[pct-l] Angels have landed (was trail angels need trail angels too!)

[Bill Burge]

Helen and I are off to the KO on Thursday and we're gearing up (mostly  
mentally! ;-) for the Aqua Dulce hiker blast.

If there's something we can do to give a hand before the throngs  
arrive, just drop us a line!  Helen has a strong back, can work long  
hours and is willing to do just about any task required!  ;-)    Me?   
I handle _logistics_...  Yeah, that's it - "logistics".

BillB


On Apr 20, 2010, at 10:25 AM, dsaufley wrote:

> I want to share the unbelievable experience I had last weekend with  
> some
> giving-back trail magic here at Hiker Heaven.  I am stunned and  
> filled with
> appreciation and emotion.  I've seen the calls from my fellow angels  
> needing
> help, and would go help them myself if I could. However, with my  
> lower back
> out (slowly getting better) a torn labrum in my left hip (needing  
> surgery
> the insurance company has denied), and Mr. Mumbles (aka Buzzsaw) up  
> to his
> eyeballs in work and school projects, the tasks required to get  
> ready for
> hiker season right here at home were daunting, especially all the  
> lifting
> and bending. But I didn't want to take any volunteers away from my  
> dear
> counterparts along the trail, so I just kind of sucked it up and  
> hoped and
> trusted it would all work somehow. I was repaid for that faith in a  
> major
> way.
>
> I got a message from Sarah "Color Blind" McClure, who was going to  
> be in the
> general area working, asking if she could come and help out.  What I  
> didn't
> know initially was that Color Blind was working with the Northwest  
> Service
> Academy, doing trail crew leadership training with our very dear PCTA
> regional representative and her assistant reps. This is an example  
> of one of
> the incredible partnerships that the PCTA has built; they train crew  
> leaders
> for other programs, and in turn these crews lead projects on the PCT  
> before
> they return to their assignments. PCTA does the same training for a  
> number
> of service academys, like Americorp, SCA, CCC, etc.
>
> Color Blind called and said she had four days off between trail crew
> "hitches," meaning a few precious days off from tough physical  
> labor. She
> asked if she could come over last Friday, and if it was okay to  
> bring one
> other member of her crew along. She brought FIVE, for a total of SIX
> volunteers.  But not just any volunteers.  These young people were
> incredibly strapping, healthy, energetic, and dedicated to service.  
> They've
> been up swinging pick-axes and doing rock work on the trail at  
> altitude, and
> they are SO FIT.
>
> Now, mind you, this was supposed to be their time off -- frolicking
> somewhere having well-deserved fun. Instead, they moved the boxes, the
> tents, dusted off months worth of dirt and spiders, refurbished and  
> cleaned
> bear cans, repaired bicycles, cleaned the fire ring, washed the  
> chairs, and
> most importantly, hung the "Welcome to Agua Dulce PCT Hikers" banner  
> down in
> town.  What they did would have taken me weeks to accomplish when I'm
> physically 100%, but given that right now I have some limitations,  
> what they
> turned out was pretty much impossible for me. I was worried about  
> getting it
> done in time for the tsunami. While there is still much of a lighter  
> nature
> to do, the heavy lifting is done.
>
> I don't know how the trail keeps producing this wonderful magic,  
> providing
> exactly what you need in your time of need. But I do know that there  
> is so
> much goodness and love attached to this trail, and from this  
> community of
> people. On a side note, one (Color Blind) is a two-time PCT thru-hike
> veteran, another is an AT veteran, and four are PCT hopefuls. They  
> are very
> dedicated to giving back, or paying forward.  Not one of my "angels"  
> is the
> sort that was seeking recognition, but I want to tell you who they  
> are and
> how much I admire what they're doing through their service academy:
>
> Sarah "Color Blind" McClure, East Lansing, Michigan (PCT '08, '09)
> Joe "Geoff" Naiman, Tallahassee, Florida (AT '08)
> Annie Woods, Burlington, Kentucky
> Kate Clabby, Lander, Wyoming
> Steve Wilkinson, Bellingham, Washington
> Ian MacKay, Corvallis, Oregon
>
> www.nwserviceacademy.org
>
> When they drove away on Saturday morning, off to the coast for some  
> real and
> overdue R & R, I was overcome with not only appreciation, but with  
> the sense
> that good will prevail through individual stewardship and action.  
> When you
> walk the trail, know that wonderful people like these took part in  
> making
> your experience a better one.
>
> L-Rod
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net 
> ]
> On Behalf Of patti kulesz
> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 10:33 PM
> To: pctl
> Subject: [pct-l] trail angels need trail angels too!
>
> hey y'all, me Stumbling Norwegian, Coyote, Mad Monte and Moooooona  
> came into
> Old Station late yesterday to help out at the Heitman's. We got ALOT  
> done
> today with everyone working together, but there is still alot of  
> work that
> needs to be done before the pack gets here! So if you're able and  
> have some
> time...COME ON DOWN and help out!
> things that still need to be done: (and this is just what's left on  
> "the
> list"
> hot tub repairspipes leaking in garage and behind washing  
> machinestuff in
> the treehouselawn mower tires need replaceddeck railings sanded and
> sealedshack deck and serving bar sealedfood area tent needs to go  
> uptree
> house railings, floor and walls sealeddishwashing area set upscreens
> replaced on house doorsbeaver dams removed from creek
> and then anything else y'all think you can help with...Also if you  
> have some
> free time and want to hang out with some awesome trail angels and  
> hiker
> trash...just come out and help cooking, prepping and clean-ups
> thanx
> patti Sugar Moma PCT 09!
> www.hikestrong2010.com hiking again in 2010 for cancer!
>
>
>
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