[pct-l] the Trail Angels legacy

[CMountainDave@aol.com (CMountainDave@aol.com)]

My only visit to VVR in 1999 was a continuation of the great learning lesson 
I was having on my PCT pilgrimage.  Witnessing the overwhelming generosity of 
people like Jeff and Donna Saufley and Butch and Peggy Wiggins made me 
realize forever in the basic goodness of mankind. Oh sure there are a few bad 
eggs out there but the goodness of the trail angels dissipates the morning 
fog of doubt like a hot summer sun and clears the mind to view the beauty of 
the Givers. How can any soul remain cold and hard after being humbled by 
trail angel generosity? What a great lesson they taught me.
    When I was at VVR I was in the company of Let it Be and his new found 
girlfriend Skunk. She was apparently the creative type and saw Butch welding 
in his shop. She had a yen to learn how to weld so she could make works of 
art with metal. Butch put some welding gear on her, handed her the welding 
tools and gave her instructions for over an hour until she had the basics 
down. That night he started the customary VVR bonfire and I sat there bonding 
with about a dozen other thru hikers. Where ever you are Butch thanks for 
showing me how it ought to be