[pct-l] Trail running, density of use

["Joanne Lennox" <goforth@cio.net>]

As long as we are voting: I am in favor of ultra racing and holding them on
the PCT

Unlike most of you, I actually have experienced an ultra while doing my
thruhike.  On my first day out of Campo, I was passed  by racers out and
back on the Smugglers 50 mile race. I found the runners interesting,
inspirational, helpful, and very polite.  So much so, that I decided to try
to start ultra marathoning myself when I got home (unfortunately, a bad
knee and consequent interest in horses intervened).  I have also learned a
great deal from several Ultra Websites.  I  was able to refill my water
container at the water and food stations on the Smuggler 50 ( Well okay, I
did pick up a few good nibbles too).

One of the things that surprised me more than anything about the PCT, is
how little use it gets outside of a very few busy areas ( the JMT,
Desolation Wilderness, Harts Pass, etc.).  In the first month of walking on
the PCT, I encountered 3 overnighting persons(2 parties) on the PCT.  Other
than the Smuggler 50 racers, there were very few day hikers. Later, the
majority of persons that I encountered were other thruhikers - I saw almost
nobody else all the way thru the Sierras.  What I remember is hiking the
Angeles Crest PCT, on a warm Sunday in early june and I only encountered 1
day hiker!  There were probably millions of people within 20 miles of where
I was walking, there were a number of cars on the road, and the trail was 
EMPTY!!!!  In a large percentage of the trail, it appears to me that
thruhikers were the main and often only users.  Under these circumstances,
it seems elistist and unnecessary to restrict its use, and not include
trail racers.

Joanne the Gof
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