[pct-l] 1-888-PC-TRAIL anyone else heard of this?

[Timothy Nye]

This will be an unpopular/controversial post.  ( Wait what you see I have to
say about about recent changes in the PCTA)

It's a reciprocal arrangement, in my opinion.  I enjoy finding a trail angel
when hiking and I also get a great deal of personal satisfaction out of
trail angeling.  I'm sure each angel finds the same satisfaction in
providing a truly meaningful service on the trail.  But this is really is a
further aspect of the previous discussion regarding water catches and hiker
independence The hiker experience is impacted for good or ill by the
existence of trail angeling.  Only the hiker can make the determination as
to how to deal with the situation.

This also reminds me of the 24 X 24 X 24 challenge from Aqua Dulce to the
Anderson's.  Last year Donna took umbrage that hikers would engage
inactivity to which she was opposed and attempted to prevent from occurring.
  I realize that she was placed on the PCTA board last year, but I have a
real problem with individuals external to the hike itself attempting to
impose their values on the hikers.  Yes, I know that some (The mature?, The
sane?) views this as an inherently unsafe activity, but who makes them the
Trail Police? Most people view even hiking the trail as an unsafe activity.
 I think this attempt oversteps the role of trail angel.  It even continued
at the KO with the warning being issued that this activity was not only
unsafe, but "unfair" to the trail angels.

I almost fell over laughing.  Unfair to whom?  The Anderson's?  Please.
 Anyone that takes that position probably hasn't hiked into the Anderson's.
 It's more reflective, I believe, of Donna's position.  But then, the hikers
have already left her house and are down trail.I'm just saying.  Everybody
needs to keep things in perspective.  It's probably much more dangerous to
smoke pot on the trail.  My personal observation is that over 50% of hikers
seem to be engaged in that activity.  I guess we could have strip searches.

Gourmet



On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 5:13 PM, Andrea Dinsmore
<zaqueltooocool at gmail.com>wrote:

> Is that what I should tell the mothers, wives and kids who call me looking
> for news of their family members ?? We become more than just a place to
> flop
> and do laundry. Maybe not you, but lots of other hikers and worried family
> members are in touch with us constantly after the folks they are concerned
> about hit our radar. Trail angels are the hikers support network all the
> way
> from Campo. We know all the Angels do the same thing for "their" hikers.
> It's just the way we are.
>
> Maybe "responsible" is the wrong term. We do it out of love.
>
> Andrea Dinsmore
> PCT MOM
> Skykomish, WA area
>
> On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 4:53 PM, Eric Lee <saintgimp at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Andrea wrote:
> > >
> > When the snow hits in mid Sept we start tracking each hiker. It's our
> > responsibility to be your support system up here.
> > >
> >
> > Andrea, I know you and Jerry pour your hearts out for the thru-hikers and
> > I'm in awe of your generosity.  But in my opinion, it's not *your*
> > responsibility to be anyone's support system.  Each hiker is responsible
> > for
> > his or her own choices and their own safety.  It's probably healthier for
> > both you and them to keep that straight.  Just sayin'.  :-)
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
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