<div>Very Good...........:) Can those of us not hiking donate to the HOOEY fund ??</div>
<div> </div>
<div>PCT MOM<br><br></div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 1:18 PM, David Plotnikoff <<a href="mailto:david@emeraldlake.com">david@emeraldlake.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">Hello from a long-time list-lurker.<br><br><br>Regardless of how you feel about the ADZKO, I think most of us can<br>
take one step back and agree on the validity of the underlying<br>problem: The adverse impact and stress the herd imposes on trail town<br>services, trail angels and the trail itself is hard to deny.<br><br>With that in mind, I would suggest that we set aside any calls for<br>
cancelling, moving, rescheduling or otherwise messing with the ADZKO.<br>There is no need for such a drastic and divisive step. Instead, I<br>would offer a modest proposal: Economic sanctions to make the<br>thru-hikers manage their own itineraries. The fee structure would be<br>
very simple, and the mechanism for administering it is already in<br>place and has been functioning for years.<br><br>When a potential hiker submits an application to the PCTA for a<br>thru-hike permit (ANY hike longer than 500 PCT miles) they shall be<br>
assessed a modest fee. The Herd Overload Offset, Expensed Yearly fee<br>will be calculated on a sliding scale: Persons leaving the southern<br>monument on the third Saturday in April will be charged a top HOOEY<br>of $100. For each day of deviation from that date, the HOOEY will<br>
decrease by $4. Thus someone leaving Campo 25 days before or after<br>the peak date would pay no HOOEY at all.<br><br>Brothers and sisters, are you with me so far?<br><br>The proceeds from the HOOEY fund would eventually be applied to<br>
trail maintainance and acquisition of key right-of-way. But first it<br>would be directed to address the adverse impact the herd has on trail<br>towns. The long-suffering postmistress at Warner Springs could apply<br>to the HOOEY grants committee of the PCTA for a new storage trailer<br>
to be on-site during the peak month. The owners of the Raccoon Saloon<br>in Wrightwood would be given a small grant to hire extra security to<br>handle the "Animal House" antics of the herd. (Don't dispute me. I<br>
was there in '05 myself when the earth shook and grown men cried out<br>in terror.) Donna and Jeff Saufley would receive one of the largest<br>grants, covering daily truckloads of water, laundry detergent, a<br>Shiatsu massage therapist on call (for Donna, not you, you dolt!)<br>
and several cases of premium wine. The Andersons will receive an<br>generous ongoing stipend for bulk taco salad ingredients and certain<br>herbal supplements as needed.<br><br>As someone who has been on the trail for nine years now, I am as<br>
invested in the overall well-being of the trail - and the trail<br>community - as anyone. And it's with the most sincere intent that I<br>say to you, brothers and sisters:<br><br>It's time to go with the HOOEY. The trail we love depends on it.<br>
<br>David Plotnikoff<br><a href="http://www.emeraldlake.com/pctguide/" target="_blank">http://www.emeraldlake.com/pctguide/</a><br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Pct-l mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Pct-l@backcountry.net">Pct-l@backcountry.net</a><br>
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