[pct-l] Trail Angel Business

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

In a message dated 8/27/01 2:36:10 PM Pacific Daylight Time, TOKTAADN@aol.com 
writes:

<< Am I the only one who cringes when the phrase "trail angel business" is 
 bandied about?  If ever there was a contradiction in terms. Happy trails, 
Solar Bear >>

No, you're not.  It upsets me, too.  I believe most here on the list are 
using the term jokingly, but that's not a good idea IMO.  Newcomers may get 
the wrong idea.  

The evolution of the Trail Angel experience for many who hike our trail seems 
to be:  First time - Complete amazement.  Second time - Sincere thanks.  
After that - Why weren't you here sooner to get me out of this mess?  

A "Trail Angel for Cash Profit" is a contradiction in terms.  There are many 
people we meet along the trail who profit from our business, and we are 
thankful that they're there if we need their services.  They are good people, 
but may or may not be Trail Angels.  

Butch was a Trail Angel.  Those of you you have met him know that he looked 
out after us, even while running a business for profit.  Jack, I don't know 
what to call him to his face but I know he was a Trail Angel.  He was truly 
unique.  Milt, you picked more of us up and set us back on the trail at 
Dunsmuir than you'll ever know.  These people DEFINE the PCT experience, and 
I don't want that to be corrupted in any way by references on this list to 
the "trail angel business".      

What made me cringe was a post to this list last Spring that asked where one 
could get a list of trail angels' addresses.  I said then, and say again, 
"Get out on the trail and you will know a Trail Angel when you meet one."  
But you won't meet one unless you need one.  That's my definition of a Trail 
Angel.