Dayhikers Need to Know, Thru's and Section hikers, please read as well!

imported
#21

If it bothers you that much, then just dont leave it at all, I know everyone is entitled to there opinion but I feel you are going overboard. Professor, you talk about karma, I believe you will get bad karma from being selective like you are. Have you ever heard of “share and share alike” How do you know those ladies ate the trail magic? Did you see them? They might have thought it would attract bears to the shelters or mice and decided to remove it, or they might have been practicing leave no trace ethics or they might have ate it, so what! Dont get me wrong, it is a good thing that you are doing. I am sure you spend alot of time and money on trail magic. I want to be the first section hiker to say thank you for all you do. But relax and let everyone enjoy it.:slight_smile:

fatback

#22

Ok Ok I am sorry if I offended anyone. Was not my intention. I on several different times have rolled my car window down and handed the guy holding the “Will work for food” sign, some small amount of cash. and I have had different people see me do this or hear that I have done this, and large percent of the time the responce is similar. And that responce being How do you know he dosent take your money and go to the Liquor store this evening. And I always say I Dont know that he wont get drunk with it. But what i do know is that he will have to answer to God for that. On the other hand if he is really hunger and I dont help him then Ill have to be the one who answers to God. And that my friends is why we leave trail magic. To help people. If those who truly dont need the trail magic take it, then they will answer for it, … one way or the other . And those who partake of the magic that need it, then Im glad it was there for them… section, thru or day hiker.
And I didnt mean to imply that anyone would consume all the magic they might stumble upon.
Tribes I have been reading your journal entries for a while now. I know you must be excited about your adventure. I wish you the best of luck. And I look foward to your future journal entries. Hope you have lots of Magic come your way.

Concerned again!

#23

For Fatback, how do I know they ate it, because they were the only other ones that stopped in during the times between when I was there and when I returned, on top of that they left an empty wrapper for one of the M&Ms I left, which I carried out. Look guys I posted to get Dayhikers to simply think when they see it, “Do I really need this? Maybe I’ll leave it for someone else.” Going overboard is just my style, as is sarcasm. In reality I’m sort of starting to LMAO over how offended people appear to be over this. It’s not being selective, it’s simply that most people who sign the shelter journals usually know who the food is being left for. As for hiking the food out because they want to practice LNT. Well, then why not take the cokes I left as well? Come on guys, it’s sort of funny, and sort of sad all at once, it’s not like I sat in the parking lot waiting to berate them. They took it and maybe it just bothered my sensibilities a little. Heaven forbid I bring it up. My main goal and purpose was simply to get dayhikers that read the forums to simply “think” the next time. I’ve thought this before and never posted, but today, I would probably bet on it. But if all of this bothers some of you so much, then I’ll just handle it differently from now on. Didn’t mean to appear overboard…wait, yes I did!!! It’s my style to go over the top, read some of my journals. I’m really not this cantankerous, everything is not literal, more it’s to get people to THINK!!! Obviously, the army has been arrayed against me, I simply fall upon the mercy of the court and beg forgiveness. Don’t worry fatback, come June when I’m out there for my long hike of the year bad karma will reign down on me as the Mosquitos come out to feast upon the manflesh that is Professor!!!

Professor

#24

Concerned, don’t worry about it, some people offend easily, it seems more and more these days. They worry more about the harm that “might” be caused versus the good you might be doing. Growing up I was always taught to side with the good you might be doing. We’re not allowed to think about motivations or if people are greedy gluttons, because that offends. People drop the PC garbage, it’s not where it’s at, sometimes an orange is just an orange and it doesn’t have any other motivation than that. Sometimes people never pass up free stuff…Period. At work I have joked about in the past, don’t need the doughnut, the doughnut is bad for me, but if offered I will eat said doughnut because I never pass up offered free food. Dayhikers know people don’t leave free food for them, but most of your attitudes say, hey, it’s there so go ahead take it if you want it. Can’t argue with that logic, it’s a little callous, but you’re right. All I was trying to display is that if you can take something and you don’t because you don’t need it, in a way you would be doing a good deed as well, but hey, we all know that isn’t the America of today. Sort of sad, and I guess in a way many of you have proved a point I was trying to make. Tribes I wish you the best on your journey, you were simply throwing out an idea in a non offensive manner and I appreciate that, I could carry on an intelligent discourse with you any day. Some of the rest of you, need to suffer a little so that you won’t offend so easily. You make a man want to go have a few beers:cheers

Professor

#25

What do you toot? Some people know

Bu.ckwheat

#26

Thanks for the well wishes guys. I wish you all the best with hiking and hiking related ventures this year. I did not mean to offend anyone either, maybe just ruffle some feathers. I was just trying to provide some food for thought on the matter.

april one cannot come soon enuff,
tribes:pimp

Tribes

#27

Hey Prof go back to stocking Wal mert shelves and leave the trail to mountain people leaf no trace.

