[pct-l] Trail workers/thru-hikers

Tue Nov 2 14:15:47 CDT 2010

If a passing hiker offered me a "friendship bracelet" I would either decline it or think "geez, now something else I've got to carry out to the trash".  

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kevin Cook 
  To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 3:13 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail workers/thru-hikers

  I want to give them a gift in ADDITION to my expressions of gratitude. I
  always stop and talk to trail workers when I come across them. I don't
  expect to be in such a hurry on the PCT that I will have to change that
  behavior. If I can't stop to talk to those folks, then there's something
  going wrong with my hike! LOL

  I kinda like the friendship bracelet idea. They are lite. They are also
  something they could keep as a reminder. On the other hand, I don't wear
  things like that. I imagine someone like me might appreciate the gesture,
  but then feel guilty if they didn't keep the item. I suppose it could be
  hung on a pack or something if they don't want to wear it. How about
  something like this?

  http://www.theprepared.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=49

  Now we're getting somewhere! Now it's something useful too! How many folks
  are in a typical trail crew? 6, 12, 20? How many crews might I see along the
  way? I just want an idea of how many to make. Maybe I'll bring extra cord
  and make them along the way?

  @ Jim and Mike,
  I had the same thought. They have more supplies than I do, so that's why I
  was worried that a piece of candy would not mean much to them since they
  probably have more than I do. That's why I'm really liking this bracelet
  idea. Cheap, easy, lightweight, and a useful item to have in the
  backcountry.

  What does everyone think? If you were a trail crew, would you appreciate
  something like this?

  On Tue, Nov 2, 2010 at 12:09 PM, Mike Cunningham <hikermiker at yahoo.com>wrote:

  > While out working on a trail I have found that a sincere thank you from a
  > hiker is enough to lift my spirits.
  >
  > I have also found that trail workers tend to be better supplied than hikers
  > and are more apt to have goodies with them.
  >
  > on the other hand as a hiker I always make an effort to sincerely thank any
  > trail workers for their efforts & let them know it is appreciated.
  >
  > hm
  >
  > --- On *Tue, 11/2/10, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com>* wrote:
  >
  >
  > From: Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com>
  >
  > Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail workers/thru-hikers
  > To: pct-l at backcountry.net
  > Date: Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 1:47 PM
  >
  >
  > In response to this thread, I have a question for those who do trail
  > maintenance, on the PCT, or elsewhere.
  >
  > If I wanted to bring some token to show my appreciation, when I come across
  > a trail worker, what would you recommend? I was thinking a candy bar or
  > something. I usually carry some mini candy bars when I hike, so I was
  > thinking I would just try to make sure I always have a few extras with me
  > to
  > hand out. Do you think that would be appreciated by a trail worker, or
  > could
  > it be taken as trivializing their efforts. I want to tell them thank you in
  > some way that would be meaningful. The thought of handing them money seems
  > tacky to me. I don't want to carry something real heavy obviously, so any
  > other ideas?
  >
  > I'd also like to take this opportunity to express my deep thanks to
  > everyone
  > who has helped build the PCT. Thank you!
  >
  > --
  > ~ Kevin
  > Soon To Be PCT Thru Hiker!
  > "The indoor life is the next best thing to premature burial." Edward Abbey
  >
  > On Tue, Nov 2, 2010 at 10:29 AM, <abiegen at cox.net<http://us.mc517.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=abiegen@cox.net>>
  > wrote:
  >
  > > 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
  > >
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  -- 
  ~ Kevin
  Soon To Be PCT Thru Hiker!
  "The indoor life is the next best thing to premature burial." Edward Abbey
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