Just curious. My experience leads me to believe that trail angels can get burned out to the point that maybe they ought not to do it anymore. I wished I could have warned people behind me on the trail. But I thought maybe I was the only one who felt the way I did. What do you think?
Piper
Piper,
I Agree, I did recieve a most unwelcomed invite at one location. I thought they may have just had a bad day. Talking to others, they felt the same way about that same place. I guess there comes a time when enough is enough.
Saying that, I have also recieved some of the most outstanding welcomes as well. A blessing indeed.
Personally, I wish there were more trail angels out there. Perhaps myself one day, when I hang up the hiking shoes for good that is.
Peace, WB 
Wilderness Bob
While I agree that some trail angels seem to be more positively enthusiastic then others, I think that the hiking community should welcome any help they can get.
Trail angels have all sorts of motives. I think many are just trying to be part of a larger community. Others seem kind of sad and lonely. I think giving is a two way steet. Sometimes accepting someone’s help is a way of making them feel a part of our community.
Lets also remember that the hiking season for most trail angels is probably a very short period of about a month or so as the great mass of hikers tends to move together. I can see how dealing with so many folks can be very stressful and trying. Lets not also forget that every year there are a few hikers who are bad apples and expect to be catered to, fawned over, and generally abuse the hospitality of their hosts.
So, with that in mind, let us give the trail angels the credit they deserve and the slack they need to have an occasional bad day or week. And for those especially patient and giving trail angels (Miss Janet and Bob Peoples come to mind) let us take time to express our sincere appreciation for the constant good they do.:cheers
Stryker
…seems like when you least expect it or need it most, there is a woman from Monson, Maine with Christian music on the radio that gave this weary mud covered hiker a ride at nine at night after my first thirty-mile day on the AT. Brought me right to the food and beer. I say she gets to go to Heaven for this.
fishngame
I had a bad experience, though. I later learned that others had similar bad experiences. I thought that maybe I should have removed the person’s phone number from where it had been left on the trail to spare others the same misfortune. I had considered it, but thought maybe my experience was a fluke so I left the phone number there. It wasn’t a fluke, though.
I’m all for praising the trail angels, but at the same time, bad experiences don’t deserve any praise. I wonder if future hikers should be tipped off so at least they are prepared. I don’t know how that could be done except perhaps to let Yogi know so that it’s left out of future books or something like that. I wouldn’t want to publicly post anyone’s name or anything like that.
Piper
Nimblefoot, dang glad to here from you. Yes I am planning on another long hike, the CDT northbound in the spring. Zap me an e-mail and tell me what is up with you.
As far as trail angels go. Yes there are those who seem to have lost the desire to keep up with their commitment, that is just human nature. As always any help given to this hiker is greatly appreciated. Some people some times just have bad days, months, years and so on. The trail angel system along the PCT is extremely over burdened and in some cases, non existent. And yet there are those out there that will give you their shirts off of their backs.
When hiking I personally feel we hikers need to represent our passion in such a way that we need to be ambassadors of that passion. To recruit those who show an interest in what we are doing to benifiet those who will hike in the future. Small out of the way stores need to be informed on what to stock on their shelves. Those who ask questions while we are in a town need to know that for example, hitch hiking is something we HAVE to do, it is the way we do business so please feel free to pick us up. So on and so on. We as hikers need to keep the information flowing and help our community grow. Keep the karma alive I say. Most of all as hikers we need to remember that, respect gets respect.
Peace WB
Wilderness Bob
I would relay your experience to Yogi. Maybe if she gets enough bad feedback then she’ll remoe the name form her guide or warn folks.
There are some folks who masquerade as angels but are merely drumming up business for their establishments. I wouldn’t necessarily call these folks angels unless they are going above and beyond.
If its a situation where you feel threatened or is a safety risk then I would definitely call that person out.
