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

Tue Apr 15 16:38:33 CDT 2014

Trevor

Just by posturing they had committed ³assault.² They were fortunate you
(Trevor) didn¹t press charges.

Sometimes people need to be dealt with this way in order to grow up.  Not
standing up to people who abuse the kindness of others on reinforces their
arrogance and allows the problem to continue.

- Luis V.

On 4/15/14, 12:35 PM, "Carol" <museumgirl at me.com> wrote:

>As a future PCT hiker, I say, THANK YOU, Trevor, for watching out for all
>of us. You did exactly as you should have done. I hope word gets around
>and those guys realize that their behavior is unacceptable. Freedom does
>not mean license.
>
>Carol
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Apr 15, 2014, at 2:19 PM, Daniel Zellman <danielzellman at gmail.com>
>>wrote:
>> 
>> That's a sad and at the same time inspiring story.
>> 
>> Sad that the world is full of aggressive, angry idiots -- not just on
>>the
>> trail, but anywhere. Of course, the more popular and crowded the trail
>> becomes, the more the personalities will reflect the larger society.
>> Hopefully, there is some small karmic action that moves in the other
>> direction as well ... that the ideas and ideals of tolerance and
>>presence
>> and compassion embodied in the works of folks like John Muir and Henry
>> Thoreau, are instilled and nurtured and strengthened by being in the
>> wilderness, and that some of that returns with us from the trail back
>>into
>> the world. One can only hope, I guess.
>> 
>> Inspiring, because of your courageous and honorable behavior. Doing the
>> right thing -- especially when doing so puts one at physical or psychic
>> risk -- is often not an easy choice. Much easier to just turn one's back
>> and walk away. But if we all just turn away, when there are real
>> consequences, then we are failing in our responsibility -- not only to
>>one
>> another, but equally, to ourselves.
>> 
>> So, I say ...
>> 
>> Three Cheers for Trevor!
>> 
>> -dz
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 2:53 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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>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
>>    --Buddhist proverb
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