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

imported
#41

Two points here:

There is an element of unkindness
Running through this thread.

And there is
In this entire thread,
Not one real sense
Of freedom or charity.

Sincerely–Conan.

Conan

#42

I guess the path to hell is paved with good intentions. Personally, I think it’s cool when people stick their neck out for good deeds. I think it is even cooler when people use good common sense. Karma is real. Petty one-upsmanship is tired. Of course everyone needs to carry out the trash they generate–common sense.

Josh

#43

Due to the way this all makes me feel I am done commenting so have fun out there, and do what makes you feel good. To each his own. No hard feelings and I hope to see some of you out there. You have all given me much to think on, and so I thank you for that.

Professor

#44

Isn’t this the point where Tyger chimes in and says something along the lines of “can you feel the love…huh, huh?” :boy

Rowboat

#45

I read your entry on this thread and I have a question for you in regards to “the proper way to leave unattended trail magic” ? If I leave it in an air tight container hanging from a tree 1000 yards up the trail away from a shelter, and if I go back to remove and or refill container a week later, would this be a proper and acceptable manner in which to leave said Magic? And if leaveing food it should be store bought and packaged, not home made? My wife and I like to leave magic, but we want to do it the proper way. Such as to leave no trace. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks Angels in N.C.

Concerned Trail Angel

#46

Too much ado, leave it out of the goodness of your heart and forget about it.There are no trail magic police.

Sallysot

#47

Dont leave anything at the shelters.Its litter. The last thing I need is to fight a racoon for ground all nite.

Virginian

#48

ANYTHING left in shelters is up for grabs by ANYONE. Animals too. If you want it to be JUST for through hikers then sit there, check their credentials and dole it out.

Lone Wolf

#49

i guess when you loned me yer bike to go to food city i fooled ya cause you only help true thrus…my point is, LW didn’t know me from adam and loned me a pretty nice bike. who woulda known i’da brought it back, much less have hiked to get to damascus, much more even to my own surprise got off trail 300 miles later…the truth is, people are good to others not because of who the other is or their quality of life, they help because they are good and have a quality about them that is by it’s very nature giving.

Maintain said something about angels and gifts…an angel knows even when they are unsure why, that the gift always got to who really needed it.

with that, i’d like to say a wholehearted thanks to Lief and Zip, Lone Wolf, Virginian, and Maintain, all with the spirit i hope to one day imulate.

burn

#50

Damn, this is some thread.

Personally, I think there’s enough animosity and competition out there and enough thru-hikers with attitudes so that we don’t really need to do anything more to create barriers between different kinds of hikers.

If you want to be sure your gifts end up in the hands or mouths of thru-hikers, then hand deliver them, or go to where you know they’re going to be…a trailhead, a hostel, etc.

But deciding who gets a treat and who doesn’t seems kinda small to me. Imagine if a group of five hikers arrived at a shelter; four of them were hiking thru, but one was only our for a week, but was hiking with the long-distance guys for awhile. How do you think the sectioner would feel if he saw a big bucket of goodies that had a sign that deliberately and very bluntly let him know that he wasn’t good enough to eat them? Is this what you call “Trail Magic” and spreading cheer, happiness, and good will? Geez, I thought “Whites Only” luncheonettes went outta style around 40 years ago.

In short, hiker treats left out in public are just that—they are treats for hikers, and I think it’s petty and mean to exclude folks because you don’t think they’re hiking long or far enough.

Remember, EVERY thru-hiker was a day-hiker or weekender once. And when their trip is over, every thru-hiker is fated to become a day-tripper or a weekender again. People need to keep this in perspective: Thru-hikers are a tiny fraction of the folks who use the A.T. If you want to surrise them with goodies, I think that’s wonderful. But good deeds should come from the heart, and should come without restrictions. A goodie basket that essentially announces that some hikers are worthier or better than others, in my opinion, spreads as much ill will as it does cheer.

Baltimore Jack

#51

What Jack and LW and burn said.

Kinda hard to feel the love on this one. People must not have enough to worry about in their personal lives or something. This is exactly the kind of petty nonsense that makes it a such a pleasure to hike solo. When you give a gift anonymously, you put it out there without conditions. If you want the gift to go to a certain person or persons, you give it to them directly.

I just hope this forum isn’t a reflection of the kind of hikers I’ll be meeting out there. This sucks.

See (some of you) out there!!:smiley:

Tyger

#52

Leaving food or hanging containers in the trees is simply pollution in the woods. It attracts animals. If you’re going to give out food, at least stick around and give it out yourself.

