Hiker feed issues

[squeezebox]

Please don't. Trail feeds are even worse than feeding the bears. Maybe do some good and sign up for some trail maintenance instead.
Hikers can carry their own food but they don't carry tools for cleaning the trail.

[Tuckahoe]

Please don't. Trail feeds are even worse than feeding the bears. Maybe do some good and sign up for some trail maintenance instead.
Hikers can carry their own food but they don't carry tools for cleaning the trail.

What is it with you always taking a dump on threads? You'd think that you could tell the difference between a poster putting up an announcement in the Get Togethers folder, and someone opening up a hot button topic fo discussion.

[doritotex]

I agree. Please don't, these hiker feeds are getting out of control. The trail has become a big circus.

[paule]

It's a kind gesture,,,,,and I will say this,I set up some food and drinks at a detour in connecticut last year,not knowing how frowned upon it is.Not one of the forty hikers that came by and ate and drank ever explained it to me either.If they had I would have picked up and left.I just want to apologize for doing it,it won't happen again....live and learn

[damskipi]

It's a kind gesture,,,,,and I will say this,I set up some food and drinks at a detour in connecticut last year,not knowing how frowned upon it is.Not one of the forty hikers that came by and ate and drank ever explained it to me either.If they had I would have picked up and left.I just want to apologize for doing it,it won't happen again....live and learn

If forty hikers partook of the feed, I don't think it's all that frowned upon. Sounds like you had forty people who appreciated what you did. I don't think you need to apologize for anything.


Sojourner: Clearly some people don't like them, so please don't set up smack dab in the middle of a trail. But if it's off trail a bit and you aren't hassling people...plenty of people seem to appreciate them, so I think it's okay. Just make sure you pack out the trash. Thanks for doing this.

[paule]

Oh I was getting the impression that it was a no no....I always pack out what I pack in and was actually on the road walk of the detour.Like I said no one walked by without grabbing something and no one told me what a bad idea it was.It was actually a give and take ordeal,,,,I wanted info on equipment and what they thought of the hike for future references,,,what do you think the percentage is of people that hike that frown upon this?

[4eyedbuzzard]

Oh I was getting the impression that it was a no no....I always pack out what I pack in and was actually on the road walk of the detour.Like I said no one walked by without grabbing something and no one told me what a bad idea it was.It was actually a give and take ordeal,,,,I wanted info on equipment and what they thought of the hike for future references,,,what do you think the percentage is of people that hike that frown upon this?

Hiker feeds and planned trail magic are much more a southern thing than northern thing. A large part of that is the sheer numbers all starting around the same time (within roughly a 4 week window). By the time "the herd" gets past Harpers Ferry, less than half remain, and even more so into New England, their numbers are cut to perhaps 25% of the original, and they have spread out a lot as well due to hiking pace. But even so, you don't see hiker feeds in the Whites in the summer, where there is a potential "hiker audience" on many days as large as anything you will see in the south in March/April. Local people, and organizations, are generally more reserved and/or focused on activities other than feeding hikers. Hiking isn't accompanied by the same party atmosphere that occurs with Springer Fever (note the Baxter State Park controversy).

I doubt many hikers actually frown on it (free food/beverage, etc.) at the time they receive it. But lots of starting thru-hikers aren't experienced or long term hikers either. Most seasoned hikers don't expect anything, and honestly, hitched rides are probably cherished more than anything else. But as hiker feeds and such proliferate and become commonplace, thru-hikers hear about it and almost start to expect it. Leading to seeing the situation in a less than positive light, and conjuring up negative thoughts about intentional trail magic. Such as, "Don't feed the thru-hikers - It's like feeding the bears, eventually the bears come to expect it."

[Scrum]

Hiker feeds and planned trail magic are much more a southern thing than northern thing. A large part of that is the sheer numbers all starting around the same time (within roughly a 4 week window). By the time "the herd" gets past Harpers Ferry, less than half remain, and even more so into New England, their numbers are cut to perhaps 25% of the original, and they have spread out a lot as well due to hiking pace. But even so, you don't see hiker feeds in the Whites in the summer, where there is a potential "hiker audience" on many days as large as anything you will see in the south in March/April. Local people, and organizations, are generally more reserved and/or focused on activities other than feeding hikers. Hiking isn't accompanied by the same party atmosphere that occurs with Springer Fever (note the Baxter State Park controversy).