Stryker
i have never had a bad experience and have NEVER thought i deserved any magic. We don’t want to expect folks to do things for us…sometimes there is TOO much of it on the AT…but, i am always grateful and amazed at folks’ generosity.
yappy
LOL, I love trail angels especially when a cooler is found in unexpected places. But Angels deserve a break as a rule.
There are too many hikers with a “just soda? yesterday we got beer” attitude.
bamboo bob
I agree with the “Bob’s” and with Yappy. Nothing but good experiences with Trail Angels. The world would be a much bettr place is this generosity was as commonplace outside the hiking community. Perhaps it should begin with me…
Nimblefoot
Yeah, we hiked together for most of one day, Virginia I think. You were very fast and I very slow, racing in a futile attempt to keep up:) I would almost catch you at various stiles when you slowed to climb them, but they hampered me even more. I went nuts trying to get that hammock to work and eventually traded it for a tent in Damascus. I no longer have hammocks, but am still crazy. Good times.
Nimblefoot
I’m pretty sure I know exactly whom everyone is talking about. Let’s just say it’s somewhere near a major highway crossing on the PCT, a thousand-odd miles in. 
I didn’t go to said trail angel’s house specifically because I had received word from someone ahead of me on the trail of the nightmare it was.
Now, I appreciate people helping hikers, don’t get me wrong. I’m incredibly thankful for anyone who helps me out, but at some point, you’re not helping. With the drama that I heard about at this location, from SEVERAL reliable sources (including trail angels further up the trail), you have to wonder why they do it.
I think perhaps, as Yogi does (and somewhat wrongly, I’d say) for VVR, she ought to put a warning in the book about all the associated drama with a location. She doesn’t need to malign anyone, just put a message in there stating that hikers from previous years have had issues at a certain location, and to be wary.
but again, I’m thankful for all trail angels – I just think some don’t have the temperament to be an angel that hosts, and should perhaps consider something passive like running a cookout for a day or two, or something that’s a bit easier on the temper.
Joker
I think it’s the same person, Joker. If I had known, I would not have stopped. There is no reason to treat other people with so much utter disdain and contempt, to criticize everyone and to spread rumors about the conditions of the trail and up-coming trail towns that are not true.
How does one contact Yogi?
Piper
Her email address is kicking around somewhere, I think it’s in her guide. Failing that, someone on the PCT-L must have it (as much as I’m not a fan of that email list). I considered doing the same thing, but I don’t know, didn’t seem worth the time. Ultimately, I suspect what goes into yogi’s book is what she agrees with, or at least from people she knows.
Joker
Some hikers have great experiences at this Angel’s home. Others have terrible experiences. I stayed there in 2001. My experience was not great. Hikers who were there the day after me loved it. I guess it depends on the mood of this Angel on any given day. In 2002, 2003, and 2007 I chose to not go there. There are some places which are treated in my book with information only – no hiker opinions. Basically, it’s “here’s the place, here’s what it has to offer” and that’s all I print. This is one of those places. I’m hesitant to print negative information about an Angel, especially one who refuses to take donations from hikers. However, I do watch trends, and it seems like this place has more negative experiences than positive experiences. Perhaps I’ll put a warning in the next edition. ---------- Hikertown is an example of things changing. Because of the awful way we were treated there in 2003, I didn’t print any information about Hikertown in the early editions of my book. In subsequent years, Hikertown has become more hiker friendly. It’s now in the book. ---------- VVR is a different situation altogether. In the nine years I’ve been involved with the PCT, VVR has gone from great to hiker-unfriendly to great again. The comments in my book have reflected this trend. The first edition had glowing comments from hikers. Then the comments were removed and VVR was an information-only section of the book. Then I included negative comments due to the overwhelming number of emails I received regarding VVR. In the last two years, I’ve heard nothing but positive comments about VVR. The reason the negative comments were included for VVR is that VVR is a business. In my opinion, that’s different from a Trail Angel’s home. Some may agree with me, some may not. ---------- I do value feedback from hikers. My email address is yogihikes @ gmail.com.
yogi