Roger

#53

Concerned Trail Angel wrote:
“Sky line–I read your entry on this thread and I have a question for you in regards to “the proper way to leave unattended trail magic” ? If I leave it in an air tight container hanging from a tree 1000 yards up the trail away from a shelter, and if I go back to remove and or refill container a week later, would this be a proper and acceptable manner in which to leave said Magic? And if leaveing food it should be store bought and packaged, not home made? My wife and I like to leave magic, but we want to do it the proper way. Such as to leave no trace. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks Angels in N.C.”

Well, the shelter I co-maintain is in Shenandoah National Park. I think Rangers would frown on an unattended airtight container hanging from a tree anywhere in the Park.

But elsewhere on the AT, why not just leave it about a tenth of a mile from a trailhead or road crossing? Any thru-hiker, section hiker, or dayhiker who might show up at the shelter (or area near a shelter) you plan to provide Magic for will see it there, too.

As for homemade goodies, my example was a real-life discovery of a LOT (probably about 20) of homemade muffins left at the shelter that looked as if they had seen better days, er, weeks. No note that it was Magic. They could have been placed there by a trail angel, but I’m leaning toward a hiker who didn’t want to carry it any longer.

I don’t know if he still does it, but Southpaw of Catawba VA used to leave cold drinks and individually-wrapped homemade sandwiches up the trail from a road crossing. They were MUCH appreciated. He put this in a substantial cooler (not a cheap styrofoam one) with some ice in it, and a note stating the date they were made (same date as left, usually). He retrieved his cooler–almost always empty–the next day or so. His note to hikers to enjoy was signed by him, included an admonition not to litter, with a way to contact him if necessary. There was space for hikers to write a note back to him. IMO this is the best place and way to provide edible/drinkable Magic. Second choice would be face-to-face.

Skyline

#54

Thanks to all for leaving trail magic.:cheers

newhiker

#55

Just as I was settleing into this website, and dreaming of leaving a present for the hikers of '05 later on in the NC/Tenn border area, this very informative thread comes around and throws me for a loop. Now I am not sure what I’ll end up doing. Perhaps I will leave individually wrapped ibuprofin and blister care in a baggie somewhere discreet!!
But another way I could be helpful, if anyone knows anyone in need of a transcriber this year let me know. Windrambler@aol.com

windblue

#56

Wow!!!

Interesting reading to say the least.

I’ve left things at shelters that I had enough of (like bottled water) and have appreciated finding something when my food supply was low. As a section hiker though I’m out only weeks at a time and could manage without. With this said I have talked to some thru-hikers who appreciate the “magic”. No one wants to violate any outdoor principle like “leave no trace” yet these threads show proper ways to do it. I think the intent of the author was for any hiker not to be greedy and to ask yourself if you really need it. The substantial cooler method of coming back and restocking near a road etc. sounds like a decent plan. Let’s be kind to each other hiking brothers and sisters…as someone pointed out this thread got a little “unkind”. Well…I have a day off and it’s 50 degrees and you guessed it…I’m hiking today at one of my fave spots along the North Fork of Paint Creek in Southern Ohio. Cheers!!!:cheers

Doc Holiday

#57

Southpaw hiked a good chunk of the AT in '97, and did Magic for several years after. He may still be doing Magic, I dunno.

I think his hiking experience gave him the insight he needed to do this the “right” way. Wrapping each sandwich individually, leaving a note with the date made and left, and providing his own contact info is a way to give hikers a sense of safety about eating homemade treats.

Leaving the cooler up the trail from a road crossing made it easier for him, and it was at a location where hikers could take a pack-off break if they desired. It is important to note that the cooler was uphill from the road by at least a tenth of a mile, and not visible from the road at all. Again, a hiker would develop the smarts to know just how and where to do this. Well, so could anyone else but it probably just comes more easily to a hiker :slight_smile:

Skyline

#58

There sure is an unhealthy amount of “Trail Rage” in this thread.

I’ll say the obvious thing here: If you find trail goodies, feel free to partake of some of it. But don’t be greedy & take it all. Leave some, & probably most, for others to enjoy as well if they want to.

For those who believe trail magic left behind in a shelter is ‘pollution’, don’t necessarily expect everybody else to agree with your definition of the word any more than you should expect everybody to agree with your choice of hiking gear. Some will enjoy it, others will frown about it. That’s just part of life, isn’t it?

Canaima

#59

Well I will have to say after going thru this thread that I have come to the conclusion that I WILL STILL leave magic again and again. We enjoy doing it. And after this thread I feel that I have went about leaveing it in a proper manner. So to ALL Hikers out there, keep your eye peeled in North Carolina for more Magic. Thanks for the insight. And most importantly ENJOY YOUR HIKE however long it is.
Angels in North Carolina OUT!

Concerned Trail Angels

#60

Professor and other trail angels, ignore the cynicism. Virtually everyone appreciates trail magic when they get it.

Personally, I wouldn’t take a gift intended for someone else, and those that do don’t do it to strike a blow against elitism.

Colter