[Jeff]

Hi Angela!

There sure is a 2022 Welcome Packet. According to our records, yours was mailed on December 30th. Let us know if it got lost in the mail and we will send a replacement.

We have been hosting monthly livestreams (January we discuss training for the Six-Pack of Peaks, and February was tips for planning big day hikes). Our next livestream will be Tuesday, March 22nd at 6:30pm PDT and the subject is finding groups to hike with. Watch for an announcement and details on how to join coming on Wednesday.

If you're looking to connect with other challengers, there are two ways to do that.

1. Some challengers use the discussion forums to connect, plan, or communicate with each other. It's early in the season in the PNW, so expect more activity from folks in your region as the snow clears. The Campfire forum is a great starting point.

2. You can also peruse the hike logs for your challenge. You can see who else is active and connect directly with them by leaving a comment on their hike log. You'll find them by going to Activity > All Hike Logs. Here's a direct link to the PNW hike logs, where you'll see folks have already been logging hikes on Mount Si, Mailbox Peak and others.

[Jeff]

You should be able to log your hike from your smartphone using the website (not the app). Just point your phone's browser to clean.socialhiker.net ?

[Jeff]

Hi Stephany! I checked your access and you are a member of the 2022 SoCal group, so you should have access. Tell me how you are trying to log your hikes? From a computer or your phone? Using the website or the app?

[Jeff]

Hi George!

You'll both end up getting individual accounts. When you register multiple people at once, we will contact you for the other user's name/email and complete their account creation.

We can also change your account name if you'd like.

Just an FYI, our office is open Monday through Thursday, so you'll hear from us via email on Monday.

Happy Trails!

[Jeff]

You can also view the latest hike logs for any peak in the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenges. From the site menu, go to Activity > All Hike Logs. You can filter by region or peak.

[Jeff]

None of the sites will be perfect. I use GaiaGPS on my computer and turn on the Snow Levels layer. It shows you the approximate depth of snow on the ground.

I've attached a screenshot for Cuyamaca Peak. At the moment, the snow depth is estimated to be 2-4 inches.

[Jeff]

We don’t have the edit capability yet, but we can edit it for you.

[Jeff]

It is! And you are one of them! We posted all the 2022 Legacy Challengers here on the blog:

https://socialhiker.net/introducing-the-2022-legacy-challengers/

We tweaked the definition ever-so-slightly. To qualify as a Legacy Challenger, you need to complete ANY of the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge series in each of the past four consecutive years. This gives you the option of mixing it up and doing a different challenge rather than the same one for all four years.

Your post reminded me that we have some special goodies for our Legacy Challengers that we will be mailing out next week. 😉

[Jeff]

Update as of February 16th:

• All of the San Diego finisher patches and certificates have been mailed
• MOST of the SoCal and NorCal patches and certificates have been mailed.

We are waiting on a second shipment of patches for NorCal and SoCal. Once those come in (they have shipped, but we don't have an ETA) the remainder will be mailed.

All certificates and patches are sent in the order of your position on the Finisher List, so the last ones on the list will be the last to get their certificate and patch.

[Jeff]

Hi Jenny! We did an online recap and gear giveaway. I'll be following up with a video recording and blog post with the details and gear giveaway winners (giveaways were shipped this week).

Hoping to do some in-person events this year! Fingers crossed!

[Jeff]

The close the gates at night and the park opens at 8:00am. Parking is $5.

You could take a chance and get there early. Sometimes they open the gate a little before official open time, but no guarantees.

[Jeff]

Hi Angelique! I use the Freedom Recreation plan. There is an annual fee, plus a monthly fee… BUT you can suspend your service on a month-to-month basis, then reactivate it when you need it. Mine is currently suspended, and I'll reactivate it when I start hitting backcountry hikes in late spring.

The main reason I like that plan in addition to the ability to suspend service is that when I'm on overnight or multi-day backpacking trips. I can send and receive messages with my wife, which gives her peace of mind.

The Freedom Safety plan is lower cost, and I think you can also suspend when not needed, but includes a fewer number of messages per month.

Of course with any of these plans, you can still go “over” your message limits and they'll just charge a fee per message.

[Jeff]

Yep! We just got our Corte Madera stickers in and will be sending out in all new San Diego sticker packs. We will also be mailing to anyone who ordered a San Diego sticker packet so far in 2022.

[Jeff]

Don't be afraid to do the Wonderland via walk-up permits. If you go on Sunday for a Monday start (and avoid holidays), and have flexibility to start on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, your odds are pretty good.

[Jeff]

I enjoy the TCT… I've hiked it twice and would go back again. It's a great “shakedown” trip before a longer trip, giving you a chance to dial-in your gear, food and systems. And you don't have to worry about snow in the winter. ?