Trail Magic

[Lone Wolf]

Making day hikers feel welcome does not equate to needing to offer them food. Explaining to them why you are doing what you are and say its a wonderful thing for these thru and LD hikers could also serve this purpose. Again how you do TM is up to you. HYOH and TMYOTM

this is why i'm not part of any "trail community". to single out and discriminate against walkers in the woods is disgusting and elitist. feed one. feed 'em all equally

[Pedaling Fool]

Explaining to them why you are doing what you are and say its a wonderful thing for these thru and LD hikers could also serve this purpose. Again how you do TM is up to you. HYOH and TMYOTM

You make hiker feeds sound as if it's something special, almost a spiritual event

Please explain, what else does it amount to? It's just a way for some people to socialize, period. There ain't nothing special to it. Furthermore, speaking as a multi-LD hiker, to me it lessens the experience of hiking long distances.

[MuddyWaters]

Its not a wonderful thing, its not even needed.

Want to do hikers a favor, go leave water cache in dry stretch on the PCT or CDT. Not hot dogs and cokes, or beer, in a parking lot in Ga.

Its not about the hikers at all, its about the people doing it wanting to feel somehow connected to the trail scene, this is the way they choose. Maybe trail maintenance is too much like ...work??

[Slo-go'en]

If someone wants to give me free food, I'm happy to eat it.

[Starchild]

this is why i'm not part of any "trail community". to single out and discriminate against walkers in the woods is disgusting and elitist. feed one. feed 'em all equally

And the following post.

If I make a donation do not I get to decide if it is a worthy cause? Is it not my choice? Yes helping a thru hiker is not generally recognized by the IRS, but that does not and ever can not dilute the process of helping those achieve a life goal. And in supporting such efforts, showing the goodness of giving to those who very well have the drive to complete a thru, have the potential to pay great dividends to humanity in demonstrating the kindness that we are capable of.

In that is is substantially different then someone just on a vacation taking a few days backpack. And relating why you are supporting thru hikers to the day hikers may inspire some of the vacationers to throw caution to the wind, attempt a thru and perhaps change their life forever. At the very least may make them feel welcome and maybe have them provide their own trail magic.

I also dislike the guilt trip that is placed on the person who wishes to help the thru's expresses here. It is against the HYOH motto. A person should be encouraged to follow their heart, what they know is right. If they want to feed everyone they should, but not guilt others into their viewpoint.

[rickb]

I can't really buy into the notion that any of this "helps" hikers "achieve a life goal".

[Jake2c]

How about just thanking someone trying to be nice. If it is something you don't want to partake in then don't. If someone is offering a gift, seems pretty low to tell them their gift doesn't mean anything. Personally, I might grab a water but that is about it. The fact that they take the time and money to offer anything to compete strangers, even if I don't use it, helps prove there are still some pretty nice people out there.

[Starchild]

I can't really buy into the notion that any of this "helps" hikers "achieve a life goal".

Well that's why I said TMYOTM. If that is how you feel, that's fine and if you do TM do it your way I don't like the guilt trip placed on others, they should also get to decide for themselves.

[rickb]

Well that's why I said TMYOTM. If that is how you feel, that's fine and if you do TM do it your way I don't like the guilt trip placed on others, they should also get to decide for themselves.

i understand that perspective, to a point. A couple things come immediately to mind:

1. It is never acceptable for someone to bring Trail Magic in the hopes of or with the goal to meeting a specific individual they know only from Trail Journals, or WB.

2. No feeds in the backcountry.

3. No moving up the trail to give TM out repeatedly to the same group of people

4. No significant amounts of alcohol or weed.

Probably a bunch of others that people already consider.

[Lone Wolf]

And the following post.

If I make a donation do not I get to decide if it is a worthy cause? Is it not my choice? Yes helping a thru hiker is not generally recognized by the IRS, but that does not and ever can not dilute the process of helping those achieve a life goal. And in supporting such efforts, showing the goodness of giving to those who very well have the drive to complete a thru, have the potential to pay great dividends to humanity in demonstrating the kindness that we are capable of.

In that is is substantially different then someone just on a vacation taking a few days backpack. And relating why you are supporting thru hikers to the day hikers may inspire some of the vacationers to throw caution to the wind, attempt a thru and perhaps change their life forever. At the very least may make them feel welcome and maybe have them provide their own trail magic.

I also dislike the guilt trip that is placed on the person who wishes to help the thru's expresses here. It is against the HYOH motto. A person should be encouraged to follow their heart, what they know is right. If they want to feed everyone they should, but not guilt others into their viewpoint.

you don't get it

[kayak karl]

a WB member met me at a rode crossing with a Little Debbie and soft drink. we sat in his car and talked. it was pouring rain. i thought this was trail magic. another member let me water and crackes (all water sources were frozen) i though this was trail magic. in Damascus a member drug me out of the libaray and to his house for dinner. for me these events were trail magic because i expected none of it from these friends.
i don't think hiker feeds are trail magic though. they seem more like events. i don't care what you do, but i for one wouldn't stop.

