+lostinjersey Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 I read this story in the Bergen Record today. it's about a "trail angel" named desperado. Basically he hikes the trails, (mostly the appalachian trail it seems) and he distrubutes water, fruit, candy and other snacks to hikers he encounters. For free. he also clears out trail hidaways, and leaves stocks of supplies in "bear proof containers" which, if you saw the photo, (n-a online) looks a lot like a large ammo canister. Wondering if anyone has met this guy or anyone like him, and what makes someone like that tick. william Quote Link to comment
+ChrisCindy Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 If he just walks up and offers candy to folks I bet he has had a face full of pepper spray at least once. Sounds like a good person though. When in doubt...hit it with a big hammer. Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 I used to distribute small candy items to the little girls I encountered along the trail or in the parks. Sometimes they would do me “favors” as a demonstration of their gratitude. Sadly, some people questioned my motives and I had to cease the candy distribution. Oh well, there’s a lot of budding little girls out there who will have to go without. http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/ Quote Link to comment
+ChrisCindy Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Criminal:I used to distribute small candy items to the little girls I encountered along the trail or in the parks. Sometimes they would do me “favors” as a demonstration of their gratitude. Sadly, some people questioned my motives and I had to cease the candy distribution. Oh well, there’s a lot of budding little girls out there who will have to go without. http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/ Thats just wrong on so many levels. What type of candy? When in doubt...hit it with a big hammer. Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 quote:Thats just wrong on so many levels. What type of candy? Uh oh........do I know you? http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/ Quote Link to comment
+ChrisCindy Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Criminal: quote:Thats just wrong on so many levels. What type of candy? Uh oh........do I know you? http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/ No I wanted to know what worked best. When in doubt...hit it with a big hammer. Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Well, if you're going to have the team name of "Chris and Cindy" it would be helpful to know if I were addressing Chris or Cindy. Cindy: Sorry for the whole candy thing, if applicable Chris: Suckers work best as they are slow to consume. http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/ Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 I love the irony of life. I can just see the NPS praising this person as what a great hiker should be even as he does everything geocaching is banned for. Quote Link to comment
+ChrisCindy Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Ok, if it makes you mad then C2 (hehehehe) if not then C1. But realy I, C1, do all the posting. She just goes caching and says ohhh that would make a good trade item while we shop. She has no interest in the forums. When in doubt...hit it with a big hammer. Quote Link to comment
+ChrisCindy Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Renegade Knight:I love the irony of life. I can just see the NPS praising this person as what a great hiker should be even as he does everything geocaching is banned for. Nice point. When in doubt...hit it with a big hammer. Quote Link to comment
+Geofool Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 I don't know why, but this thread reminds me of a song named "Rock Candy". GF ******************************************** Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Thanks RK for bringing this back on topic! I like girls. http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/ Quote Link to comment
+ChrisCindy Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 What was the topic? When in doubt...hit it with a big hammer. Quote Link to comment
+cachew nut Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 quote:Originally posted by GeoFool:I don't know why, but this thread reminds me of a song named "Rock Candy". Montrose? Quote Link to comment
+Geofool Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Montrose? Yep....It's all Criminals fault for making me think like this though. I'm guessing Criminal is single and hasn't had any for a while. Come to think of it, I'm married and haven't had any for a while. Sorry Gwho for the OT. GF ******************************************** Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Quote Link to comment
+sept1c_tank Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Oops.......see below [This message was edited by sept1c_tank on August 21, 2003 at 11:16 PM.] Quote Link to comment
+sept1c_tank Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 *Trail angels* do *trail magic.* I have experienced various types of trail magic on the AT and bicycling through the same area. It can appear as an invitation to dinner, ice cold beverages at a summit, and even a place to stay. What makes them do it? I guess they just get satisfaction from it. A search of *trail magic* will produce several examples. I'm considering placing a cache called *Trail Magic.* ==============="If it feels good...do it"================ **(the other 9 out of 10 voices in my head say: "Don't do it.")** . Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 Watch it gang. Jomarc5 is gonna show up here and give you all a tongue lashing for going off topic! Anyway, I've heard of these people, but never met one. I was going to mention that I just finished reading Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" which is a very funny story of his expereinces on the AT as a neophyte backacker, but I have to check with Jomarc to make sure it's not too far off topic. If it's OK with Jomarc, I'll recommend this book...but I have to wait for his approval before I do so. "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he'll sit in a boat and drink beer all day" - Dave Barry [This message was edited by BrianSnat on August 22, 2003 at 01:29 AM.] Quote Link to comment
Wanderingson Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 Ah Yes the ole Trail Magic. It's that totally unexpected, unsolicited reward that magically appears at the right time. I believe the terms Trail Angels and Trail Magic originated on the AT, but has spread throughout the Long Distance Hiking community. Trail Magic even happens between the trailhead and a trail town when that little black pickup appears out of nowhere and Bubba pulls over and hollers "going into town?"--"jump in" Many of the Trail Angels around the AT are veteran section or Thru-hikers. They feel somehow indebted for the gracious gifts others have provided as they trudged that magical trail. I too have left goodies at trailheads along roads that crossed the AT. There is also another term along the AT and that is "Yogi". Yep you guessed it, just like Yogi the bear. You yogi something by deliberately putting yourself in a position for people to offer you something because of sympathy or pure wonder at why you are hiking all of those miles. I've seen this in campground settings around the Standing Indian area. My those hotdogs sure look good cooking on that grill there Mr. Ranger. Sept1C-tank, When you place your Trail Magic Cache, make it a multi cache with rewards along the way. "I cache; therefore I am" [This message was edited by Wanderingson and Compass Rose on August 22, 2003 at 06:11 AM.] Quote Link to comment
