[pct-l] Youth Outreach Program

[jmertes at verizon.net (John Mertes)]

Greg,

Thank you for doing this!

One of my most memoable and enjoyable backpacks was when I took Lee, the 
then 13 year old son of my ex boss with me on a JMT hike. We started at 
Onion Valley up over Kearsarge Pass then down the PCT/JMT to the top of 
Whitney and then on out. A decade or so later I attended his wedding. 
Unfortunately we have lost contact.
Even back then, the steady pace of the tortise (me) won the race with 
the hare (him). then as we headed down from Whitney as I feared, my knee 
became too painful to continue so I had to camp at the first available 
spot alongside the trail. I had warned Lee that I might have to crash 
and he would have to return up to me. He did. He did all the cooking, 
etc. that night while I lay in my sleeping bag resting my knee. Next day 
we hiked out OK.

So to those of you who get/make the opportunity, I urge you to take the 
youth along.

John