[pct-l] Angels have landed (was trail angels need trail angels too!)

Tue Apr 20 12:36:06 CDT 2010

AWESOME! I was NSWA trail crew last year up in the Wenatchee NF. I'm NWSA
again this year, sadly not in trail work though. But I've met all these
people and they're great - and this is Kate Clabby's second year! The NWSA
will have four PCT work crews this year (that's up from two from last year).
Please say hi and thank them for their work when you see them! Also, I'm
sending this email to the trails program's coordinators.

On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 10:25 AM, dsaufley <dsaufley at sprynet.com> wrote:

> I want to share the unbelievable experience I had last weekend with some
> giving-back trail magic here at Hiker Heaven.  I am stunned and filled with
> appreciation and emotion.  I've seen the calls from my fellow angels
> needing
> help, and would go help them myself if I could. However, with my lower back
> out (slowly getting better) a torn labrum in my left hip (needing surgery
> the insurance company has denied), and Mr. Mumbles (aka Buzzsaw) up to his
> eyeballs in work and school projects, the tasks required to get ready for
> hiker season right here at home were daunting, especially all the lifting
> and bending. But I didn't want to take any volunteers away from my dear
> counterparts along the trail, so I just kind of sucked it up and hoped and
> trusted it would all work somehow. I was repaid for that faith in a major
> way.
>
> I got a message from Sarah "Color Blind" McClure, who was going to be in
> the
> general area working, asking if she could come and help out.  What I didn't
> know initially was that Color Blind was working with the Northwest Service
> Academy, doing trail crew leadership training with our very dear PCTA
> regional representative and her assistant reps. This is an example of one
> of
> the incredible partnerships that the PCTA has built; they train crew
> leaders
> for other programs, and in turn these crews lead projects on the PCT before
> they return to their assignments. PCTA does the same training for a number
> of service academys, like Americorp, SCA, CCC, etc.
>
> Color Blind called and said she had four days off between trail crew
> "hitches," meaning a few precious days off from tough physical labor. She
> asked if she could come over last Friday, and if it was okay to bring one
> other member of her crew along. She brought FIVE, for a total of SIX
> volunteers.  But not just any volunteers.  These young people were
> incredibly strapping, healthy, energetic, and dedicated to service. They've
> been up swinging pick-axes and doing rock work on the trail at altitude,
> and
> they are SO FIT.
>
> Now, mind you, this was supposed to be their time off -- frolicking
> somewhere having well-deserved fun. Instead, they moved the boxes, the
> tents, dusted off months worth of dirt and spiders, refurbished and cleaned
> bear cans, repaired bicycles, cleaned the fire ring, washed the chairs, and
> most importantly, hung the "Welcome to Agua Dulce PCT Hikers" banner down
> in
> town.  What they did would have taken me weeks to accomplish when I'm
> physically 100%, but given that right now I have some limitations, what
> they
> turned out was pretty much impossible for me. I was worried about getting
> it
> done in time for the tsunami. While there is still much of a lighter nature
> to do, the heavy lifting is done.
>
> I don't know how the trail keeps producing this wonderful magic, providing
> exactly what you need in your time of need. But I do know that there is so
> much goodness and love attached to this trail, and from this community of
> people. On a side note, one (Color Blind) is a two-time PCT thru-hike
> veteran, another is an AT veteran, and four are PCT hopefuls. They are very
> dedicated to giving back, or paying forward.  Not one of my "angels" is the
> sort that was seeking recognition, but I want to tell you who they are and
> how much I admire what they're doing through their service academy:
>
> Sarah "Color Blind" McClure, East Lansing, Michigan (PCT '08, '09)
> Joe "Geoff" Naiman, Tallahassee, Florida (AT '08)
> Annie Woods, Burlington, Kentucky
> Kate Clabby, Lander, Wyoming
> Steve Wilkinson, Bellingham, Washington
> Ian MacKay, Corvallis, Oregon
>
> www.nwserviceacademy.org
>
> When they drove away on Saturday morning, off to the coast for some real
> and
> overdue R & R, I was overcome with not only appreciation, but with the
> sense
> that good will prevail through individual stewardship and action. When you
> walk the trail, know that wonderful people like these took part in making
> your experience a better one.
>
> L-Rod
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of patti kulesz
> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 10:33 PM
> To: pctl
> Subject: [pct-l] trail angels need trail angels too!
>
> hey y'all, me Stumbling Norwegian, Coyote, Mad Monte and Moooooona came
> into
> Old Station late yesterday to help out at the Heitman's. We got ALOT done
> today with everyone working together, but there is still alot of work that
> needs to be done before the pack gets here! So if you're able and have some
> time...COME ON DOWN and help out!
> things that still need to be done: (and this is just what's left on "the
> list"
> hot tub repairspipes leaking in garage and behind washing machinestuff in
> the treehouselawn mower tires need replaceddeck railings sanded and
> sealedshack deck and serving bar sealedfood area tent needs to go uptree
> house railings, floor and walls sealeddishwashing area set upscreens
> replaced on house doorsbeaver dams removed from creek
> and then anything else y'all think you can help with...Also if you have
> some
> free time and want to hang out with some awesome trail angels and hiker
> trash...just come out and help cooking, prepping and clean-ups
> thanx
> patti Sugar Moma PCT 09!
> www.hikestrong2010.com hiking again in 2010 for cancer!
>
>
>
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