<WBR>Lightning Rod writes: <TT>I've been giving this a great deal of thought for a good number of years, and believe that the best solution for diffusing The Herd is to not have a starting event. The KO causes a situation where starters aim at a specific starting window. Moving the ADZ to much later in the season and further up the trail would not make the event any less special. I propose that it become AZD for annual zero day. <br>
<br>
If the same people are organizing an event, and all the same people are<br>
attending the event, why would the location or timing make it any less<br>
revered, grand, or "holy"? Personally, I think hikers who make it into the Sierra deserve a party and a free meal more than the starters do. They've earned it, whereas a third of the starters don't make it that far.<br>
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Switchback replies: Yes, we could have it at Meadow Ed's big Kennedy Meadows birthday ruck. That would be cool to have all the vendors and folks up there in June. A massive food feast prior to the Sierras. Pedicures, music, and pizzas at the new Kennedy Meadows Sierra Kickoff - the perfect place to join forces for the push through the snow covered Sierras. Neat. People would want a herd effect for safety. Now I have to think of my maximum goof off time schedule in Lone Pine at the Dow Villas Motel and the Merry-Go-Round restruant.</TT><div id='u8CA4795A0E6043D-760-E8B' class='aol_ad_footer'><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Supercharge your AIM. Get the <A title="http://download.aim.com/client/aimtoolbar?NCID=aolcmp00300000002586" href="http://download.aim.com/client/aimtoolbar?NCID=aolcmp00300000002586" target="_blank">AIM toolbar</A> for your browser.</FONT> </div>