What do you folks think of Trail Magic and Trail Angels on the Appalachian Trail?
Colter
Trail Magic, Good or Bad?
system
#2
I believe that true trail magic is a good thing. True means it is done to help a hiker and nothing is expected as a reward. I also think spontaneous trail magic is better than planned out trail magic. You know when you meet a family and they invite you to come visit their home for the night, feed you dinner, let you do laundry, wash clothes, and give you a ride back to the trail. That is good trail magic. I wouldn’t have finnished my '99 thru-hike without it.
Darth Pacman
system
#3
I hated trail magic. Theres nothing worse than being offered a beer or a piece of pizza in the woods, when you havnt had any for 4 or 5 days. Not to metion the moonshine or freashbaked cookies.Or rides to town,or freash water or free shower or camping in someones yard or hiker picnics or more free beer or help with laundry or freash fruit or a smiling face or free place to stay or free phone cards or or------on------and -------on ------and ------on
Virginian
system
#4
This same topic came up in 2001 on TrailPlace.com after Wingfoot made a fuss over a large gathering at Clingmans Dome in the Smokies. He said it distracted from the wilderness experience. I said that the big Concrete Tower ( Ramp ) there distracted much more 
To make a long story short, the next weekend I went to Clingmans Dome to issue Trail Magic and take a hikers poll. I had Wingfoot to give me 2 questions to ask of the hikers concerning this subject. They were:
1:Does this act of trail magic reflect the true wilderness experience?
2: Do you know the true meaning of experencing the wilderness and what does that mean to you.
My questions:
3: Did this act of Trail magic Distract from your experencing the wilderness in any way?
4: Did you appreciate this act of Trail Magic?
Answers to question #1: 13 yes, 1 no
Answers to Question #2: Got many varied answers
Answers to question #3: ALL NO !!
Answers to question #4: ALL YES !!
So it appears that Trail Magic in a organized form Does Not distract from the wilderness experience of a Thru Hike and is much apreciated by the hikers.
So in my humble opinion, I would say that Trail Magic is GOOD !!
Rebel, with a Cause !!
Rebel, with a Cause !!
system
#6
Trail magic should never be anticipated although I think some hikers do. For some it was the level of expecting it that I didn’t particularly like. I think the same people are the type that would get a big head so to speak about the fact that they are thru-hiking. For me last year I really didn’t feel I was doing anything special and since then I still don’t. My hike was a personal challenge and experience for me. But I was completely surprised by every act of trail magic I received because I never anticipated it. Trail magic is other people sharing in your experience. It would not be correct in my opinion to say it distracts from the experience because it is part of it. A thru-hike is an overall experience to include the social aspects of it. True trail magic is respect for what you are doing. If you want complete solitude or no outward influence on your thru-hike the AT is not the hike to do. You could try to avoid it and at times last year I did. You have moods out there too.
One complaint I do have concerns people that do magic by placing a styrofoam cooler trailside and then never returning to take the empty cooler. You should follow up on the act too.
Two Scoops
system
#8
Trail Majic also helps the giver as much as the receiver. Many of us who for one valid reason or another cannot get out there for more than a day or two this year, can feel a tiny piece of the Trail. The old “Reap what you Sow” that is contained in most religions is even more so on the Trail.
Blue Jay
system
#9
Like that title, “Pay it forward”. Agree with Blue Jay on this one. If I can’t get out and hike 5 months, I might at least try to make somebody’s day better, and they might pass it along, so pretty soon a lot of people are having a better day. Your choice is always to refuse the magic, if you feel it compromises your idea of what a true thru-hike should be. I respect your right to turn down pizza and beer and a lift into town, if you respect my decision to accept them. :cheers
HYOH. Fair skies and flat trails.
Jim2
system
#11
I think of trail majic as a trade, a sandwich, chips, a drink, or whatever for a short friendly conversation.It is especially interesting to hear all the stories of a thru. The giver benefits as much as the receiver, I think.:nerd
Bucky
system
#12
I loved it. Although Two Scoops was right about not anticipating, I did wish for a little more (food related) in the northeast! However, not having it, I survived and loved every bit of my hike!
GA->WVA<-ME 2020
Macgyver
system
#13
Trail magic is what it is. You do not have to accept it if you think it will detract from your “wilderness experience”. During my '98 thru hike I very much appreciated every bit of trail magic I received. I only wish that I lived closer to the AT so I could return the favor.
Farther
system
#14
I agree with TwoScoops.
Especially distressing is that the providers leave styrofoam
coolers/empties for others to clean up.
When I get a chance to do some ‘magic’ I’ll drop it off on Friday night and on my way home Sunday, I’ll stop and pick up
the trash.
But receiving magic is great. I lost my ballcap a few days
south of Boiling Springs, and when I got to the ATC bldg.,
there it was! That was unreal. Thanks to ‘whoever’. Magic
isn’t always food. Once a young man stopped at a shelter
and played his ‘backpacker’ guitar for me. That was good
magic, too.
Scamp
Scamp