[pct-l] Heads Up... Hiker Scum

[Jennifer Zimmerman]

That sucks.  Plain and simple.  Thank you for speaking up!  The community
center in Warner Springs was an oasis and I'm also worried that, because of
disrespectful behavior like this, they will decide it's not worth it after
a few years and become another footnote in Yogi's guide and Halfmile's maps
- places that "used to" host hikers.

I was lucky enough not to encounter anything this rotten last summer, and
certainly was never threatened with bodily harm, but I remember how
frustrating and depressing it was to come across PCT graffiti in Chester -
written on a stall in the bathroom in the wonderful grocery store there:
"PCT Love, thx Chester for your hospitality" signed P.L.V.R.
 Unfortunately, this hiker felt such enormous gratitude that she decided to
write in permanent marker so I couldn't wash it off. This is the kind of
thing that I hike to get away from.

Again, thanks for your courage.  I'm sorry that it resulted in such a macho
and aggressive response.  I hope your hike from here on only goes up (in
spirits, not elevation!)

JZ


On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 1:53 PM, Trevor McKee <trevormckee85 at yahoo.com>wrote:

> I was in Warner Springs yesterday waiting for a ride past a section I
> hiked in March enjoying the Community Center and a short rest. I headed
> into the bathrooms to find a couple guys washing their hair in the sink.
> There was soapy brown water splashed all over the sinks and floors, wet
> long hair everywhere, and an overall mess.
>
> It made me upset... for a couple reasons. The people who run the Community
> Center are awesome and don't deserve to deal with cleaning up their mess.
> They offer $8 showers there, and if you can't afford it there's a nice
> creek a mile away, or a water spigot outside in the grass. But mainly it
> bothered me because the way they were abusing that community space could
> directly affect those behind them. Warner Springs may chose to close the
> bathrooms tomorrow... do you see what I'm saying?
>
> So at the sink as I was washing my hands and decided to speak up. I asked
> them if washing their hair in the sink was allowed here. They said there
> wasn't a sign saying they couldn't. I said they offered $8 showers that
> wouldn't make a mess and give hikers a bad rap. They laughed at me and I
> left.
>
> After getting a burger at the main building I headed back to use the
> restroom when half way through the parking lot one of the long haired sink
> boys came up behind me and said, "I don't appreciate you telling them we
> were washing our hair in the sink." I told him that I didn't rat them out
> but likewise I didn't appreciate them making a mess of a community space.
> By now we were back by the bathrooms where his long haired friends were
> sitting on the ground smoking a bowl. They gave me a lot of "HYOH man! Mind
> your own fucking business." I tried to explain that it's all of our
> business when it affects us all. There was a lot of interrupting and raised
> voices and before you knew it they were all standing up surrounding me and
> getting in my face like they were going to fight me.
>
> One of them, a late 20's  w/ long brown hair and glasses and goes by
> Turtle said he carries Mace for people like me... Really? The other bad
> one, the instigator, again in his mid/late 20's with a long braid, light
> blue eyes, dark blue truckers hat, red pack, and accent, told me they
> didn't need Mace (implying they were going to beat me up). I asked if they
> were threatening me and I asked what their names were. Only the Turtle guy
> gave it up. As this went on and they kept posturing like they were going to
> kick my ass a lady walked out of the women's room and broke it up.
>
> You guys, this was the low of my hike so far. I thought I was doing the
> right thing by speaking up, directly to the problem. I was trying to watch
> out for the Community Center and upcoming hikers. Being met w/ physical and
> verbal aggressiveness sucked. I talked to my buddy Scott on the phone who
> thru hiked in 2012 and asked if I was out of line. He said No. He said
> holding people accountable for their actions on the trail is tough, but
> they need to hear it.
>
> I am so thankful I got my ride to Idyllwild and don't have to worry about
> hiking with those guys. Keep a look-out tho, they are armed and dangerous
> for "people like me."
>
>
> Thanks for listening,
>
> Mayor Trevor
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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