[pct-l] Struck by lightening!

[dsaufley at sprynet.com (dsaufley@sprynet.com)]

Well, there was the Wandering Jew and his dog Moe, who were picked up by a couple in a truck and given a ride  near the Cajon Pass.  The guy who gave him a ride indicated he needed money for gas -- no problem, WJ said he would pay it.  They stopped at a gas station, and the driver of the vehicle went into the building where the cashier was.  WJ left Moe in the truck and went up to the counter to give his $$, he realized that the driver of the truck was holding up the gas station.  The driver/robber turned and ran out of the station, and the guy behind the counter pointed a gun at WJ, who frantically tried to explain that he was just a thru-hiker and not involved in the robbery!  Meanwhile, the driver of the truck jumped in his truck and started driving off with WJ's backpack and dog in the vehicle.  WJ ran out, and just barely manged to grab his backpack out of the back of the truck before the driver sped away with the dog.  A few hundred yards up the road, he stopped and tossed the dog out.  WJ wound up having to give his report of what happened to the police.

Then, there was Wildflower, a woman hitch-hiking alone in the San Gabriels, trying to get down to Wrightwood.  She accepted a ride from a seemingly ordinary looking couple, who turned out to be continuously getting high on some serious stuff.  The kept Wildflower in the vehicle, and drove her all over the place for hours -- wouldn't stop to let her out.  They finally stopped to resupply their drugs that night, and Wildflower got away.  She called us from Santa Clarita, not knowing where she was or how to get to a safe place.  She gave us the cross-streets, and we went down and found her and brought her to Hiker Heaven.  I think of how much worse this story could have ended, and am very grateful that it didn't.  She went on to finish the trail.  

Hikers have also been shot at periodically over the years near Cottonwood Creek in the foothills before Tehachapi.  Haven't heard reports of this for some time, thankfully.

Well, there's a few trail devil stories, anyway.  

-=Donna Saufley=-
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick <rickeyworld@myrealbox.com>
Sent: Feb 11, 2005 12:53 AM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Struck by lightening!

Since we can't ask about beer canisters, dogs and snakes, I thought I'd ask the things that never get asked.

I've read many stories on trail angels and their wonderful help for PCT hikers.  Has anyone got any stories on trail Devils.  Someone who did you bad, took your stuff, ate your stuff, sent you the wrong way, given  a really scary ride?

Rick






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