers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Holly Ayers</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=gkesselr@whidbey.com href="mailto:gkesselr@whidbey.com">Greg
Kesselring</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=brick@fastpack.com
href="mailto:brick@fastpack.com">Brick Robbins</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=pct-l@backcountry.net
href="mailto:pct-l@backcountry.net">pct back country</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, October 12, 2007 4:18
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [pct-l] Fwd: Excessive
Information Gathering on Hikers</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>I believe it's human nature to have genuine concern for our
fellow humans. A desire to extend a helping hand is part of human
nature, part of who we all are. Compassion is part of our nature.
These qualities are part of who we are, and they're felt and expressed even
more strongly towards people we know, people we feel close to. It's just
basic human nature to want to help one another, especially if we have reason
to believe a person is in physical danger or in need of help in some other
way.<BR><BR>This year the hiking season ended abruptly, and several weeks
earlier than is usual. Conditions went from summer to winter in the high
country almost overnight. Hikers who are out with their summer gear but
get caught in winter conditions usually have a rough time of it. I
believe hikers die nearly every year in the High Sierra when they get caught
in an usually strong early season storm.<BR><BR>Because of the unusual
conditions we had this year here in WA, it's natural and normal that all of us
who have been watching the progress of the thru-hiking community--and cheering
them on from the sidelines--would be concerned. That concern comes out
of a genuine caring for these individuals, genuinely wanting the best for
them. <BR><BR>Because of the free flow of communication these days with
the internet, we can all enjoy hearing about where the thru-hikers are and how
they are doing. It brings a lot of joy to all of us to hear about them
and the kind of progress they're making towards their goal.<BR><BR>My feeling
is that if there is someone out there on the trail who wants to be very
private about their hike, it's THEIR responsibility to make that known to the
other hikers on the trail, not the other way around. The norm these
days, because of the thru-hiking community and the internet, is that
information is going to be passed on. So if you're a thru-hiker and you
do NOT want information about your whereabouts known to anyone, then you need
to tell the other hikers you meet that you're doing a private hike and it's
not for publication. Otherwise, be prepared for people for trail angels
to extend a helping hand, be prepared for people to feel some concern if
you're overdue, and even to call out SAR if you're seriously overdue.
<BR><BR>Greg<BR><BR><BR><BR>Brick Robbins wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE
cite=mid:ca2c2380710121257y1dcf88a6o88d1bc99a4401955@mail.gmail.com
type="cite">
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><PRE wrap="">No problem Scott. We won't worry about any of the hikers anymore. They
choose to go out in hazardous conditions........why should we give a rip
about their safety.
</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE><PRE wrap=""><!---->
</PRE>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><PRE wrap="">This 'caring, helpful' trail supporter mentality can actually have the
opposite effect, such as, calling search & rescue because YOU'RE
</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE><PRE wrap="">concerned.
</PRE>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><PRE wrap="">Not because THE HIKERS require it.
</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE><PRE wrap=""><!---->
First off, as list administrator, I'd like this discussion to remain
civil, so please be friendly
Mainly, this brings up a interesting point to consider. When John
Donovan went missing in San Jacinto, when would have been a good time
to call SAR? If 'caring, helpful' trail supporters had called SAR
earlier, could he have lived? He certainly was unable to communicate
his need from where he was stuck.
>From the notes he left behind he was alive for quite a long time after
he went missing.
Or does his "right to privacy" include a right to die privately while
lost in the mountains in a storm?
I'd be interested in hearing YOUR opinion on this.
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