+yumitori Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat: I was going to mention that I just finished reading Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" which is a very funny story of his expereinces on the AT as a neophyte backacker, but I have to check with Jomarc to make sure it's not too far off topic. If it's OK with Jomarc, I'll recommend this book...but I have to wait for his approval before I do so. Bryson is off-topic because the discussion is trail magic experiences on the Appalachian Trail (and elsewhere), and Bryson's 'stories' are about as far from the reality of the AT as one can get. A lot of folks find his writing hilarious, but I've repeatedly had difficulty getting into A Walk in the Woods. Perhaps I'm not the best judge of the man's talents. If folks are interested in learning more about trail magic, besides the information Google will kick up, there's an AT mailing list. Ron/yumitori --- Remember what the dormouse said... Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Criminal:I used to distribute small candy items to the little girls I encountered along the trail or in the parks. Sometimes they would do me “favors” as a demonstration of their gratitude. Sadly, some people questioned my motives and I had to cease the candy distribution. Oh well, there’s a lot of budding little girls out there who will have to go without. You're not the bassist for Phish, are you? "Don't mess with a geocacher. We know all the best places to hide a body." Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 quote: Bryson is off-topic because the discussion is trail magic experiences on the Appalachian Trail (and elsewhere), and Bryson's 'stories' are about as far from the reality of the AT as one can get. A lot of folks find his writing hilarious, but I've repeatedly had difficulty getting into A Walk in the Woods. Perhaps I'm not the best judge of the man's talents. I didn't mention it yet. Still awaiting approval. "You can't make a man by standig a sheep on his hind legs. But by standing a flock of sheep in that position, you can make a crowd of men" - Max Beerbohm Quote Link to comment
+yumitori Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat: I didn't mention it yet. Still awaiting approval. Heh. Then I'm just being the TravisL of the forums, replying to comments before they are approved... Ron/yumitori --- Remember what the dormouse said... Quote Link to comment
+Dekaner Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 So much for keeping threads on topic... - Dekaner of Team KKF2A Quote Link to comment
+SamLowrey Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 I once helped a couple who were lost find their way back to their car, and I want credit for it, dadgum it! Quote Link to comment
+flask Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 a well-known hiking trail crasses the road near my house. i've been working on putting together a large ammo box that will have nonperishable food and little necessities in a large ammo box, along with another box for empties. i'm working out the particulars. i thought it would be cool to make it a sort of cache, but i can't figure out how to get around the no food rule. the idea is that the cacher should leave somthing sealed and useable for a thru hiker. i'll keep the container clean and stocked. things to go in it: packets of tunafish beverages candy cookies mixed nuts energy bars dried beef bandaids moleskin lighters light cord needle/thread emergency poncho waterproofer anything else i should put in it? -====)) -)))))))))))) presta schrader Quote Link to comment
mckee Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Criminal:I used to distribute small candy items to the little girls I encountered along the trail or in the parks. Sometimes they would do me “favors” as a demonstration of their gratitude. Sadly, some people questioned my motives and I had to cease the candy distribution. Oh well, there’s a lot of budding little girls out there who will have to go without. I TOLD YOU I WASN'T A GIRL! -------------------- You have the right to defend yourself, even when geocaching! Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 quote:Originally posted by GeoFool: Yep....It's all Criminals fault for making me think like this though. I'm guessing Criminal is single and hasn't had any for a while. Come to think of it, I'm married and haven't had any for a while. No, and no. http://fp1.centurytel.net/Criminal_Page/ Quote Link to comment
mckee Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 So if you're out in the woods and somebody you don't know offers you something, would you take it? Or would you follow Mom's advice "Never accept candy from strangers"??? -------------------- You have the right to defend yourself, even when geocaching! Quote Link to comment
+pnew Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 Is it just me or does this "trail angel" guy sound slightly crazy to you. I could see him coming up the path in 70's clothes with a doobie hangin out the side of his mouth talking about "spreading the love". Maybe they should have this man arrested. Quote Link to comment
Mushtang Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 "He's spreading love!" "Don't let him get away." "Break his legs!" ---------------------------------------------------------------- "A noble spirit embiggins the smallest man." - Jebediah Springfield ---------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment
mckee Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Mushtang:"He's spreading love!" "Don't let him get away." "Break his legs!" *Excellent!* -------------------- You have the right to defend yourself, even when geocaching! Quote Link to comment
Zoboomafoo Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 quote:Originally posted by flask:a well-known hiking trail crasses the road near my house. i've been working on putting together a large ammo box that will have nonperishable food and little necessities in a large ammo box, along with another box for empties. i'm working out the particulars. i thought it would be cool to make it a sort of cache, but i can't figure out how to get around the no food rule. the idea is that the cacher should leave somthing sealed and useable for a thru hiker. i'll keep the container clean and stocked. things to go in it: packets of tunafish beverages candy cookies mixed nuts energy bars dried beef bandaids moleskin lighters light cord needle/thread emergency poncho waterproofer anything else i should put in it? Couple of thoughts: Potable Aqua tablets and neutralizer extra shoelaces a bandana waterproof matches DEET spray cheap, small flashlights those sanitary wipes Quote Link to comment
Wanderingson Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 Flask--don't forget the pop tarts "I cache; therefore I am" Quote Link to comment
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