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[pct-l] when to help - angeling
I never really understood (or perhaps believed!) Donna
when she would always tell me that she and Jeff get more
out of hosting hikers than we hikers do. Although they
seemed genuinely interested in our journeys and lending
a helping hand, I couldn't FATHOM how they could possibly
be more rewarded by the angeling experience than the
hikers are. As I relaxed at Hiker Heaven . . . clean
with clean clothes, . . . full of food, soda, and beer
. . . talking with other hikers about the first 450 miles
and what to expect in the Mojave & Sierra . . . knowing
that I was, in a sense, "home" . . . I simply couldn't
believe that Jeff and Donna benefited more from the
situation than I as a hiker did.
That all changed when I had the opportunity to do a bit
of angeling myself. My angeling was minor compared to
others: I drove 4 hikers from San Diego to the Kickoff
in April. Then, while driving around the CDT these past
few weeks, I ran into a few hikers and gave a few rides
and handed out some cold Cokes. I was actually a bit
disappointed I couldn't do more! I ran into two hikers
in Leadore ID (population 90) and offered to do ANYTHING
for them. "Here I am! I have a car! What do you need?"
But all they needed were the cold cokes. Like me when I
got to Leadore in 2004, all they wanted to do was lay in
a motel room out of the wind!
So now that I've had the opportunity to be on the other
end of angeling, I finally believe what Donna always said
from day 1.
yogi
www.pcthandbook.com
dsaufley@sprynet.com wrote: I am so moved by your words that I'm sitting here at my desk at work, tears rolling down my face (thankfully my co-workers know me well). The love, my dear friend, is definitely mutual.
It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of your journey, to be of help in some way. We are filled with admiration and awe of the intrepid adventurers who set out on this incredible pilgrimage of body, mind, and spirit. To know that thoughts of those, like us, who serve are closely held in the hearts of those we seek to support is a reward greater than gold.
I have never experienced anything like this community, ever seen or heard of as many miracles of human kindness as happen on this trail. It is overwhelmingly good. From this simple concept of a trail comes countless shining lights of how much people care, sacrifice, and give. Here is found the finest examples of humanity. As one woman wrote in the register, "it's the antidote for the evening news."
L-Rod
-----Original Message-----
From: Joanne Lennox
Sent: Jul 28, 2005 10:14 PM
To: PCT-L@backcountry.net, "JoAnn M. Michael"
Subject: Re: [pct-l] when to help
What is obviously so exasperating is that not only was it a heroic effort to
get to the meeting place in the first place, but the added time, worry and
expense of following up on a possible emergency was much worse and far more
dificult. Hopefully, you will continue to help and the next person's
heartfelt gratitude can balance things out.
Subway Sandwich !!! Oh!!
There are two things that I did not mention: One is that I am much crankier
on the trail, especially when I am really tired and really hungry. It is
possible that this person might be much more even tempered in other
circumstances. I have seen things on Mountain climbing outings that are
very uncharacteritic of the people involved. It has long been my belief
that stress really starts to show up after about 1000-1500 miles of a
thruhike - that is, about in northern CA, although in this case the person
was a section hiker.
The second is that I keep a very powerful connection with the people that
helped me on the trail, and I think about them all the time. I do not think
an angel knows how their "trail children" hold them in their minds deeply.
EVery time L-rod posts on this forum, I never fail to read her posts at
least twice and think about those hours Hopi and I spent in Agua Dulce;I
remember vividly everything about those hours. Angels have little idea of
the power of their actions, or their long ranging effects. A number I have
called but I always think, what if everybody did that, and now I leave the
time for them to connect with other hikers. But they are frequently with
me, and rarely do I think of thePCT without thinking about the experience
with angels.
trying to help makes you very vulnerable. It is a difficult thing to do and
still maintain reasonable boundaries. Take care, and peace to you.
Goforth
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