[pct-l] monetary contributions robbed the real trail angels at White Pass

[linsey]

It occurred to me as I hiked into White Pass last week that I had a huge unvoiced issue with the recent White Pass trail magic food and donation ruck.  

We already have trail angels at White Pass.  They are the longtime employees at the Kracker Barrel, one working on twenty years of dealing with PCT hikers.  They will let you loiter in a warm spot and resupply despite the mess, have laundry facilities,  sell you a huge beautiful hand built sandwich with super fresh trimmings and handle your box with no fee.  This year they handled over 500 boxes.  They know hikers are good business, but I believe they deserve every bit of the hikers disposable income at this resupply station.  Did the food ruck for donations group use the stores facilities even while taking away from their business?  There are no public facilities here.  

A much better choice would have been to stage at the extremely nearby Chinook Pass which has no facilities save outhouses and trash cans or the gravel Stampede Pass with its crappy water source after a longish water carry.  Or Ulrich Shelter or any number of easily accessible but  lonely road crossings on this section.  

Sincerely, Lollygag
PS I tipped the store girls generously and vacuumed at the end of the day.  The store manager has helped me on four hikes now and makes a delightful breve.  By the way:  I asked and she confirmed that loss of business from trail angels handing out food next to her store would leave her feeling gypped.