[pct-l] The Heitmans' "retiring"

[Andrea Dinsmore]

Georgi's open letter was right on. The Sauffleys, Andersons, Heitmans and
all the other important Angels in California get a huge amount of hikers
each year, where up North we only average 250-300(ish). Out of all those
hikers each year we only get a very few that have the MSDS attitude. (My
$$$$ Don't Stink)  Everyone notices them and and remember them as a pain.
99% of the hikers are super folks. You got to figure that the "pains" are a
big pain in the city where they live too. You're either a nice respectful
person in life or you're a turd. They just stick out more on the trail. You
take the good with the bad. You snivel and whine.....but you keep on
keepin' on. We all love our hikers not for what adventure they are
"personally" on but because we like to help out and and regard you all as
family no matter how bad you smell. Hopefully the MSDS folks don't treat
their families at home like this. If you feel the MSDS way of life is
really how you are.........go stay at the Motel in town. Remember these are
our homes. We don't have to deal with this. If you don't think Trail Angels
are needed then keep your silly butts on the trail.

PCT MOM
www.  dinsmoreshikerhaven  .com

On Tue, Feb 21, 2012 at 8:10 AM, Philippe Gouvet
<philippe.gouvet at orange.fr>wrote:

> Dear friends,
>
> I have been deeply moved — among other feelings — by Georgi's 'farewell'
> post.
> I live on the other side of the world, in Europe, where trail angel
> activities, that I try to describe to my friends, are unheard of, sound
> surreal and totally mind-boggling. I know you all realize how stunning the
> generosity and sheer kindness can be, that we 'thru-hikers' (I am not one
> yet, wannabe only) benefit from. And how grateful, and respectful, we ought
> to be. It is not stunning, where I live, it just sounds absolutely
> inconceivable.
> And I have been... kind of saddened, reading between Georgi's lines, to
> realize that some thru-hikers do not always behave the way we ought. I am
> also wondering whether Georgi's retirement from trail angeling is not a
> result of having to cope over the years  with a few disgraceful attitudes
> (one would be too many).
> It will be a very sad day when trail angels get fed up with hosting and
> helping ungrateful people on the PCT. Yes, this is all about humankind,
> which is not always what we would like it to be. Trail angels, we have to
> be keenly aware of it, are this extremely rare breed of warm-hearted and
> generous people, the likes of whom are very thin on the ground in Europe.
> Actually, I think you would have a very tough time trying to find such
> amazing guys on European trails.
> So, even if I have never met Georgi nor the other trail angels, I would
> like to thank them for only... existing. They are a major part of the
> fabulous experience I am convinced I will have this Summer on the PCT. Yet
> this is a highly fragile... experience. The trail is fragile, trail angels
> are too. We have to take care. Wonderful country, wonderful scenery,
> wonderful people. What else can you hope for?
>
> Philippe
>
>
>
>
>
> Philippe Gouvet
> pacificcresttrail2012.blogspot.com
> http://philippegouvet.zenfolio.com
>
>
>
>
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