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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>So very true and I know with certainty we
could not do what we do if the hiking community reflected what you find in the
rest of society. It is the caliber of the majority of people hiking the
trail that make it such a joy to host them. While we’ve hosted over
2,000 hikers, and never asked anyone to leave, we have had some situations that
required handling. I don’t delude myself for a minute: one day
someone dangerous could walk through our doors. That could also happen if
we didn’t host hikers (I watch way too many criminal investigation shows).
The bottom line is that we do what we do on faith, called to service. We just
don’t do so blindly and have an awareness of the risks and realities.
Along the way we have had hikers:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>loaded
on drugs and alcohol<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>try to
pick a fight with another hiker <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>in some
kind of psychotic state<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>lock
other hikers out of our guesthouse (unbeknownst to us at the time)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>masquerading
as thru hikers<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>perpetuate
thefts on other hikers, and steal mail and postage money <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>These are all isolated incidents over a
span of 11 seasons. We could not be certain who perpetuated the thefts,
although we had strong suspicions. We managed the drug, alcohol, and mental
case situations here, deeming it best not to throw people in that state of
being out into our community. I would not hesitate to eject someone or
call law enforcement if the situation called for it, but so far, so good.
The fellow obviously masquerading as a hiker never got invited to our place,
and I was thankful that no one in our community gave him a ride here.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I screen hikers in a number of ways, mostly
without their awareness. One of the easiest ways to know if someone is
okay (or not) is by observing how other hikers react with them. Hikers
tend to know who is ahead or behind them from town stops, footprints, and trail
registers. I feel the most vulnerable times for us are the beginning and end of
the season when there is no general community moving through, and you’re
dealing with individuals or small groups without other sources of reference.
I have a short list of questions that I ask in conversation that confirms for
me whether someone is legit or not. One time, early in the season,
someone failed this line of conversational questioning, and he knew I’d
caught him in a lie. I let him stay though because he was wearing a Rusty’s
Hard Time Hallow shirt and had more than casual knowledge of the AT (gleaned
from his conversation with another hiker here at the time), which was a strong
indication he was at least a real hiker. Why he was lying I’ll
never know.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I wouldn’t host if we lived closer
to the southern terminus. By the time hikers get here, they’ve been
through some difficult spots and earned their stripes; the hardships and
travails over the first 454 miles weeds out riff-raff and the uncommitted (the
survivors are simply committable ;o). I’ve witnessed that the trail
is a purifier of the body mind and spirit. It peels you like an onion
down to the center of your being, all of the superfluous layers gone. It
is the “Great Equalizer” where less is more and material status
irrelevant. What is left is the very best of human kind I’ve ever
known.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>L-Rod<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Andrea Dinsmore
[mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">zaqueltooocool@gmail.com</st1:PersonName>] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Saturday, January 12, 2008
10:12 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Donna Saufley<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> Hiker97@aol.com;
jabregman@bellsouth.net; pct-l@backcountry.net; carolwbruno@yahoo.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [pct-l] safety on the
pct</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Morning L-Rod..............<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I have to agree with you whole heartily about criminals being lazy. You
also need to add dumb into the mix. It takes a lot of planning just to survive
on the trail. Most criminals couldn't think that far ahead. There's nothing to
steal on the trail........there's no where to hide. It's a different class of
people that hike the PCT. You are definitely safer on the trail. To put the
class of people in a different perspective.........each season most of the thru
hikers stay <u>in</u> our home. Average 200 strangers each year. We have had no
problem with personal safety. Most of them look like wild eyed, smelly, hairy
scrawny homeless folks when they get here. You can't tell a book (or hiker) by
their cover (or smell). Judges, teachers, lawyers, students, authors, artists
and hikers that live most of every year on the trail are the types you will
find out here. Most we consider family....some have come back to stay a while.
Some have come back and helped Jerry on his garage. Your worst enemy on the
trail is YOU. HYOH.....prepare yourself mentally and physically....and don't
think you are invincible. Mother Nature will beat you at your own game. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>PCT MOM<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>No virus
found in this incoming message.<br>
Checked by AVG Free Edition.<br>
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1221 - Release Date: 1/12/2008 2:04
PM</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR>
Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1221 - Release Date: 1/12/2008 2:04 PM<BR>
</FONT> </P>