[pct-l] Trail Angels and Hiker Behavior

[Robert E. Riess]

TBrokaw wrote: “It seems that Trail Angels are "feeding the bears" by providing too much assistance.”  If this is a fact, please cite your reference.  If it is an opinion, please so state. 

“This may contribute to the sense of entitlement that some develop.”  No comment.  Included for contextual continuity only.  

“It certainly does provide a venue for those wanting to party.”  Absolutely and unequivocally not true.  San Diego hiker hosts have experienced almost zero hiker misbehavior for close to 20 years and several thousand hikers.  It has been my experience that this is due to setting firm limitations on hiker behavior from the outset.  While the impact may be unmeasureable, it is a fact that the trailhead in San Diego is the one place where hikers don’t have much of a sense of what level of behavior is tolerated on the trail.  Maybe that in some way contributes to their willingness to behave like ladies and gentlemen, and guests.  For the past few years, whenever I learned that a hiker staying with me was an AT veteran, I was not shy at all about telling them, in terms that were direct, but not accusing, that behavior that was acceptable on the AT is not acceptable on the PCT.  Litter and vandalism will not be tolerated on the PCT.  Being rude to anyone, hiker hosts, trail angels, merchants, and fellow hikers will not be tolerated. Trashing motels, restaurants, campgrounds, and the PCT are way over the line of acceptability.  It seems to me, and I freely acknowledge this to be my opinion, that over about the last 5 years or so, the 20-somethings can barely put 5 words together without the free use of the F-word.  Folks, this is disgusting.  It is unbecoming of the speaker, and if the listeners are silent, it is unbecoming of them, too.  Harp all you want about the First Amendment.  I defended the First Amendment in the uniform of the armed forces of the United States for 23 years.  Vulgarity was not what I defended.  Please don’t lecture me on that point.  What I defended is mine to choose, not yours.  If a speaker has to call upon his “rights” then he has already lost on eloquence, articulation, persuasion, civility, politeness, and manners.  A speaker may have rights to say things, but the constitution conveys no wisdom. Vulgarity speaks to the manner of one’s upbringing, also in my opinion.  

My hiker hosting numbers have increased at a fairly steady rate since 1999 when I hosted 17, to last year when 145 passed my way.  I have never had anything stolen; never had to deal with drunkenness; never had to settle a dispute; and almost never had to remind a hiker to mind their manners.  Nobody is happier about this than I am.  I cannot imagine these people becoming troublemakers up the trail. While it is certainly possible, I’ll have to have somebody explain to me exactly how being treated with dignity and respect in my home evolved into a sense of entitlement that manifested itself into crude, rude and slovenly misbehavior a few months or a few hundred miles from here. Be careful commenting on this.  You were not here.  It is insufficient to criticize the practices of hiker hosts and trail angels.  Calling attention to a problem is not the same as articulating a solution.  

Good Luck to the Class of 2016.  Take care of yourselves, respect each other, and be good stewards of the PCT.  Bob Riess at the Trailhead, San Diego