[pct-l] Trail magic skeptics

[Michael Donnay]

My favorite trail magic experience happened when I was walking the LA Aqueduct in the blazing summer heat and a truck approached slowly with ice-cold bottles of Gatorade extended out of the driver's window.  Amazing!  It was an incredibly kind and thoughtful gesture from a complete stranger, which I accepted graciously.  I have shared this story and many other random acts of kindness that I experienced on the trail since they were an integral part of my hike.
I apologize for offending anyone with my callous post - especially all the wonderful, caring trail angels out there who give so much to help hikers.  My post was poorly thought-out.
I have enjoyed rides in and out of towns and stayed at incredible trail angels' homes like the legendary Saufley's Hiker Heaven and others who did not even know the concept of "trail magic".  I am forever appreciative of these amazing people's kindness and generosity and have been inspired to reciprocate since my trail hike.
Reading Jeff's initial post on the topic brought back memories of a very similar experience.  I was hiking deep in thought in a thick forest and came upon a remote logging road.  There was a very well-meaning trail angel with a pop-up picnic tent, fold-out tables and chairs, a BBQ grill billowing thick smoke, a banner strung up in trees, and music.  It overwhelmed me as I was enjoying the peace and serenity of the forest and this "outpost of civilization" seemed completely out of place (to me).  I greeted the trail angel and walked on, but he seemed shocked that I would not want to stop, sit, have a drink, and hang out with him.  He almost seemed offended when I politely declined his kind and generous offer, as though I was being rude.  Like Jeff, I felt that I had hurt his feelings.  It was awkward.  To me, the scene was visually and audibly overwhelming in that natural setting, and I am not a fan of billowing the smell of grilled meat in the wilderness - attracting wildlife to get in trouble with humans.  I realize that some hikers would think they had died and gone to heaven at such a sight, but it was not my "cup of tea" many miles from the nearest paved road.  So I chose not to partake and moved on.
I did a good job of keeping my opinions to myself with this well-intentioned trail angel, and I should have done the same now on this List.  It was that experience along with coolers of treats that I have seen dropped off near road-crossings, along with their ensuing garbage, that my poorly thought-out post was trying to distinguish.  There are many different forms of trail magic which can occur in towns, on roads, at trailheads, or deep in our beloved wilderness.  I suppose some hikers embrace it all, anywhere, while others prefer it kept out of the back-country, just as there are many different ways people enjoy our public lands.
In no way did I intend to disparage trail angels and trail magic.  I just did a terrible job of attempting to make this distinction.  Hence this long-winded email.
Respectfully,Mike


      From: Douglas Tow <douglastow at gmail.com>
 To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
 Sent: Monday, March 12, 2018 7:34 AM
 Subject: [pct-l] Trail magic skeptics
  
I have read posts that sound disparaging toward trail magic and those that
provide it.

I certainly respect that any person might not enjoy or partake in trail
magic or other help along the trail, and that they would never consider
taking any time or resources of their own to help a hiker that they didn't
know.

1.  If you have intended to pass by trail magic, and felt pressured to stop
and have a beer, and actually stopped and had that beer, that's on you.
2.  Did you walk into South Lake Tahoe, or Ashland, or Truckee?  Or maybe
you hitched, which meant someone helped you out, and that's just flat out
trail magic.
3.  Did you stop at the Saufley's, or Dinsmore's?  Do you know about Scout
and Frodo?  How about Coppertone?  If yes, and you disparage trail magic,
you might be a hypocrite.  These saints have given their hearts and
pocketbooks to help thousands of hikers.

So, fellow pct-l posters, give me a hand.  Just post a short experience
that you had with some kindness you received from a non-hiker.  Or, post
that you were annoyed by someone at a road crossing who was just helping
hikers to make himself or herself feel better about themselves.  Hmmm...

Cheers,

Chipmunk
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