[pct-l] Trail workers/thru-hikers

[kristen grund]

What about making friendship bracelets or something really small and kind like that? i remember making those when I was a kid. Maybe make at home and carry a few in your pack. Use lots of colors and just knot. There are lots of examples online. Lighter than candy bars :) Or even just a "Thank you very much for helping to maintain this trail that I have been able to hike and live on thanks to all your hard work and efforts" That works too. :)

> Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2010 10:47:19 -0700
> From: hikelite at gmail.com
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail workers/thru-hikers
> 
> In response to this thread, I have a question for those who do trail
> maintenance, on the PCT, or elsewhere.
> 
> If I wanted to bring some token to show my appreciation, when I come across
> a trail worker, what would you recommend? I was thinking a candy bar or
> something. I usually carry some mini candy bars when I hike, so I was
> thinking I would just try to make sure I always have a few extras with me to
> hand out. Do you think that would be appreciated by a trail worker, or could
> it be taken as trivializing their efforts. I want to tell them thank you in
> some way that would be meaningful. The thought of handing them money seems
> tacky to me. I don't want to carry something real heavy obviously, so any
> other ideas?
> 
> I'd also like to take this opportunity to express my deep thanks to everyone
> who has helped build the PCT. Thank you!
> 
> -- 
> ~ Kevin
> Soon To Be PCT Thru Hiker!
> "The indoor life is the next best thing to premature burial." Edward Abbey
> 
> On Tue, Nov 2, 2010 at 10:29 AM, <abiegen at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> > I was surprised to see the comments about the conflict between hikers and
> > trail workers. This year while hiking with Wimbledon and Carrol we came
> > across a group of trail workers. We made sure to stop and let them know that
> > we appreciated the work that they were doing. Chatted with them for several
> > minutes.   I do a lot of trail work where I live - or at least used to do a
> > lot before arthritis in my shoulder slowed me down - so I appreciate the
> > work and know how important it is to let the workers know that their work is
> > appreciated.
> >
> > TRASH!=JERK
> >
> > There are a few possibilities that I can picture:
> >
> > 1. If the thru-hikers were tired and the work was being done on a long
> > uphill, they may have worn down and not been in best spirits and best
> > behavior. Also some thru-hikers are racing against the clock. If the work is
> > being done in a way that holds the hiker up and they are trying to get to
> > the PO before it closes, they may not be in the best mood. Like in Real
> > Estate - it could be about location, location, location.
> >
> > 2. I know that the FS standard for steps is the perfect height for stock -
> > I call them horse steps. As a hiker, I feel that they are a little too high
> > for hiking. I'm not that crazy about them but I wouldn't complain to a trail
> > worker about them and in many cases they are better than no steps. Perhaps
> > someone was not overjoyed to see more added.
> >
> > 3. There is the possibility that there are a few jerks out there. I didn't
> > meet any but that doesn't mean that they don't exist.
> >
> > 4. Since the complaint came from only one person maybe it was an outlier
> > where that one person had their own issues that were being projected on the
> > thru-hikers.
> >
> > I would be interested in hearing from other trail workers. One point of
> > data is not enough to really understand if there is a real issue or not. I
> > am suspicious that this person put off all hiking on the PCT because of this
> > - there must me more to it than we are hearing. You don't hear of someone
> > giving up driving because there are jerks out there. Why would you give up
> > something that you say you love because of a few bad apples? Very strange.
> >
> > TrailHacker
> >
> > "When my feet hurt, I can't think straight"
> > Abraham Lincoln
> >
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