[pct-l] 'Monetary contributions'

[Anne Estoppey]

Hello all
I must admit that I am a bit surprised too that a few people that are called 'Trail Angels' expect monetary contributions.
Volunteering means by default that one takes on his/her resources (time, energy, gas, food, etc) to provide help, and comfort to others.
 
If one expects money: fine. But then open a campsite or a have a food station where prices are tagged clearly.Then everybody knows what to expect.
 
If the trend is that some Trail Angels expect money, where do we stop?
This hiker can go on without giving because he/she is a young student or without work?
I am old and I work in Europe, so I have to spit out 20 bucks each time? or maybe 50?
 
Do we have to start hiking in 2013 on the PCT with a check book? Or a bag full of twenties?
 
C'mon, that doesn't make any sense.
 
Cheers
Anne
 
 

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:01:38 -0700
From: Amanda Timeoni <amanda.timeoni at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] (no subject)
To: linsey <mowoggirl at yahoo.com>
Cc: pct list serve <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID:
    <CAJNt-s6aixrwahL+V2nQomVcT0QFMPwz5gUh4Sw73K_PNPrHyQ at mail.gmail.com>
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Lost and Found,
Are you doing trail magic or are you a vending machine? To say that "most
hikers were generous with their monetary contributions" goes against the
spirit of trail magic!

I don't often carry cash on me when thru-hiking. Should I in case there is
trail magic?

Maybe I should walk on by because "trail magic" is for those who can afford
to have it. For the person doing it, there is a great cost!

I hope that I'm with another hiker who can vouch for me!

No, I need to carry cash. I'm not going to want to walk passed it and I
don't want the person doing trail magic to think I'm ungrateful.

I'm cashless because I didn't anticipate trail magic. There hasn't been
trail magic for x amount of miles. I hope they don't think I'm ungrateful.


A lot of hikers are generous with their money. We love trail angels, it is
a huge part of the thru-hike experience. But don't talk about it like "Hey
you over there, I got some money from these people!" It's tasteless.

Yours Truly,
Not a Chance (PCT '09, '10, '12)

On Fri, Sep 21, 2012 at 10:12 AM, linsey <mowoggirl at yahoo.com> wrote:

> You wrote, "Most hikers were generous with their monetary contributions"
> Let me just say that while I have offered monetary contributions at trail
> magic, I have never seen them solicited and am somewhat offended.  To
> assume all of those at the end of their hike have disposable income for the
> unexpected snack is asinine.
>
> Trail magic can be a double edged sword.  The white flour pancakes, greasy
> breakfast, processed junk food, snacks and coffee I've indulged in at trail
> magic stops were welcome, but not near as healthy as the trail food I pack.
>  When one eats trail magic food, their pack stays heavy with the meal they
> should have eaten and and/or the fuel they should have used.   In my case,
> I never get the burst of energy  from eating junk that I get from eating
> wholesome trail food.  Even though it is a diuretic and not conducive to
> hydration, the coffee is especially tempting although it makes my knees
> hurt.
>
>
> pct-l] Trail MagicHikes and Bikes hikingis4me2 at yahoo.com
> Thu Sep 20 17:26:57 CDT 2012
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> ________________________________
>
> Mother Goose and I hosted 72 hikers at White Pass September 11-15 (one
> hiker arrived 9/16 as we were packing up).  We gave what leftovers we had
> to Only a Test, who said she was planning TM in Washington this weekend.
> Weather was almost perfect, although a little on the cool side during the
> day.  No rain.  Most hikers were generous with their monetary
> contributions, which we greatly appreciated.  Certainly helps to offset
> out-of-pocket expenses and gas for the car. BTW - There is no laundromat in
> Packwood, unless you are staying at the campground.  The nearest laundromat
> is Castle Peak 9 miles west of Packwood, but bring your own quarters and
> detergent.  The store was in the process of closing 9/16.  Not sure if it
> was for the season or forever.   Lost and Found
>
> "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely
> in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside,
> thoroughly used up, totally worn out, Guinness in one hand, steak in the
> other, yell 'Holy Sh**, What a Ride!"
> ________________________________