[pct-l] Re: A Wake-Up Call

[ryan_christensen at sbcglobal.net (Ryan Christensen)]

Yes, I have to agree with Ron: dangers of terrorism
speech writer for Bush is a definite career
possibility.

I agree that there are very real dangers in the
Sierra. One should be prepared. However, the tone of
this email feels manipulative. Especially at the end. 


Ryan

--- Mtnned@aol.com wrote:

> Class of 2006:
>  
> Just thought I'd ask if all of you are aware of the
> challenges you'll be  
> facing negotiating the snow pack and passes once
> you're in the High  Sierra.  
>  
> I hope every one of you have spent at least 4 days
> to a week cranking out  as 
> many miles as you can in the snow, under intense sun
> or nasty, blowing,  
> whiteout cold, to test yourselves and your gear. 
> It's one thing to  hike a 
> summer, dry trail toward a pass and top it over a
> field of snow, maybe  try to 
> glglissadeown the backside, and another to live in
> it for days on  end.
>  
>  You're pretty sure you can do the miles needed on
> dry trail, but what  about 
> when you can't see it?  How do you get water out of
> the creek when  it's at 
> the bottom of a six foot, near vertical ice trough? 
> How do you get  down in 
> there at the end of the day when the snow is soup
> and crusting up and  then back 
> out without getting so wet that your clothes and
> shoes don't freeze  
> overnight?  What the hell is a sun cup, anyway?  Can
> I pick one up or  stand in it and 
> can they hurt me?
>  
> Just know how to deal with what's ahead.  Ask
> questions, read  books, take a 
> course about snow camping and learn the skills of
> ice axaxend  crampon use, 
> how to descend on icy snow, and avalanche awareness.
>  Then  practice it!
>  
>  You have a few weeks left.  You're going to be gone
> for several  months.  
> Get done with your planning and logistics and gear. 
> Now is  the time to make 
> sure you are ready.  In my opinion, the  only way to
> accurately prepare your 
> muscles for hiking is to hike, so get out  and hike
> with a fully loaded pack!  
> Continue to do something aerobic for  your
> cacardiovasculatureyou'll need it on 
> the climbs and at altitude. This is  good for the
> brown trail, not the white 
> one.
>  
> With the time you have left, include as often as you
> can test runs at  
> altitude in the snow.  Just to balance, you will use
> leg muscles you didn't  know 
> were there, and they may scream at you and stop you
> in cramping pain unless  you 
> practice often.  Find out how many miles you can do,
>  how to pack a tent 
> that's frozen to the snow, what a snow pit is, the
> dangers of  overexposure, 
> ununderhydrationand electrolyte loss,
snsnowblindness
> sunscreen,  sisideshieldsand 
> what to do with the used toilet paper....
>  
> Are you practiced in snow camping and snow travel? 
> You'll be in it  sooner 
> than you think.
>  
> I will be speaking on this topic at Trail Fest and
> the KO and am at your  
> service at answer any of your questions via email. 
> Should this be a  wake-up 
> call to you, why don't you join some of the other
> members of the class  of 2006 
> reading this as they attend one of our 4-day
> shakedown clinics  called 
> "PCT-Prep." to learn all the above and more? You'll
> come away more  confident with 
> yourself and assured of what you can and shouldn't
> do in the snow  when traveling 
> at altitude for extended time.  Ask L-rod about me,
> she's  joining!
>  
> Just be prepared!
>  
> MtMtnned> Mountain Education
> Pacific Crest Builders
>  
> psps sorry about the cross post!
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