José

For those of you with friends who are there: 1) More rain is projected. It’s very wet right now and cars and other vehicles can’t drive and likely can’t for several days. 2) There is a lot of food and water and people are really generous and sharing, 3) we decided to make the hike, but it is very slippery and the mud is like cement and sticks to your boots. It also has some quicksand properties — it grabs your boots and sometimes you are stuck. No one should try this unless in good shape and part of a group. It was quite hard, and will get harder if/when it rains more. Talk your friends out of the hike unless you really think they can do it safely. There are treacherous places where it is worse than walking on ice. 4) If they do hike, tell them to use GPS, download a map if they can, walk out at 6 o,clock and try to go in as straight a line as possible to the closest road meeting point it. There is no cell reception for the first 60% (att) and 70% (Verizon). They should try to arrange someone to pick them up at the meeting point before they leave if at all possible. 5) if they are hiking they should time it so that there will not be rain for 2-3 hours from the time they start 6) Most impt thing is to encourage them to be safe. If it takes several days to leave, so be it. These are dangerous conditions to hike and will likely get worse. I hope this helps. Please know I’m no weather, traffic, or hiking expert —these are just my observations after doing the hike. Thinking of you all. I’m now off to a very needed sleep.