[ericmack]

"Be hospitable to all. While many long-distance hikers will likely appreciate trail magic, be sure to make all trail
users and volunteers feel welcome" this from the ATC website. none of this "thru-hiker only" crap

We offer what we have to those who need it. As mainly day hiker- we would never be rude. Explaining what we are doing and offering regardless is more our style. But this is a good reminder.

[ericmack]

Really- not looking for spiritual enlightenment. We help with free medical clinics and are part of a maintenance hiking club for that. Just want to be nice and hear stories...don't care who they are in their travels on the trail- day...section...thru. Honest. Meant to be a good thing- not an argumentative thing. I appreciate all the comments very much and learn from WB every time I get on this forum. Thanks so much for your kindness and wisdom.
Eric

[Lone Wolf]

Really- not looking for spiritual enlightenment. We help with free medical clinics and are part of a maintenance hiking club for that. Just want to be nice and hear stories...don't care who they are in their travels on the trail- day...section...thru. Honest. Meant to be a good thing- not an argumentative thing. I appreciate all the comments very much and learn from WB every time I get on this forum. Thanks so much for your kindness and wisdom.
Eric

thank you for that

[Teacher & Snacktime]

On a chilly wet day last April Snacktime and I made the trek from Neel Gap to Blood Mtn & back. It took us about 5hrs at our usual 1mph pace, and we were tired and cranky and outrageously hungry when we got back to Mtns. Crossing. Choosing to take a few photos and check in with some folk we'd met in the hostel before the hike (who were blatantly doubtful of our success), we discovered that a local group was hosting a feed in the hostel. We were invited to join in the "feast", but I explained that we were only dayhikers and not even staying at the hostel (though I did offer to pay for a meal for the drooling child). We were welcomed with open arms and empty plates, and I don't think I ever have or ever will enjoy a meal quite as much as that one. Yes, it was an "event" I suppose, but in the moment it was pure magic.

[Lone Wolf]

but you shouldn't have to feel like you need to say you're "just" or i'm "only" a day hiker/section hiker

[full conditions]

If you want to create a feed for a bunch of folks who deserve it, set up a table for any bunch of our veterans returning from Afghanistan otherwise what you're doing just feeding a bunch of folks who are already lucky enough to be out on a five month vacation - and, to discriminate between one day, one week, one month, and five month vacations with regard to who gets a sandwich and who doesn't is silly at best and insulting at worst. In my humble opinion, the nearly endless array of hiker feeds between Amicalola and Monson are counterproductive to the welfare of the trail. Every time we do this we send a clear message: we think you are special, entitled, and deserving of any and all support in your Holy Quest north.

[Henry Moon]

I don't get it. Guy comes here and ask about feeding people and he catches some flack. If someone wants to set up somewhere and feed people he or she should be commended. If you don't want to eat or drink then by all means say "no thanks" and walk your arse on by. I don't live on or near the AT but I enjoy talking to these people that jump on it. We live in a small world people an there's nothing wrong with trying to make it just a little smaller.

[JumpMaster Blaster]

All great suggestions. Sounds like we will do two things. As we hike for our 2016 build-up and do trail maintenance on AT- will have nice bunch of snickers ready. Crosby road - north of GSM - sounds perfect for a traditional tailgate feeding fest. Only hikers there will be thru. Excellent suggestions- thanks so much

Not true. Not true at all. Will you feed the sectioners and 4-day weekend warriors?

[JumpMaster Blaster]

If you want to create a feed for a bunch of folks who deserve it, set up a table for any bunch of our veterans returning from Afghanistan otherwise what you're doing just feeding a bunch of folks who are already lucky enough to be out on a five month vacation - and, to discriminate between one day, one week, one month, and five month vacations with regard to who gets a sandwich and who doesn't is silly at best and insulting at worst. In my humble opinion, the nearly endless array of hiker feeds between Amicalola and Monson are counterproductive to the welfare of the trail. Every time we do this we send a clear message: we think you are special, entitled, and deserving of any and all support in your Holy Quest north.

A-MEN BROTHER! I said the same thing just a few days ago. Some of us don't have the opportunity to do even a long section (what with our current ongoing military/career committments). A 24 year old college grad trying to "find" himself by checking out for 5 months, and expecting TM and "perks" on the trail is in no way above a 35, 45, or 65 year old vet taking a few days or week off to reset.

The myth of this "Trail Hierarchy" is feeding itself like an over-aggressive tumor.