[pct-l] Heads Up... Hiker Scum

[Carol]

As a future PCT hiker, I say, THANK YOU, Trevor, for watching out for all of us. You did exactly as you should have done. I hope word gets around and those guys realize that their behavior is unacceptable. Freedom does not mean license.

Carol

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 15, 2014, at 2:19 PM, Daniel Zellman <danielzellman at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> That's a sad and at the same time inspiring story.
> 
> Sad that the world is full of aggressive, angry idiots -- not just on the
> trail, but anywhere. Of course, the more popular and crowded the trail
> becomes, the more the personalities will reflect the larger society.
> Hopefully, there is some small karmic action that moves in the other
> direction as well ... that the ideas and ideals of tolerance and presence
> and compassion embodied in the works of folks like John Muir and Henry
> Thoreau, are instilled and nurtured and strengthened by being in the
> wilderness, and that some of that returns with us from the trail back into
> the world. One can only hope, I guess.
> 
> Inspiring, because of your courageous and honorable behavior. Doing the
> right thing -- especially when doing so puts one at physical or psychic
> risk -- is often not an easy choice. Much easier to just turn one's back
> and walk away. But if we all just turn away, when there are real
> consequences, then we are failing in our responsibility -- not only to one
> another, but equally, to ourselves.
> 
> So, I say ...
> 
> Three Cheers for Trevor!
> 
> -dz
> 
> 
> On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 2:53 PM, Trevor McKee <trevormckee85 at yahoo.com>wrote:
> 
>> I was in Warner Springs yesterday waiting for a ride past a section I
>> hiked in March enjoying the Community Center and a short rest. I headed
>> into the bathrooms to find a couple guys washing their hair in the sink.
>> There was soapy brown water splashed all over the sinks and floors, wet
>> long hair everywhere, and an overall mess.
>> 
>> It made me upset... for a couple reasons. The people who run the Community
>> Center are awesome and don't deserve to deal with cleaning up their mess.
>> They offer $8 showers there, and if you can't afford it there's a nice
>> creek a mile away, or a water spigot outside in the grass. But mainly it
>> bothered me because the way they were abusing that community space could
>> directly affect those behind them. Warner Springs may chose to close the
>> bathrooms tomorrow... do you see what I'm saying?
>> 
>> So at the sink as I was washing my hands and decided to speak up. I asked
>> them if washing their hair in the sink was allowed here. They said there
>> wasn't a sign saying they couldn't. I said they offered $8 showers that
>> wouldn't make a mess and give hikers a bad rap. They laughed at me and I
>> left.
>> 
>> After getting a burger at the main building I headed back to use the
>> restroom when half way through the parking lot one of the long haired sink
>> boys came up behind me and said, "I don't appreciate you telling them we
>> were washing our hair in the sink." I told him that I didn't rat them out
>> but likewise I didn't appreciate them making a mess of a community space.
>> By now we were back by the bathrooms where his long haired friends were
>> sitting on the ground smoking a bowl. They gave me a lot of "HYOH man! Mind
>> your own fucking business." I tried to explain that it's all of our
>> business when it affects us all. There was a lot of interrupting and raised
>> voices and before you knew it they were all standing up surrounding me and
>> getting in my face like they were going to fight me.
>> 
>> One of them, a late 20's  w/ long brown hair and glasses and goes by
>> Turtle said he carries Mace for people like me... Really? The other bad
>> one, the instigator, again in his mid/late 20's with a long braid, light
>> blue eyes, dark blue truckers hat, red pack, and accent, told me they
>> didn't need Mace (implying they were going to beat me up). I asked if they
>> were threatening me and I asked what their names were. Only the Turtle guy
>> gave it up. As this went on and they kept posturing like they were going to
>> kick my ass a lady walked out of the women's room and broke it up.
>> 
>> You guys, this was the low of my hike so far. I thought I was doing the
>> right thing by speaking up, directly to the problem. I was trying to watch
>> out for the Community Center and upcoming hikers. Being met w/ physical and
>> verbal aggressiveness sucked. I talked to my buddy Scott on the phone who
>> thru hiked in 2012 and asked if I was out of line. He said No. He said
>> holding people accountable for their actions on the trail is tough, but
>> they need to hear it.
>> 
>> I am so thankful I got my ride to Idyllwild and don't have to worry about
>> hiking with those guys. Keep a look-out tho, they are armed and dangerous
>> for "people like me."
>> 
>> 
>> Thanks for listening,
>> 
>> Mayor Trevor
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
>    --Buddhist proverb
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