[pct-l] Trail Magic Advice

[Marcus Schwartz]

Hi PCT-L,

I'm going to be in Lake Tahoe around July 15-23 this year. When I hiked
the PCT last year, I really appreciated the trail magic I received, so I
wanted to take the opportunity to try making some trail magic myself.
I'd like to set up a trailside kiosk and provide food and other
amenities to the hikers who pass by.

I hit Tahoe July 6 on my hike, and I was around the middle of the pack.
Since snow is heavier this year, I'm thinking a lot of hikers will be in
the area during the week that I'll be there on vacation this year, two
weeks later.

I'd appreciate advice from the PCT-L about the logistics of trail
angeling:

- Am I guessing right that July 15-23 will be around the middle of the
pack this year? Or will snow have people trapped further south?

- Will I be conflicting with anybody else doing trail magic on that
section at that time? I remember Coppertone was there around July 4th
last year, for example.

- Where exactly should I set up? I'll be staying in Tahoe City and will
have access to a car (2WD sedan). Maybe the I-80 Donner Pass Rest Area?
Or maybe the parking lot of the Adventure Mountain resort, just south of
Highway 50? (Coppertone was there last year).

- Can any of you who have done trail magic tell me about unexpected
things I might not have thought of? E.g. items you forgot, things hikers
needed that you didn't have, things you brought that they didn't need,
etc.

- Do I need to be prepared for hiker misbehavior?  If so, what kinds?

I'm also trying to think of what I could provide. My hiker hunger has
long since left me, so it's getting hard to remember what I craved...
Here's what I've thought of so far, I don't think I could do all of them
of course.  Any suggestions/comments?

Edible:
- Clean water
- Beer, especially heavy beer
- Soda, I remember craving orange soda in particular
- Hot non-instant coffee
- Iced drinks. Margaritas maybe?
- Fresh fruit, especially big juicy Fuji apples
- Home-made chocolate chip cookies
- Meat of some kind that's not jerky

Non-Edible:
- Have a friend shuttle people between town and the trail magic station
- Charging station
- A garbage can
- Hiker box, pre-stocked with some of my overstocked gear, and
disposable or hard-to-find cheap items, such as: Mayonnaise packets,
ziploc bags, trash-compactor bags, toilet paper, bug spray, stove fuel,
duck tape...
- If I set up at highway 80, post a sign at the confusing trail
intersection (lots of people don't realize that you have to hike half a
mile further if you're going westbound on the freeway).

Any more ideas?  I'd appreciate any advice from the experienced trail
magicians out there...

  -=Town Food