[pct-l] Long Distance Hiker Image

[Brick Robbins <brick@fastpack.com>]

At 04:22 PM 6/20/00 , Bighummel@aol.com wrote:

>Long distance hikers typically look and smell like low life people possessing
>seriously deficient moral and ethical characteristics.

When hitching back via I-80 to Donner Pass from Reno, AFTER showering, 
washing, etc I was let off at a truck stop / casinos near the border.

After purchasing lunch, I walked back to the on-ramp to resume my journey. 
The private cop for the casino, who looked about 16 years old, came up to 
where I was standing just in front of the "onramp" sign, and told me 
transients were not allowed to hitchhike on their property and I would have 
to move.

I tried to explain that I was a thru hiker, and would have gladly purchased 
transportation to the trailhead, if it had been available, and was only 
hitch hiking out of desperation, as I was on a walking journey. I then 
showed him my credit cards and a big wad of cash, and tried to explain I 
wasn't a bum, but a free soul on a great adventure. He got more agitated as 
I wove my tale, and kept telling me to move.

I moved back behind the sign onto state property, and he said he'd call the 
highway patrol on me. Since this place was out in bumfuk nowhere, and at 
least 10 miles from the next exit, I didn't have much choice, so I stayed 
where I was.

I got picked up before the police arrived.

Fun Day. I was glad to get back to the trail, snow and all.

I always found it easy to hitch OUT of the mountains, where I was obviously 
a hiker, than to hitch out of town, where I was obviously a vagrant.

-B


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