Zynx

#28

What was once a bit of wilderness serendipity has turned into a competition. Have we unknowingly habituated the fat day hikers to stray further into the woods then they normally would in search of simple carbs?

Onlyone

#29

Trail magic is great. I still remember with fondness the Snickers bars that people left at shelters and the ice cold sodas in streams. For all your trail angels out there, thanks! By the way, keep it up. In general, day hikers are very respectful and leave the trail magic out there for people section/thru hiking.

Superfeet
GA->ME '02

Superfeet

#30

Look stop being nasty, there is no need for it. my heart was in the right place, maybe I let something get under my skin that I shouldn’t of, but hey, you gonna tell me you have never let something get to you? If you say yes then I’ll say “OK Jesus” I’m human and you don’t have to be an A-hole about it. By the way, as to the working at at…how did you put it…“Wal-Mert”. It’s spelled Wal-Mart!!! There you learned how to spell a new word you big dumb Mountain Man

Professor

#31

Since when do “Angels” play favorites?

“Angels” are to look over us all, are they not?

A gift is a gift, if it gets to the right place, that is great. If not, at least your heart is pure from giving.

Your heart becomes unpure when you demean those who receive your gift, even if they were the unintended.

If any of this bothers you, please do not give. You don’t have it within your heart to do so.

See you out there.:cheers :cheers :cheers

Maintain

#32

Maintain,

I could not have said it better myself.

Hopefully I will see you out there,

TRIBES

Tribes

#33

Look people I was trying to be “Over the Top” I am honestly the type of person who once has slept on a situation moves past it. I get people like Maintains and Tribes points, because they don’t come out to personally attack me, rather they raise a point to be thought on. Perhaps I can put it a different way. You here about situations at Christmas time where People give presents for little ones that are less fortunate right, does that mean anyone who claims need should receive? There was a situation last year in the Atlanta area where some single moms donated presents and then some of them even delivered to find that those claiming need were living better than them. They were obviously upset by this, according to some of you the fact that they were upset makes them WRONG!!! I have to disagree with this, if someone decides to buy that “new” and I stress new car, and therefore decides to get on a needs gifts for the kids list, they’re wrong. Buy a used car so you have money for your kids presents, don’t take advantage of others charity, you know what these gifts are all about, and trust me there are always those less fortunate than you. Like I said I went Over the Top, I just wanted Dayhikers to think “Do I really need this?” before they decide to take next time, and yes I do realize that most dayhikers are good people, that is why I said something about simply passing it on. My thought was to be a little funny, and to get people to think, this thread has become to a certain degree people who wish to attack me and anyone who might come close to siding with me. Carry on the discourse people, don’t attack me. Everyone has a right to their opinion, don’t they. I am being told I am stupid for having mine by some of you. We talk about Hike your Own Hike, so this has become like someone telling me that because I don’t go Ultralite, I’m doing it wrong. There is no wrong or right, I got angry so instead of attacking me, do what some such as Tribes did and simply point out things that might have happened give me something to see my anger might have been unfounded, but instead I get attacked, which shows that some of you have just as much a capacity for anger as I do. Let it go, I honestly did not imagine some of you would be as offended as you were…I’m honestly sort of stunned by it.

Professor

#34

I have thought on it over the night, and what it comes down to is I usually give this anonymously, I never see who takes it and so thought is somebody got a nice surprise, this time I just happened to stop at the same place again because the arch in my foot was cramping and I had to get the pack off for a few minutes. Personally, I never gave much thought to who might be taking it in the past, I knew who I intended it for, but it was never like I gotta see this. Like I said, I let it get under my skin…oh by the way, did I mention because this might give insight into my sometimes surly behavior, I am in the middle of quitting smoking, and sometimes, more so than usual right now, certain things get under my skin. I’m not gonna stop giving, many should not have to do without because the occasional IMHO needless dayhiker partakes of the magic. You’re right though, I guess, out on the trail anyone can partake, and I guess from a certain point of view has that right, I just have always played by the rule, if you don’t need it, don’t take it. It’s my own personal philosophy, but I understand I can’t expect everyone to play by my rules, and that’s fine, I will learn to deal with it. I appreciate everyone’s point of view, just please refrain from the personal attacks, and instead simply make a point that no one feels is an attack on them, merely make it food for thought, everyone here I do believe has a good heart, so if I started off on the wrong foot, I apologize, but some of you kept the bad blood going with your attacks, not necessary. I was looking for discourse, I guess my first post prevented that, I have tried to steer it back that way, but some of you won’t let it go there. Others like Concerned, Tribes, and Maintain, have been there, and given "The Big, Dumb, Elitist, Wal-Mert employee something to think on…in a respectful manner, and so I return the respect like wise. For those who called me the names above…may the shelter mice run rampant over your faces in the cold dark night!!!:cheers

Professor

#35

Why has this subject caused so much emotion? I may be living under a rock, but one of the chellenges of long distance hiking - at least in the west - is the acceptance of self-reliance with the understanding that every decision on the trail is uniquely personal and there is no one there to assist or bail one out of difficulties.

