chris
09-16-2003, 17:49
Here is what I think is a really good idea. A couple of people implemented this in southern California on the PCT and I think it would really work on the AT.
Trail registers are really helpful for finding out where people in front of you are. Bits of news about your friends in front can be a real uplift, and you can plan to speed up to catch them, or slow down to let that mooch get far ahead. The problem is, it doesn't work in reverse. That is, you have no idea, save for a speedy hiker, who is behind you and where they are. That is, you came out of Hot Springs a few hours before Jack Tarlin and, now in Erwin, you are wondering when he is going to show up. Unless a fast hiker blows by Jack on his way to Miss Janet's place and can tell you, "Jack is a day back," you can't find this out.
The idea is for two people at various points on the trail to work together. For example, someone in the Hot Springs area goes out and copies down shelter and PO entries (name and date only) from various points between, say, Mountain Momas and Hot Springs and ships the copy ahead to another person in Erwin, say. Miss Janet or another hostel operator would be ideal. They post it, and people have some idea of where others are. Of course, it would probably be best to do this over longer courses, as it only takes a few days to go from Mountain Momas to Erwin. But, that is the general idea. Of course, those copying down info in Georgia during March and April would have a huge job on their hands, but further north it should be manageable.
On the PCT, I kept wondering, "Is Glory right behind me?" Are Muff Diver and 'F 'n Shizz still hiking? What ever happened to Coach? There were a few of these registers sent ahead in the south, but that was it.
Trail registers are really helpful for finding out where people in front of you are. Bits of news about your friends in front can be a real uplift, and you can plan to speed up to catch them, or slow down to let that mooch get far ahead. The problem is, it doesn't work in reverse. That is, you have no idea, save for a speedy hiker, who is behind you and where they are. That is, you came out of Hot Springs a few hours before Jack Tarlin and, now in Erwin, you are wondering when he is going to show up. Unless a fast hiker blows by Jack on his way to Miss Janet's place and can tell you, "Jack is a day back," you can't find this out.
The idea is for two people at various points on the trail to work together. For example, someone in the Hot Springs area goes out and copies down shelter and PO entries (name and date only) from various points between, say, Mountain Momas and Hot Springs and ships the copy ahead to another person in Erwin, say. Miss Janet or another hostel operator would be ideal. They post it, and people have some idea of where others are. Of course, it would probably be best to do this over longer courses, as it only takes a few days to go from Mountain Momas to Erwin. But, that is the general idea. Of course, those copying down info in Georgia during March and April would have a huge job on their hands, but further north it should be manageable.
On the PCT, I kept wondering, "Is Glory right behind me?" Are Muff Diver and 'F 'n Shizz still hiking? What ever happened to Coach? There were a few of these registers sent ahead in the south, but that was it.