[pct-l] Whites Motel in Mojave and hiker-friendliness

[pcnst2001 at covad.net (pcnst2001@covad.net)]

I heard that some through-hikers got a ride from Whites Motel to Mojave
and then decided to stay at the Motel 6 instead.    The fact is that
the Motel 6 is newer and probably in better shape. It may be less expensive.
I haven't heard of their management offering rides to and from trailheads,
and Motel 6's corporate legal and insurance resources might probably make
sure they won't.

The alleged cause of the unhappiness was that Whites charges more for rooms
when they have to pick up/drop off hikers - $41 instead of $35, I heard.
A $6 ride to the trailhead is a bargain in my book, though those who are
young and cute enough or lucky enough may be able to hitch more readily
than old guys like me.   I called with a cell phone from Cameron Rd and
asked for a 7:30 pickup, later changed it to 8:00, and the owner was there
at 8:02.   

Whites has the usual problems with a few hikers packing more people in the room than
they pay for; that combined with other aggravations has caused problems with e.g.
motels in Cascade Locks in previous years.    Some will recall a short speech
on being welcome guests, given at ADZ this year by one of the speakers,
in response to a certain cooling
in reception received by some hikers last year.

Almost nobody makes their living off through-hikers at the current rate of about
400 attempts and 200 successes each year, yet those numbers are high enough that
the novelty factor wore off long ago in some of the smaller trail towns.    Yet
there are always a few hikers that project the attitude that it's a privilege to
serve them rather than a privilege to be served.     I've been surprised by the
number of young people who seem to think that somebody gets financially
compensated in some way for putting out water caches, or maintaining trails, etc.

As through hikes become easier (and if you have doubts about that, read the first
editions of the PCT guides - how'd you like to walk up Jawbone Canyon Road to Kelso 
Valley Road etc) and through hikers more numerous, the perceived density of trail
angels may eventually decline, yet the numbers of through hikers on the PCT
won't likely be enough to be
economically significant to trail town merchants.    So merchant good will is
worth conserving along with other trail values.    Through-hikers need merchants
more than vice-versa.

Returning to the subject, I've always stayed at Whites Motel when in Mojave, because
it's part of the PCT culture and I'm not aware that any of the other motels there
are.
The new owners bought into Mojave at a bad time; a new $90 million freeway bypass has
eliminated most of the traffic through the town, and it looked to me like there are
way more fast food places and motel rooms there than can be supported.  It's beyond
the power of PCT hikers to make much difference in that large a scheme of things.
But even hikers that don't care for small-town merchants could still cultivate an
attitude of being a welcome guest, rather than an attitude of entitlement,
for the benefit of through-hikers to come.
Some merchants are trail angels too, but most are primarily working to 
support themselves and their families.   One bad experience on either side can 
wipe out the accumulated goodwill of many good experiences.