I understand their position as writers of the “official” PCT guidebooks to include equestrian information. But, my feeling, and a feeling shared by many of the people I met on the trail, was that much of the hiker info was altered by the horse filter. Horse use, by nature, is far more destructive and than hiking use, and must be kept off fragile areas. Take Crater Lake, for example: there are two ways to go through the park, but the PCT books don’t flat out say “hikers go here, and horses go that way.” Instead, it’s pages of wordy rambling that a hiker has to wade through before they make up their mind. After I reached the rim to crater lake, I was atonished that the book didn’t MAKE me go that way! However, I realized that since horses couldn’t traverse the rim, the book made it sound like there wasn’t much difference. All they needed was a sentence: “Hikers are crazy if they miss Crater Lake; horses are banned because they tear up the trail and the NPS doesn’t want all the tourists around the rim to have a rutted, sh*t strewn path to which thru-hikers are accustomed.” That might not be the perfect example, but it illustrates how the old books favored verbose side-stepping of the horse/hiker issue over directly communicating to hikers OR riders. The result: a headache reading through paragraphs of over-used adjectives, just to find the mile length of one of three or four alternates, two of which are rutted stock roads (but you won’t read that), one that has no water, and the final with waterfalls and lush campsites. After a thousand miles it started to get to me. In fact, I used Yogi’s journal notes that she had posted and had in printouts when trying to decide (Eagle Creek comes to mind as another example). I don’t want to listen to someone trying to appease horse riders when I decide where to hike. I want it from a hiker removed from use-designation politics. Because I’ve used Yogi’s candid comments on the trail before, I’m more than glad to finally hear some straight-talk on the PCT.
Don’t get me wrong, the old books did get me all the way, and the maps where great, in particular. Some of the book chapters were very well written, like the stretch before KM. I know everyone from The PCTA works very hard to provide wonderful trial experiences, and I appreciate that. All I’m saying is it’s about time for a “thru-HIKERS” PCT book. And Yogi has delivered!
Tarbubble- good luck on your thru-hike! do it!
:happy
Tha Wookie
Just in time for my planning session, Yogi comes thru with a winner. Thanks a lot. I will order it today!!!