Originally Posted by
Starchild
Hiker feeds/trail magic is one of the more pure form of human kindness, things we should be practicing everywhere. Giving to the poor does not mean just giving to the chronically poor, but the poor at the moment, and at the moment we are rich and can give easily and painlessly and really make a difference in someone's life. A hiker is poor in the basics of human society, it is a voluntary state to be rich in other things, namely life experience, really living.
In trail magic there is usually a exchange that benefits both parties, the trail angel can easily give food that would not be practical to bring on trail for the hiker, in that the hiker is elevated by human kindness and the trail angel is also enhanced by receiving stories of life on the trail. This in general is a very pure form of giving and receiving, rich giving to the poor on both ends, and both benefiting and taking that good will forward.
It is also uncluttered by things like verified charities and public opinion of how one should give, what is appropriate to give and how, it is freely given of the heart which is the most valuable giving we can do as humans.
Yes to mention some (few) do have other motives, such as church groups, but even with that, the trail angels sometimes are the ones who receive something missing in their lives, quite the opposite that the church authority may have planned.
As for the trail magic attracting too many people. that is only the opinion of those who like the trail to be a more solitary experience, which is no longer the AT which has evolved, but there are many more trail they can travel and get to experience their type of hiking.