Avoiding the ADZPCTKOP

imported
#1

On February 1st I posted a page on postholer.com stating the negative impact the ADZPCTKOP has on the PCT hiking experience. If you’re not one of the 2,881 unique visits to that page and want to know what I’m refering to, you can do so by going to postholer.com/trails/adz.html

The irony is, that’s not what this post is about.

Last year was truly an unusual snow year. Hikers that started their journey from the kick-off in late April found themselves holed up 2-3 to a room in sold out motels in Idyllwild. Most went around that section, some quit, a few prepared hikers went through and one never made it out.

Late April is a natural starting period for the typical hiker in a normal snow year. Last year was not a normal snow year. This year is not a normal snow year. The ADZ orgainzers know this. Having these immensely knowledgable folks publicly say, “Hey, maybe starting from the kick-off is not such a good idea this year”, would be too much to hope for. It wasn’t even hinted at last year.

It is striking to see the ABSOLUTE disregard for the hiking community the ADZ orgainzers exhibit. The success of the party depends on your attendance. Your attendance is all that matters. The success of the party is more important than your well being. The organizers deafening silence supports this.

Greg Hummel posted to the list that the PCTA supports the kick-off. I find it hard to believe the PCTA would support an endeavor that pushes so many people onto the trail with conditions such as they were last year and again this year.

With great care and conviction,
Scott Parks

PCT, CDT Snow : http://Postholer.Com
Peak Geek Hiker Supply: http://PeakGeek.Com

Scott Parks

#2

Let’s get the Nixon quoters/admirers in here for comment…

caleb

#3

I don’t have a clue what Scott Parks (any kin to Burt) is talking about. I will probably meet him on the JMT this year it looks like we are hiking about the same time.

Therefore, I don’t have any more Nixon quotes. How about George Jones?

“It’s the big possum that walks late at night.”

Come on guys that long string was going nowhere and can’t an old guy have a little fun throwing a wrench in the works. It was kind of like “beating a dead horse.”

Cap’n since you hiked the JMT can I borrow some of your gear?

Papa Smurf

#4

In fairness, shouldn’t you mention that the ADZPCTKO’s OWN WEB SITE includes information on how to “boycott ADZPCTKO”? They say: “We’d love to see you at the kickoff, which we think has a lot to offer for this year’s thru hikers. But honestly, it’s no skin off our nose if you decide not to come. Enjoy your hike.”

Why would the ADZ organizers put this on their own web site if, as you say, they care about nothing more than boosting attendance? I understand your point, and I agree that this might be a good year to start the trail later, but I think your tone was awfully harsh.

Also, this is a PARTY. It is fun for previous hikers and fun for this year’s hikers, and it allows everybody to meet each other and exchange information and have FUN.

There will be information available at the kickoff party about the snow conditions on the trail, and I don’t think anyone there will minimize the risk of hiking on snow or starting the trail too early in the season if you don’t know what you’re doing. But whether you get your snow information from the kickoff, or from the PCT-L, or from the Postholer site (which I really like and appreciate), the bottom line is that you need to make your own decision about when it is safe for you to hike.

There is absolutely nothing stopping anyone from attending the kickoff, going to Disney Land for a week, and then starting their hike. Or whatever.

A 2005 hiker

#5

Scott,

I do see your point, but what would rather see happen? Would you like it planned later so they can account for the snow? 

My view is that: 

 1) no one at the party is making anyone hike at all (you can drive there and drive home).

 2) Also, they don't control the pace of hikers (some may get to KM in less than a 20 mpd average)

 3) To organize an event (especially to book the campground, a very popular place), it takes a lot of preplanning.

 4) I see your complaint, but where is the alternative option, the constructive criticism?

 regards,
          Wookie

tha wookie

#6

If you don’t want to go, then don’t go. My impression is that the PCT is less of a social trail then the AT and the ADZ sound like a great way to meet some hikers and get some advice and strategy for dealing with the snow. No ones holding a gun to anybody’s head to attend and I think your charges are a little over the top.
:cheers

jalan

#7

As a perspective 2006 hiker, I would like to know from Mr. Parks if I am going to die in the prime of my life and what I can do to prevent it. I have read many journals from 2005 hikers, and they sem like average hikers who made some quick decisions based on their available gear and level of physical fitness. I am thinking of one couple in particular- Toaster and Goodfoot. I believe they started before the kickoff and got to KM on June 18th, skipping Fuller Ridge.

