[pct-l] Fishing on the pct

[CMountainDave@aol.com (CMountainDave@aol.com)]

In a message dated 5/22/02 11:13:06 AM, jeffbohannon@hotmail.com writes:

<< Mosquitoes
will probably eat more of me than I will of fish. The fish will eat the
mosquitoes, it's all part of the circle of life. >>

Ah, that's easy to say now, but will you be as forgiving towards the little 
bastards when trapped by them in your tent in fear of your life, and they are 
so big they drain the fish of blood from the inside after the fish are dumb 
enough to eat them.
  On alcohol - Guess I was mixing up *F and *C. But it still can't be sent 
Priority Mail which is much more reliable when needing a parcel within a few 
days. The problem is still getting alcohol in a timely manner to remote PCT 
way stations that don't have a paint section in their mom and pop stores. I 
doubt that any place from Ashland to Cascade Locks has alcohol for hikers. It 
would be quite scarce in Washington, too, except maybe at Snoqualmie pass. So 
now I'm leaning towards using alcohol only on trips of 10 days or less when I 
can carry all the alcohol I need and don't care about a resupply. If I had to 
do it again, I'd still go with the Zip on the PCT. A full 22oz fuel bottle 
weighs 28-30 ozs. compared to 18 ozs. for the Zip so it averages out about 
the same (12ozs. more at start, 12 ozs. less at the end), but I don't have to 
worry about conserving or finding fuel. Of course the drawback is dealing 
with backcountry rangers who strictly interpret the no-fires -but- 
stoves-okay rule. So far this has not happened, but, then, I haven't pressed 
the issue, preferring alternatives (alcohol, gas, esbits) to confrontation -- 
not a hard thing to do when it comes to stoves
  On entry along the PCT. So, is it going to stay legal for anyone to cross 
into the U.S. at monument 78? Won't you at least be required to report to the 
nearest Customs Point? After all, you DID just enter the U.S. without going 
through Customs. Not so hard going into Canada because you can check into the 
Manning Park Warden Station carrying lots of I.D.'s, credit cards and a 
passport to expedite things (providing, of course, that they are open). Or 
just head for any border station on the bus for reentry to the U.S. like any 
other American tourist with proper I.D. But, pretending for the moment that I 
am a bureaucrat responsible for Homeland Security who needs some kind of plan 
to present to an impatient President, I expect REQUIRED Customs checks going 
either way to be coming on the PCT - maybe by placing and staffing a seasonal 
Customs Station at Milepost 78 or, if that is considered unfeasible, the 
closing of the PCT within a certain distance from the border. I expect 
patrols because just like it is near Mexico, the PCT is a weak link in the 
border.