[pct-l] Thoughts on having a full time trail angel.

[Rod Belshee]

Albert,

I've done it both ways.  It depends mostly on what the angel  wants out of 
the trip.

On my first PCT hike, my wife drove a little Toyota RV at met me at 
trailheads very 3-10 days.  She'd often show up a day or two early, give 
other hikers rides to town and spend time with them, even bake cookies in 
the oven.  She'd also spend lots of time alone up in the wilderness.  She 
has great memories of it.

Pros and Cons for me
+++  I got to see my wife frequently!
+       It saved me time
+        I had more options to change/adapt gear
-         I did feel more obligated to stick to the schedule

Pros and Cons for her
+++  She got to know all of the hikers, was very immersed in the community 
and even got a trailname (Spirit)
- -      Prepping all of the food boxes is lots of work, whether you mail 
them or deliver them
-         She felt obligated to stick to the schedule
???      She enjoyed the considerable about of time alone, but that would 
vary by person
???      She never felt unsafe (parked on logging road in the wilderness 
alone), but that would vary by person
+/-     The cost of gas was just about the same as postage

Advice?
  It depends on personalities.  Can you both flourish with considerable 
ambiguity, or do you prefer more predictability?  Will she enjoy five months 
mostly parked on a logging road in the woods?
 Be ready to adapt.  If she's having a great five month vacation driving 
along, keep doing.  If not, be very willing for her to bail and go to plan 
B.

Steady