[pct-l] When trail magic sets your teeth a'grinding

[Douglas Tow]

Good morning, teeth grinder!

Many of us appreciated your post of Saturday, March 17.  We all got your
"curmudgeonly humor."  Trail angels are all emotionally needy, looking
crestfallen until you slam down a beer that they brought god knows how many
miles to offer to such as you.

I presume that you have never caught a ride to or from a trailhead, never
picked up a resupply box for no fee at other than a post office, never had
anyone help you fix your blistered feet, never written in a trail register,
never taken water from a cache, never been to Saufley's, never looked in a
hiker box, and never downloaded a free map or GPS waypoints.

I also presume that you maintain the sections you hike on yourself - then
you don't have to thank or appreciate the folks that would otherwise have
to spend days of hard labor out there making your way easier.

Trail magic comes in many forms, and trail angels are simply volunteers
choosing to spend their time and money in support of PCT hikers.  Some,
like Lloyd Gust, have spent years of their lives and untold thousands of
dollars to help where they are needed and wanted.

And, my curmudgeonly humorous guy, the PCT community certainly knows to
never expect to see you out there lifting a finger.  After all, it's all
about YOU, now, isn't it?

Doug