Hitch back to ADZPCTO ?

**Wheeler** · 03-13-2009, 20:13

I will be hiking the PCT this year and was considering attending the KO. I was thinking of maybe starting a little sooner and hitching back to stay out of the main crowd. How simple/difficult is that ? Also, how much of a crowd is there, really ? I've heard that there are some conflicting view's on the KO itself. Are there any strong reason's to attend or not attend ? It's getting time to buy a ticket, and I'm just plain anxious! Can't wait!

**saimyoji** · 03-13-2009, 20:17

is adzpcto pronounceable? or do you just say the letters?

disclaimer:
sorry if its a stupid question.
(not really, though)

**Wheeler** · 03-13-2009, 20:27

I think it's pronounced adz-pict-co. it's the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off.

**saimyoji** · 03-13-2009, 20:30

Originally Posted by Wheeler

I think it's pronounced adz-pict-co. it's the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off.

hikers eating and drinking i assume....sounds like fun.

**TwoForty** · 03-13-2009, 20:43

I wasn't going to give my opinion on the KOP since I haven't been, but you asked

I would consider the fact that you are leaving ahead of it a blessing. You'll be in front of the herd. You won't be the only one out there though, so you can still have the option of having the social scene if you want. Also, your hiking pace plays into this a bit, so consider that.

I really don't know if there is a reason to go nowadays unless you have already hiked or you just want to get into the trail scene. I can see the purpose many years ago when information was scarce and there were fewer people heading off (less of a herd). It would be nice to go after a thru hike to meet up with old friends, make new ones, and relive a bit of the past.

The again, this is all theory and no experience. Kind of like the guy I met last year who always ranted on the listserve about how water caches were wrong, but in the cache registers he changed his mind.

**TwoForty** · 03-13-2009, 20:45

And to answer your question, Warner Springs would be the most logical place to have a hiker pick up/ drop off. You might be able to find someone on the list serve to help you out.

**burger** · 03-13-2009, 21:01

Go to the ride board at http://www.pct77.org/adz/rides.htm and post that you'll need a ride from wherever on whatever date. I'm starting on the 17th and planning to get to Warner Springs by the weekend of the KO, which should be a pretty easy place to get a ride back to Lake Morena.

**Wheeler** · 03-13-2009, 21:31

Warner spring's does look like a good spot. About the KO itself, any opinion's out there?

**fiddlehead** · 03-13-2009, 21:41

As for conflicting reports on the KO party.
I got reprimanded for calling it a "party"

So, seems to me the do-gooders have perhaps taken it over.

**Wheeler** · 03-13-2009, 21:50

Originally Posted by fiddlehead

As for conflicting reports on the KO party.
I got reprimanded for calling it a "party"

So, seems to me the do-gooders have perhaps taken it over.

Bummer

**D-wreck** · 03-14-2009, 02:08

Strong reason for going to KO -> I'll be there, and we can party like its Connecticut!

I plan on starting with my GF and others ahead of the pack and hitching back. Looking forward to hiking with Sammy the Wheel again.

**Wheeler** · 03-14-2009, 02:43

Giddy up, D-wreck! Remember that homeless guy who kept begging for booze? "Please! I'll give you $20 for that last gulp!" Sad thing was there was a "packy" like 5 mile's back. I'm pretty sure I'll go. If I start out ahead, I'll have the option.

**mrc237** · 03-14-2009, 07:23

Not a huge party like TDs but some informative stuff like water reports and where the caches are. Useless gear contest, lightest pack contest are good for some laughs. Some vendors. May serve dinner Sat night and B'fast Sun. If you can, introduce yourself to the Andersons and the Saufleys great Trail Angels.

**saimyoji** · 03-14-2009, 08:05

Originally Posted by fiddlehead

As for conflicting reports on the KO party.
I got reprimanded for calling it a "party"

how do you get reprimanded over a hiker event? did they take away your paper hat?

**A-Train** · 03-14-2009, 12:09

Originally Posted by mrc237

Not a huge party like TDs but some informative stuff like water reports and where the caches are. Useless gear contest, lightest pack contest are good for some laughs. Some vendors. May serve dinner Sat night and B'fast Sun. If you can, introduce yourself to the Andersons and the Saufleys great Trail Angels.

True, but I believe the Saufleys stopped attending several yrs ago.

I attended the last 2 years. As a hiker on my 2nd day I welcomed the rest from the heat, but it was overwhelming and I didn't know many people. Last year it was a great time, but I had dozens of friends from the trail to shoot the poo and drink a brew with.

It's kinda what you make out of it. You can sit around and catch up with friends or be active, volunteer and go to all the talks and events, or a little of both. There's a lot of gear vendors and things going on, ut it's not the big party Traildays is.

Going or not going isn't gonna affect your thru-hike much at all. I think there is a little too much made out of beating the pack. The pack isn't all that big on the PCT and people spread out quick. I traveled in the KO pack until the Sierras and the only team it seemed there were a lot of people around was towns. I'm always suprised so many people start in mid-april. You can take your time to some degree, but still must clear the waterless sections. Also, you will spend a lot more money killing time until the SIerras.

**handlebar** · 03-14-2009, 13:24

Wheeler, I had an unusual itinerary as I was planning two trips back east for weddings so I started early on April 4 sobo from Walker Pass. Found a ride down to kickoff from Cajon Pass through the ADZPCTKO page ride board. Many participants had rides back from Warner Springs.

Though last year was a low snow year, I ran into lots of it on Mt. Baden-Powell. Not sure about this year's snowpack, but I'd advise checking out Postholer.com for that info. The snowpack was similar to last year when I last checked and I was able to start through the Sierra from Kennedy Meadows on June 3 having been held up one day by a fire.

I slackpacked the first 20 miles back from Mexico to Lake Morena the Sunday of kickoff weekend and then took off northbound. The herd wasn't really much of an issue and after 3 full weeks of total solitude it was nice to find some hiking partners. Only problem we ran into was that we found the water cache at Scissors Crossing empty and had to hitch to Julian. Like someone posted, the only time I saw many hikers was in towns. As I recall, Warner Springs was filled with hikers.

Enjoy the hike!

**chris** · 03-14-2009, 15:33

ADZ is great for former and future hikers and I'll be there this year a bit ahead of time. I'm going to hike from Morena up to the view of Anza-Borrego by Mount Laguna, camp, then hike to Pioneer Mail and somehow get a ride back via the ride board for ADZ. Fun times for sure, but if I was hiking I'd probably skip it and start a few weeks later on.

**Wheeler** · 03-14-2009, 18:28

This is all good stuff, I appreciate it.

**neighbor dave** · 03-19-2009, 17:04

we never arranged a ride and got one down and back from warner springs. there were many kind people waiting for hikers to give rides to.
my personal opinion on the kick off is that it's just o.k.
we were ancy to get back to the trail by noon time on saturday. ymmv

**Desert Reprobate** · 03-19-2009, 17:21

I'm already scheduled to pick up one hiker at the Warner Springs Post Office at noon on the 24. If you get further along the trail I can pick up as far north as Idyllwild. See my info on the ADZPCTKO Site or pm me here. I'll have a Tundra with a utility trailer for packs and gear.

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