Empty bottles can (and have!) blow away, trash can be left behind, and critters can make a mess. So it goes…īut what is undeniable is that when left unattended, esp in the backcountry, problems can arise. 🙂 On the other hand, they were a bit less prevalent and organized vs. I know I enjoyed the occasional water cache or cooler of sodas when I came upon them. Some people may enjoy the hiker aid stations. From something that feels wild and remote to something more akin to a foot race regarding the amenities and support services. The aid stations do change the trail experience. So what is the big deal about these hiker aid stations? They do not harm anything.
I also think these increasingly popular hiker aid stations have become more prevalent because it allows people who may not have the time or physical ability to hike a long trail to be part of this admittedly interesting community. But it is the *perception* because of the similarities. On the other hand, perhaps it is not surprising that if there is essentially a hiker aid station on the trail, that some hikers treat it similar to a runner’s aid station? Where it is an expected resource and volunteers re-stock and clean it up? Just to emphasize, I am not saying that is a correct view point by any means. Hikers calling the angels up essentially demanding water, or leaving trash behind and more. What has happened, though, that a minority of hikers have abused the generosity of the angels and have caused the trail angels to become disgruntled. So amazing, it has often become a focal point of many recent accounts of hiking the long trails. They spend much time, and money, stocking sodas, water and other creature comforts for hikers. People are now calling themselves trail angels and mostly making supporting hiker aid stations their hobby.
Now the definition has taken on a life of its own. In the recent past, it was a name bestowed by hikers on a kind soul who gave a cold soda out of their cooler to a random hiker or perhaps hosted the impromptu BBQ for a few hikers. “Trail Angels” is another definition that has evolved over the years. Who are these kind people who give out trail magic and set up hiker aid stations? Now it is common enough where there these sites are, again, actively planned for and counted on as part of a hiker’s experience. In the same way, many PCT hikers have come to expect, and prepare for, aid stations at certain parts of the trail.Ī hiker aid station that was an occasional occurrence was an incredible delight. A Leadville 100 trail runner has come to expect, and plan for, an aid station at Hope Pass. The hiker aid stations have become a de facto part of the trail experience. Though hikers and trail organizations have warned against counting on volunteer placed water caches, based on recent stories, hiker have frantically called people essentially begging for water.Īgain, more as if designated aid stations are expected rather than an unexpected and welcome surprise. Water caches, though existing in the past, have become more common, elaborate and expected. The Pacific Crest Trail has started to see these newer hiker aid stations spring up as well. But if you have participated in a longer foot race, the similarity between a runner’s aid station and a hiker’s aid station is rather remarkable.
Trail magic sounds perhaps a bit more folksy. The old definition has been supplanted by the newer concept of organized hiker aid stations in my opinion.
The prevalence of these organized hiker feeds has become such a common event on the Appalachian Trail, that the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has written guidelines and basically asked people to keep the events off the trail itself.
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