Why can’t you view this stuff as a wonderful gift if it’s there - and no big deal if it isn’t or if someone else got a bigger share? You made the decision to thru hike - you must envision a worst case no trail magic scenario and be able to deal with it. The unique attribute possessed by AT thruhikers is not some special physical, emotional or intellectual superiority - but mainly having the six months free to do it.

Your 30 second whining allocation has expired.

booger

#36

I know the intention is good, been a trail angel my ownself once or twice. But there are better ways to help out hikers.

As a shelter maintainer, I’d like to ask that nobody–not trail angels, thru-hikers, section hikers, or dayhikers–leave behind “stuff” at shelters. If you want to leave out drinks or something, a cooler about a tenth of a mile from a trailhead or road crossing is a much better place. Better for you, too, as you don’t have as far to hike to do your Magic, or retrieve your cooler. And I would leave a note describing your intentions, whatever they are. I’ve even seen small notebooks so hikers can leave a message back for YOU.

If you leave stuff at shelters, it begins to multiply very quickly like graffiti in Southcentral LA. Mostly because other hikers, carrying too much weight, see what you did and play copycat. They may insist they’re doing it for altruistic reasons, but who’s really buying that? Hiker boxes at hostels would be the place for one hiker to leave stuff for other hikers. Anyway, the end result is that maintainers like me get to pack out all the junk that even a Goodwill Store wouldn’t want.

I’ve packed out 5-lb. sacks of hard, crystallized brown sugar, 10-lb. sacks of oatmeal, and huge bags of homemade things that most folks would think twice about eating because they don’t know the source. And that’s just the food, which BTW if not sealed in a good cooler, attracts rodents and larger wildlife.

Once hikers see a pile of “stuff” developing at a shelter–they start leaving other “gifts” behind–like heavy, wet/muddy blue jeans and a 10-lb. “family” tent that had holes in it. Yeah, right, those were left for the next hikers to take with them as “gifts.”

So, please, folks–leave no trace at shelters, too. When I do Magic at the shelter I co-maintain, I bring it in and share it face-to-face with any hikers there that night, then pack out anything they don’t want (rare) plus any wrappings.

Skyline

#37

Picture this: I drive 6 hours to a remote part of the AT to perform trail magic. I’m actually grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. I know there’s thru hikers coming because I am current on trailjournals. All of a sudden, I hear chatter, laughing, and then I see em…2 girls…young, talking about how stupid could someone possibly be to thru hike this Trail-no day packs, just a bottle of water. And then they see me…“oh, is this for the hikers?” NO…this is for thru hikers–off they go, laughing at how stupid they think I am. You’re right LoneWolf, hikers are not special…THEY’RE UNIQUE. If I choose to feed just them, or sectioners, that’s my business. I’m not feeding a bunch of sweethearts out there-and even if those girls had a better attitude about the Trail, well guess what…they would have been feasting.

However, if I leave food behind, which I never have, I wouldn’t leave it in a shelter. This is definitely saying, help yourself-anyone.

Buckwheat-I just love when people like you make fun of others. There are hiking issues of all sorts-and just once in a great while, this comes up. Be supportive of Trail Angels. You might be surprised.

See ya on the trail. Keep the Trail Angels in your thoughts, because they are always thinking about YOU.

:girl

StarLyte

#38

Skyline and Starlyte, thanks for the thoughts. Skyline I can completely see your point and so in the future I will refrain from leaving stuff, even though I do leave it sealed, I can see how it sets a bad precedent, never really thought about it before, so your words do have meaning. So from now on Coolers or face to face is the way to go. I will practice good LNT procedures from now on, btw I did pack out some garbage left in the fire pit. Starlyte, I feel ya, your good spirits have lifted my whole attitude back to where it should be, and I agree Hikers are unique. You know some of you out there who have been doing this for years or decades need to be more understanding of the new hikers. I myself am from Illinois and have done hiking in southern Indiana back in College, but when you live where it’s flat, you don’t get the opportunity to hike much. Moving to Georgia changed all of that. So when I post something you find silly, instead of ripping on someone explain it to them, Like Tribes, Maintain, Skyline, and Starlyte, it will go alot farther to helping them, and might change their attitude or position for the better.

Professor

#39

Professor, Its funny that you wanted to just "stop being nasty " and then three words later, were being nasty yourself. I think you should realy think about why you are compelled to write about what a good person you are. I does not seem like you are doing these things to help people, but to help boost your ego. But you are still helping people, and their is nothing wrong with that.

Buckwheat

#40

this sort of sounds like the admonitions of not feeding the bears…

charlie