Casually canvassed the horde as they traipsed ignorantly through the first few days of their pilgrimage. Generally speaking, from the sample size I interacted with, it's a pretty average distribution of experience. Everything from well-tuned, researched, and prepared to-and-through complete WTF gong shows. The army-surplus guys are always my favorite; but this time there was a dude in full-on retro mode with 110L external frame pack loaded to include the cutoff shorts and heavy leather boots. He said if they were sufficient enough in the 70s then why not good enough for today? I don't see this guy making it too far. Over-reliance on phone applications continues; even when I was giving real-time updates for water caches that I dropped no less than 60 minutes prior I was getting argued with that there was no water. The app said so.
Maps, what are those? Quite a few taking wrong turns and learning the hard way about navigation; and those who step away from the PCT highway far enough to almost get into trouble. Found a guy 3 miles up a 4x4 road tangentially off trail and steered him back the right way. They're far enough out that it's mostly moot but listening to them discuss the need for ice axe and trax in the Sierras is a bit laughable. I'm happy to see/hear them discussing it as far south as the Lagunas. I was smitten to see no fewer than 8 carrying axes, bear cans, and micro trax from the border. It's going to be in the 80s in San Diego this week, and somewhat higher in the valleys between the sky islands of SoCal. It's brisk in the mountains at night; we were in the 30s on Saturday night.
Prepare yourselves, they're coming.
