[pct-l] Big PCT Sections I and J Expedition

[nowhere_man97 at hotmail.com (Philip Hough)]

Hi,

Paul writes:

"This is really too bad.  Sierra Pines is a Christian fanatic site.  They 
want you to send your donations to a bank in Sri Lanka.  They won't get a 
penny directly from me.  I can only hope they will allow me across their 
threshold so I can participate with other hikers. I hope in the future we 
can have gatherings that are at more secular and inclusive locations"

................

As a board member of ALDHA I have been working with Sierra Pines on site 
logistics for the 2005 gathering.  And we have also had another person with 
ALDHA West visit their facilities. They are a camp whose main mission is to 
provide summer programs for children.  Like many such camps they are a 
church or faith based organization.  However, in making arrangements for the 
gathering no one at Sierra Pines has been a "fanatic" nor have they sought 
to exclude anyone.  Like many non-religious organizations they have urged 
individuals to contribute to the Tsunami relief effort through their 
website. They do not seek to handle those donations themselves, preferring 
it be directed to the area affected.  They have not solicited ALDHA West for 
any such donations nor do they intend to solicit directly from gathering 
attendees.  The use of Sierra Pines for the ALDHA West Gathering is open to 
all.  Sierra Pines has put no restrictions or exclusions or conditions on 
who can attend.  The gathering itself will be conducted in a "secular" 
manner, no different than our use of the YMCA camp (also a religious 
organization) at Lake Wenatchee in recent years.

I do not know "Cactus Paul" - I am supposing that he has simply looked at 
the Sierra Pines website and formed his opinion from that.  However, if he 
has any actual direct experience, positive or negative, with Sierra Pines I 
would encourage him to contact me directly, off list so that we can address 
it appropriately beforehand with the host site.


Phil Hough aka "nowhere man"
nowhere_man97@hotmail.com




>From: "Paul" <cactus_paul@earthlink.net>
>To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
>CC: <nowhere_man97@hotmail.com>,<bighummel@aol.com>
>Subject: RE: [pct-l] Big PCT Sections I and J Expedition
>Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 10:08:03 -0800
>
>This is really too bad.  Sierra Pines is a Christian fanatic site.  They
>want you to send your donations to a bank in Sri Lanka.  They won't get a
>penny directly from me.  I can only hope they will allow me across their
>threshold so I can participate with other hikers.
>
>I hope in the future we can have gatherings that are at more secular and
>inclusive locations.
>
>The PEDestrian
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
>[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Bob Bankhead
>Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 9:14 AM
>To: Cathy; Hiker97@aol.com
>Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] Big PCT Sections I and J Expedition
>
>2004 Gathering fee was $84 for advance reservations including 2 night's
>lodging and all meals; $92 after Sept 18 or at the door.
>
>Single days were $42 advance or $46 after 9/18.
>
>Wandering Bob
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>Hi can you give me the exact dates of this hike and do you know the cost of
>the gathering?       Ground Pounder Bill
>
>
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