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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'>Yup, I have hiked some of it, and hope to
do some more this summer with my family back east. Jeff’s father’s side is
from the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Shennandoah</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, where they settled
in 1747. His grandfather used to herd his cattle over Brown’s Gap. We’ve only
dayhiked though, both north and south from above <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Waynesboro</st1:place></st1:City>, the point where the <st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Blue Ridge Highway</st1:address></st1:Street>
and <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Skyline Drive</st1:address></st1:Street>
meet. <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'>This coming summer we’re headed to the AT
further north, in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">New Hampshire</st1:State></st1:place>.
As a side note, I’m very proud of my four year old great-nephew who hiked all
the way up <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Mt.</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Washington</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> on his own steam (because there
was a train ride at the top). <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'>So, I don’t know the AT from a thru-hiker’s
perspective, only what Bryson wrote and what a large percentage of 2,000 hikers
have told me. <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'>No one is asking for the number of hikers
to decline . . . just for having so many of them bunch up at once. And we’ll
adapt – we’ll simply say, “sorry, we’re full, too bad.” <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>
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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'>
pct-l-bounces@backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces@backcountry.net] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Slyatpct@aol.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, February 29, 2008
2:08 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> pct-l@backcountry.net<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [pct-l] The ADZ
CONTOVERSY AS IT APPEARS TO AN OUTSIDER</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>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Donna as much as you think I know little
about the west coast and the PCT, it's apparent you know *nothing* about the
AT. Have you even set foot on it? (or you Greg K?) There's
more hostels, and trail angels, and well wishers that offer their services
for free then you imagine, it's not all ka-ching, ka-ching.
Still, that's not the point, as a hiker, I'll gladly pay my way or do without.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>The numbers on the PCT are NOT going to
decline. I suggest y'all (including the postmistress in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Warner</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Springs</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>)
get used to it and try to learn how to deal with it and bring the trail
"infrastructure" up to speed, rather than fight it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Sly<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>In a message dated 2/29/2008 2:05:26 PM
Eastern Standard Time, dsaufley@sprynet.com writes:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='margin-left:7.5pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Sly, my friend, this is the west coast, not the east coast.
There are major attitudinal and geographic differences.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>The AT is a National Park. It has a longer history, is
infinitely more accessible, and passes in or near many towns. None of
these things are true for the PCT. Literally everyone on the east coast
knows about the AT. Most people out here don’t even know the PCT exists
or what it is, even when they live directly on it. The AT is NOT a
wilderness trail as the PCT is. And, it seems that overall folks on the
AT (even trail angels) seek to profit from the hikers (ka-ching). Not so
on the PCT. It will be a very sad day for PCT hikers if/when that comes
to pass – the end of something special and unique. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Someone said it best – the PCT and AT are like apples and oranges,
and they’re just not the same. Period. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</blockquote>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Delicious
ideas to please the pickiest eaters. <a
href="http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598"
target="_blank"
title="http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598">Watch
the video on AOL Living.</a></span></font><font color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.2/1304 - Release Date: 2/29/2008 8:18 AM<BR>
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