[pct-l] trail angel fund/nature of the beast

[ambery-80243 at mypacks.net]

Whether or not this so-called "trail angel fund" becomes a 501c3, it still is never going to be a "charity". It provides no public services but aids a select few. To send money to the fund means that a certain amount of your money will be used to aid in running the fund, and will therefore not go to the trail angels. If a trail angel needs gas money or a new washing machine, they will be better served by sending them a gift directly or putting money in the tip jar without the middleman deciding what to do with it and where that money should go.
I agree with Roger - we will just commercialize the trail, and then what is the point of getting away from it all?

The truth is, you could take Tom's statement about water caches and just insert "trail angels":

"I agree about the trail angels. They are not needed. None of them. Many
people hiked the trail before there were trail angels and made it."

I think it's great that trail angels are there, and we are all free to partake or not as we choose.
But it will be a sad day if every crossing and road has a trail stand with amenities and an advertising asking for your generous donations to "the fund".