Re: [pct-l] Re: Trail Density

[Marion Davison <mardav@intlaccess.com>]

I must throw in my two cents.  On Saturday, June 6, 1992, I hiked from Vincent
Gap to the summit of Mt. Baden Powell with a few boy scouts, and it was the most
crowded piece of trail I have ever seen aside from the Mist trail in Yosemite.
Large troops of boy scouts, other youth groups, dog walkers, numerous trail
runners, families, and so on.  On the other hand, in 1994 we hiked from Islip
Saddle to Vincent Gap on a weekend and met almost no one until we passed the
summit of Baden Powell.  So I think the four mile stretch from Vincent Gap to
the summit of B-P is the hot spot.  It is after all a sort of mecca for Southern
California boy scouts, and its 41 switchbacks attract folks seeking a weekend
wilderness workout, whether they plod or run.  Also, the fact that no wilderness
permit is required is a plus.  This makes it easier to use than San Gorgonio
wilderness.
Marion Davison

Carl Siechert wrote:

> > I will now say for the third time that I was on the Angeles Crest PCT in
> > beautiful warm June weather on a Sunday.  I saw only one dayhiker and the
> 3
> > thruhikers I was leapfrogging with(they had 2 fellow also that resupplied
> > them from wrightwood, they were not on the PCT).  I don't know if I should
> > confuse you with the facts , but here they are:  I was hiking on Sunday,
> > June 6, from near road 3N31, past the Wrightwood turnoff(Acorn trail),
> past
> > the three reservoirs, to near a campground and interpretive center(on
> Hiway
> > 2).  The Next day Monday, I climbed 7 peaks, and my name is recorded on
> the
> > registers of 6 of them - I was meet at Islip Saddle.  So you do not have
> to
> > believe me, you can check the registers on Throop, Burnham, Baden Powell,
> > Hawkins, S. Hawkins, and Islip.
> >
>
> I don't know why I'm being drawn into an inane argument, but the fact is
> that Monday is not considered "weekend" in this part of the country. I offer
> this information because I realize that thruhikers lose the concept of time
> and that every day is a weekend while you're on a long hike. That's the day
> you were on the popular--and sometimes overcrowded--section from Vincent Gap
> to Islip Saddle that Strider was talking about. (Didja happen to notice the
> summit register entries for the day before?) It's crowded on weekends
> because of those seven terrific peaks (and a few others nearby). The section
> from the Acorn Trail to Vincent Gap is one that sees little use by dayhikers
> or non-thruhikers--because it doesn't really go anywhere interesting.
>
> So what's the point of this debate? Some parts of the PCT get lots of
> traffic; others don't.
>
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