[pct-l] Trail magic skeptics

[Katy Shaw]

Here’s my favorite trail angel story from my 2017 PCT hike:

I was sitting alone at the at the Green Valley ranger station, dejectedly eating some oatmeal, when I looked up to see Terrie Anderson walking toward me. She had her arms outstretched and was walking towards me with an enormous smile. I knew who she was but I had convinced myself that I didn’t have time to stop at Casa De Luna.  She gave me a big hug and convinced me to come to her house for the day. She didn’t know it but I had cried myself to sleep the night before and her act of kindness was a turning point for me on my hike.  After some pancakes and taco salad and some fellowship with kindred spirits, I was back to the trail the next morning feeling refreshed and at a much better place mentally and emotionally.

Thanks Terrie :)

-Unicorn
Class of 2017

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 11, 2018, at 4:34 PM, Douglas Tow <douglastow at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I have read posts that sound disparaging toward trail magic and those that
> provide it.
> 
> I certainly respect that any person might not enjoy or partake in trail
> magic or other help along the trail, and that they would never consider
> taking any time or resources of their own to help a hiker that they didn't
> know.
> 
> 1.  If you have intended to pass by trail magic, and felt pressured to stop
> and have a beer, and actually stopped and had that beer, that's on you.
> 2.  Did you walk into South Lake Tahoe, or Ashland, or Truckee?  Or maybe
> you hitched, which meant someone helped you out, and that's just flat out
> trail magic.
> 3.  Did you stop at the Saufley's, or Dinsmore's?  Do you know about Scout
> and Frodo?  How about Coppertone?  If yes, and you disparage trail magic,
> you might be a hypocrite.  These saints have given their hearts and
> pocketbooks to help thousands of hikers.
> 
> So, fellow pct-l posters, give me a hand.  Just post a short experience
> that you had with some kindness you received from a non-hiker.  Or, post
> that you were annoyed by someone at a road crossing who was just helping
> hikers to make himself or herself feel better about themselves.  Hmmm...
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Chipmunk
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