[pct-l] hitching out of towns

[kdpo at gottawalk.com (Ken Powers)]

A variation of Yogi's suggestion that we use:
Go to breakfast where the seniors/retirees hang out. They will watch you 
closely and invariably ask what you are doing. That is your opening to tell 
them about the trail and your experience. Mention that you need to get back 
to the trail and many times they will offer because they don't have anything 
else to do right now. :)

We also ask motel desks if someone could take us back out to the trail. We 
have had good luck there too.

Ken
www.gottawalk.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "yogi" <yogihikes@sbcglobal.net>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 11:54 AM
Subject: [pct-l] hitching out of towns


There is an art to getting FROM a trail town back TO
the trail.  It begins the very moment you arrive in
that trail town.  BE NICE.  Say please and thank you.
Tip big at restaurants and bars.  That means 20-25% of
your bill.  It's usually only $1-$2 more than a 15%
tip, and it builds karma.  More importantly,
restaurant servers and bartenders know a lot of
people, especially in small towns.  You treat them
well, and they'll spread the word that hikers are good
people.

Talk to the locals.  Smile and say hello when you pass
people on the street and in the stores.  If you have
the opportunity to strike up a conversation, DO IT.
Talk about the trail.  Talk about how you needed to
come into town to resupply and get cleaned up.  Follow
that with something like "we're not sure how we'll get
back to the trail tomorrow.  It's only 10 miles by
car, but we don't have a car."  By phrasing things
this way, you give the other person the opportunity to
help you, to do something nice.  They like that.  I've
found that people are much more "willing" to drive me
to the trail when it's THEIR idea, rather than when I
blatantly ask for a ride.  (but, of course, that was
my plan all along).

yogi

www.pcthandbook.com


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