ADZPCTKO Presentations Over the Years

I love the Kickoff.  For seven years I have been involved with it as the Presentation Coordinator, and this recent event was my last in that position.  Yep, it's time to move on, and let someone else take over the reins.  I believe that one way for organizations to experience healthy growth is that they experience change, and thus my stepping down.

As the Presentation Coordinator, I have introduced many presenters to hikers in the Lake Morena pavilion, and I thought I'd list my favorite presentations from over the years.  So here it goes.

Winston Vickers

1. Mountain Lions and Their Safety - Usually when I announced the presentation, everyone asked, "What about my safety?"  Wilderness veterinarian Winston Vickers has traveled to the Kickoff from UC-Davis three times to talk to hikers about mountain lions and the habitat that we hikers enter every time we explore the wilderness.  The reality is that humans continue to encroach on their habitat, and thus endanger these beautiful cats.  True, we also are risk entering their habitat, but attending Winston's presentation always helped me better understand mountain lions, and how to deal with them should I encounter one.  Finally, if there is one thing that was apparent from Winston's presentations, it is his passion.  He loves these animals, and he wants us hikers to have a better knowledge and appreciations for them.  I hope Winston comes back in the future.



Paul Hacker and Greg Hummel

2. Geology of the PCT - Greg "Strider" Hummel and Paul "Nohawk" Hacker both hiked the PCT in 1977, and are professional Geologists.  Their presentation on geology always fascinated me, so I attended everyone that they did just to see if I could scrape another nugget of information on the subject.  The Pacific Crest Trail runs across and along some of the world's most vibrant geological areas.  Consider that it crosses the San Andreas (and other faults!) several times, and it contours the Cascades' volcanos from northern California up to the Washington-Canadian border.  As Strider always says in his presentation, "Every rock is on a journey," and many of us hikers interact intimately with their journey as we traipse along the PCT.



1959 Thru-Ride

3. Pioneering Women of the PCT - Barney "Scout" and Sandy "Frodo" Mann led this presentation in 2010, and it featured June Mulford, who along with her husband Don, thru-rode the PCT on horseback in 1959.  The presentation also had Teddy Boston, the first woman to thru-hike the PCT in 1976, and Carolyn Burkhart, who finished the same year as Teddy.  June Mulford's story was unearthed that year, so many of us there were eager to hear more about her ride on the trail.  Teddy, of course, is at the Kickoff every year, and is always entertaining.  Carolyn talked about her hike and how it helped her deal with personal struggles in her life.   It was a most memorable presentation. 



Ken Murray

4. Mountaineering Skills - On a heavy snow year, this is perhaps the most important presentation at the Kickoff.  Ken Murray has done this presentation every year that I have been involved with the Kickoff, and he balances the serious nature of hiking the Sierras along with making it an enjoyable experience.  Ken has also demonstrated how to ford river crossings, using an ice axe, and how to make a self arrest - all in the rugged conditions of the pavilion!  Ned Tibbits of Mountain Education has also helped Ken over the years, lending his rich mountaineering experience to the discussion.  

5. Class of 2004 Photo Presentation - This is the class video that started a tradition that has endured to this day (Class of 2009 is the only one that has not been shown).  In 2005, Weathercarrot put together a photo presentation that set the bar high, and is now the standard by which all photo presentations are judged.  Panning in on dramatic images while mystical, ethereal music played in the background, he created the genre of video pleasure for eyes longing or eager to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Thank you Weathercarrot!

Those are my favorite presentations at the Kickoff from over the years.  I am sure that the Kickoff will continue to flourish by bringing in knowledgable, talented, and entertaining speakers for years to come.  In the future, I look forward to enjoying those presentations as a participant, and not as a coordinator.

Mountain Lion Fends Off Hikers!

I caught this article in the Onion, which had me rolling with laughter.  Certainly, the wheels were turning in my head, because the article, despite its morbid absurdity, has a hell of a lot of truth in it. Our wilderness adventures transform us into visitors in the living space of wildlife.

Dr. Winston Vickers, a wildlife veterinarian from UC Davis, spoke at ADZPCTKO back in 2005-6, and reminded all those in attendance that everyday hikers enter prime mountain lion habitat throughout California.  Shrinking habitat and more people in wild areas unfortunately means that there will be more encounters between cats and people (and perhaps their pets!). What is more unfortunate is that when mountain lions and people have nasty encounters, both parties lose. People get severely injured and the mountain lion is subject to elimination.

I saw a mountain lion in 2003 near Grizzly Peak, and I just met a hiker in Washington who had a similar benign encounter.  When I saw the lion, I remember feeling shock, fear and awe, but afterwards I felt extreme privilege and honor for having seen it. I was also reminded of my visitor status in the wilderness, and I must say that I had a different mindset for the rest of my hike.

Enjoy the wilderness out there visitors!