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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. &nbsp;Jeff&#8217;s father&#8217;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.&nbsp; His grandfather used to herd his cattle over Brown&#8217;s Gap.&nbsp; We&#8217;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.&nbsp; <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>&nbsp;</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&#8217;re headed to the AT
further north, in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">New Hampshire</st1:State></st1:place>.&nbsp;
As a side note, I&#8217;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).&nbsp; <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>&nbsp;</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&#8217;t know the AT from a thru-hiker&#8217;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>&nbsp;</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.&nbsp; And we&#8217;ll
adapt &#8211; we&#8217;ll simply say, &#8220;sorry, we&#8217;re full, too bad.&#8221; <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>&nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</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>

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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</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'>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.&nbsp; Have you even set foot on it?&nbsp; (or you Greg K?)&nbsp;There's
more hostels, and trail angels, and well wishers that&nbsp;offer their services
for free&nbsp;then you imagine, it's not&nbsp;all ka-ching, ka-ching.&nbsp;
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'>&nbsp;<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'>The numbers on the PCT are NOT going to
decline.&nbsp; 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
&quot;infrastructure&quot; up to speed, rather than fight it.&nbsp; <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'>&nbsp;<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'>Sly<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'>&nbsp;<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'>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.
&nbsp;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.&nbsp; It has a longer history, is
infinitely more accessible, and passes in or near many towns.&nbsp; None of
these things are true for the PCT.&nbsp; Literally everyone on the east coast
knows about the AT.&nbsp; Most people out here don&#8217;t even know the PCT exists
or what it is, even when they live directly on it.&nbsp; The AT is NOT a
wilderness trail as the PCT is.&nbsp; And, it seems that overall folks on the
AT (even trail angels) seek to profit from the hikers (ka-ching).&nbsp; Not so
on the PCT.&nbsp; It will be a very sad day for PCT hikers if/when that comes
to pass &#8211; 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>&nbsp;</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>&nbsp;</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 &#8211; the PCT and AT are like apples and oranges,
and they&#8217;re just not the same.&nbsp; Period. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

</blockquote>

</div>

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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'>&nbsp;<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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size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>

<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>

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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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