have things changed?

[trucker2015]

Back when I got in to doing long hikes people on the trail acted like family.
Say you stop and upgrade a piece of gear you see someone with lesser gear you pass down your old one.
I was at Neels Gap the other day and watched a guy send home a $8 water bottle replaced with a liter one. when his buddy was using a old plastic canteen that had to weight 4 pounds empty.

I really hope this is a rear thing to see.

[trucker2015]

I did go to my truck and get a ok bottle I had with me and give it to canteen guy.Hope it helps him enjoy his hike.

[kayak karl]

can't judge all hikers by what one does. i see thing different. why did his buddy keep his mouth shut while he watched his friend send it home?? why didn't they both buy a Lg Gatorade and be done with it

[Kookork]

But you showed the guy by acting the way that had a great message to show him the true way of being a decent hiker by giving the other fellow a good container from your truck. Let's hope they learn the lesson since you were a good pragmatic teacher.

Kookork

[chief]

I see no reason to subsidize hikers.

[Kookork]

I see no reason to subsidize hikers.

He did. You don't. It is a free country. Your view is as respected as his just let's keep in mind that the fellow with heavy container did not ask for it.

[turtle fast]

They probably not that good of buddies....The joke is on the guy who just spent $8 on a water bottle when he could of bought a Gatoraide or Poweraide for $1.50 - $2 and had an acceptable lightweight bottle. What you did was cool and hopefully the friend learned something.

[trucker2015]

I see no reason to subsidize hikers.

On my first long hike I really didn't know what I was doing.I had a grate pack ok tent, a propane cooker
(6lb) and no sleeping mat. Some gave me a well used Z rest and said pass it on when i didn't need it anymore.So when I got to neels gap I got a new mat and gave the old Z rest to someone with a piece of a blue mat they slept on.
Two days later I was given a nice alcohol stove and on my next hike it will go to someone who can use it.

not Subsidizing Give on the trail and the trail will give back.

P.S. I put a note in the propane stove if you want it take it I didn't with that beast on anyone.

[Montana AT05]

I love it when people are so generous with other people's property.

[Creek Dancer]

I'm with you Trucker2015. Pay it forward if you can. On a recent trip I met up with a couple of newbies whose water filter clogged. (They were using one of the bottles with the filter attached.) It was my last day on the trial, and they still had a couple of days to go. So after I treated my water for the day, I gave them my Aqua Mira so they could continue their hike. The backpacking community is a small one and I think most people try to take care of others when they can.

[mrcoffeect]

I see no reason to subsidize hikers.

I see no reason to be selfish with my used gear
some people get it. some are hopeless .generosity is not a flaw,selfishness is.

[Jeff]

Sending that water bottle home helps support the US Postal service!!! They need our support or they will start closing PO's up and down the trail. Oh wait, they're doing that now.

[lemon b]

Do unto others as u would want done to yourself.

[T-Rx]

Do unto others as u would want done to yourself.

I couldn't have said it any better!

[The Cleaner]

Some hikers I meet going oppisite direction act like they don't have time to share info on trail conditions.....

[soulrebel]

Well my friend received three packs from some nice peoples on the trail. Two of the packs were brand new and worth $200 and $130 respectively... The third pack was used for a few days then offered for the taking to a room full of hickers. They all declined. The guy that got the two packs from last year, heard about this and picked that pack up as well (valued at $290). Now he has four packs total and can't find anyone to hike with him. I've given away plenty myself-mainly foam pads, spoons, cookpots.

[Nutbrown]

Maybe canteen guy was using his dad's old canteen for memories. Nothing wrong with using old heavy stuff. Maybe he didn't want anything else when what he had worked fine. Getting something replaced just puts more crap in landfills.

[q-tip]

In my experience, I you come prepared to be self sufficient and you need something, the Trail Will provide...I found wonderful generosity and compassion along my 1,000 mi. walk...

[Rain Man]

Maybe canteen guy was using his dad's old canteen for memories.

Similar to what I was wondering. Maybe the one guy had offered the other guy the bottle a time or two on the trail and didn't want to be a know-it-all nag?

I do like the "pass it on" and Golden Rule philosophy, while also letting other hikers hike their own hike.

RainMan

.

[Slo-go'en]

I thought hiker boxes was where your suppost to dispose of your unless, unwanted gear.