[pct-l] Trail workers/thru-hikers

[abiegen at cox.net]

I was surprised to see the comments about the conflict between hikers and trail workers. This year while hiking with Wimbledon and Carrol we came across a group of trail workers. We made sure to stop and let them know that we appreciated the work that they were doing. Chatted with them for several minutes.   I do a lot of trail work where I live - or at least used to do a lot before arthritis in my shoulder slowed me down - so I appreciate the work and know how important it is to let the workers know that their work is appreciated. 

TRASH!=JERK

There are a few possibilities that I can picture:

1. If the thru-hikers were tired and the work was being done on a long uphill, they may have worn down and not been in best spirits and best behavior. Also some thru-hikers are racing against the clock. If the work is being done in a way that holds the hiker up and they are trying to get to the PO before it closes, they may not be in the best mood. Like in Real Estate - it could be about location, location, location.

2. I know that the FS standard for steps is the perfect height for stock - I call them horse steps. As a hiker, I feel that they are a little too high for hiking. I'm not that crazy about them but I wouldn't complain to a trail worker about them and in many cases they are better than no steps. Perhaps someone was not overjoyed to see more added.

3. There is the possibility that there are a few jerks out there. I didn't meet any but that doesn't mean that they don't exist.

4. Since the complaint came from only one person maybe it was an outlier where that one person had their own issues that were being projected on the thru-hikers.

I would be interested in hearing from other trail workers. One point of data is not enough to really understand if there is a real issue or not. I am suspicious that this person put off all hiking on the PCT because of this - there must me more to it than we are hearing. You don't hear of someone giving up driving because there are jerks out there. Why would you give up something that you say you love because of a few bad apples? Very strange.

TrailHacker

"When my feet hurt, I can't think straight"
Abraham Lincoln