My heart tells me that I am strong enough to make the tough decisions to keep me alive, even if it means abandoning a section. YOU ARE SCARING ME. I’d like to go to the Kick Off so I can talk to the 2005 hikers and FIND OUT FIRST HAND what the hell happened to them up in them thar hills. :bawling :bawling

*NEMO

NEMO

#8

Apparently there are no independent thinkers in the trail community anymore.

Jabber

Jabber

#9

The ADZ’s websites contains information about ‘Boycotting’ as a direct response to the postholer page. It was a defensive act and not done out of some need to present facts fairly. This is not speculation, this is a fact.

Everyone is certainly capable of choosing their own start date. However, if the ADZ didn’t exist most of the attendees wouldn’t have chosen late April last year. You have ‘chosen’ to party first and hike second. The ADZ is an artificial start date that you have ‘chosen’ to adopt.

An alternative to ADZ? Why must an alternative exist? Your hike is the main event. Parties, gatherings, etc are incidental. These things are not required for you to have a successful hike. Don’t become dependent on them as the organizers would like. HYOH.

Once again, Hike Your OWN Hike.

Scott Parks

#10

I don’t think it is necessary to denigrate the ADZPCTO in order to communicate the important fact that starting your PCT within a few days of the Kickoff event in a high snow year may get you to the Sierras too early.

Your options:
– skip the kickoff and start later
– go to the kickoff and start later
– go to the kickoff and take lots of zero days on your way to the Sierra
– go to the kickoff and hike less miles/day
– go to the kickoff and hike through lots of snow in the Sierra
– go to the kickoff and then flip-flop when you get to the Sierra

I heard of one hiker who started too early, got to Idyllwild (200 miles) then went back to the border and hiked to Idyllwild then went back to the border and started their hike again.

My point is that there are lots of options that don’t involve picking a fight with the ADZPCTKO.

Radar

#11

If you get to Kennedy Meadows and you think you need to kill some time before
heading into the Sierra, you might want to consider hiking a couple more days to Horseshoe Meadows and hitching into Lone Pine. Restaurants, hotels/motels, library, grocery, outfitter and more. While Kennedy Meadows is a great place to hang out for a day or so with other hikers there really isn’t much there. You might want a change of pace. Just a thought.

Radar

#12

just a note about the high sierras in high snow pack.

i hiked the PCT in 04 and 05. 04 was a drought year and 05 saw record snow pack. i left kennedy meadows on may 22/23 last year. i have never seen anything so beautiful in all my life, there was no one else in there, apart from animal tracks mine were the only others. it felt like i was exploring a new world and has undoubtably been one of the highlights of my life!

all that beauty does come at a price because it was very tough to hike through. if i was hiking the sierras again i would choose heavy snow pack over no snow any day of the week.

SQUEAKY:cheers

squeaky

#13

I think it would be very helpful for '06 hikers to hear from as many '05 hikers as possible on the subject of Sierra Snow Pack - specifically when the '05 hiker departed Kennedy Meadows and what conditions they encountered.

I’ll start a new thread on that subject entitled “Sierra Snow Strategy.”

Squeaky - please join in if you see this, because you were the first one in the Sierra last year. If you can get Dave & Michele to join in (i lost their email), that would be helpful as they were the next hikers in, along with Roboto.

This would also help the hikers who cannot make it to the Kickoff, or choose not to attend, for any reason.

freebird

#14

As Sierra88 stated, '05 and '06 are very different. '05 saw a rapid melt-off with normal snow levels on June 15th before most went through.

No one has any idea what type of melt-off this year will bring. Repeating what Sierra88 stated, the stream crossings will be interesting.

Many more folks of all skill levels will be passing through, not just the few prepared early season hikers.

Don’t reference the actions of a few and call it good for everyone, that’s dangerous.

www.postholer.com

Scott Parks