Interesting observation about the difference up North and down South. I wonder how much of this difference can be attributed to the larger role of organized religion in the souther states. What percentage of the big hiker feeds down south are done by church groups?

[Coffee]

No good deed goes unpunished, right? I think that this was a simple announcement from someone trying to do a nice thing for hikers, not an invitation to discuss whether hiker feeds are good or not. In a free society, free people are given the right of free association.

[Sojourner 70]

Thank you! We meet many grateful hikers, and our goody bags (prepackaged only) always disappear from the hiker boxes at the NOC quickly!

[squeezebox]

Thank you! We meet many grateful hikers, and our goody bags (prepackaged only) always disappear from the hiker boxes at the NOC quickly!

Have you ever done any trail maintenance, or is this only about you ego? 98% of the fundalmentalist christians I've ever met don't care about other peoples needs or opinions. Bring a shovel or ax instead. please

[Don H]

Have you ever done any trail maintenance, or is this only about you ego? 98% of the fundalmentalist christians I've ever met don't care about other peoples needs or opinions. Bring a shovel or ax instead. please

One on hand you make a general statement that 98% of a group doesn't care about other peoples opinions and then on the other hand you demand that this group must do trail maintenance instead of allowing them to participate in the trail in their own way. Brings to mind an old saying "practice what you preach".

You're talking about a group of elderly ladies (with all due respect to the ladies!) who are widows. I don't think they should be expected to go out on the trail and swing an ax! In looking at their Facebook page it appears that they do a lot for their community.

My opinion, as long as they do there hiker feed in a public parking area, clean up afterwards (I'll bet they take hiker's trash too and pick up the lot too) and don't force their opinions on others then it's OK.

I've come across a few hiker feeds and I always thankful for the offer.

[Sojourner 70]

One on hand you make a general statement that 98% of a group doesn't care about other peoples opinions and then on the other hand you demand that this group must do trail maintenance instead of allowing them to participate in the trail in their own way. Brings to mind an old saying "practice what you preach".

You're talking about a group of elderly ladies (with all due respect to the ladies!) who are widows. I don't think they should be expected to go out on the trail and swing an ax! In looking at their Facebook page it appears that they do a lot for their community.

My opinion, as long as they do there hiker feed in a public parking area, clean up afterwards (I'll bet they take hiker's trash too and pick up the lot too) and don't force their opinions on others then it's OK.

I've come across a few hiker feeds and I always thankful for the offer.

Thanks, Don. You are very perceptive and understanding. Sounds like the only axe squeezebox uses is to grind against well-meaning folks he knows nothing about.

[Mtsman]

We are not squashing debate, rather asking people to politely go into the appropriate place on this website to have a debate. You don't post Colorado Trail shuttle questions on the Appalachian Trail shuttle forum by any chance? Same concept.

I agree with Mags here. There are appropriate places to debate and then there are places to keep your comments to yourself, especially in designated areas.

Seems fair to me. I think part of the problem may be that people click on the what's new icon, see a subject line in the list of threads and jump into the fray without looking at where the message was originally posted.

Offshore, This has caught me off guard more than once myself. I don't have a suggestion to make it better, maybe I just need to pay attention more.

[stumpknocker]

Thanks to all for the enlightening discussion on hiker feeds and trail magic. I may have posted under the wrong title of hiker feed. This is our 5th year to do Trail Magic in the Smokies. We have paid $150 dollars in the past to pass out goody bags at Newfound Gap, a few hours on one day, observing all the necessary red tape and following all the safety and security rules. We are big on bottled water and green tea as well as sodas; We put only prepackaged food in our goody bags; We take care of all of our trash; We are also big on fresh fruit--which the GSMNPark approves all these things. The reason we choose Fontana Dam and Waterville picnic areas is because they are public areas off or close to the trail. We did do one worship service on a Sunday and the half dozen people who stayed enjoyed themselves, and the other half left for a town visit after freely partaking of our food and coming back for more food later along with fellowship. We love talking to the hikers and hearing their stories more than anything else. Many will stay and talk for hours--a real ministry boost to us. My husband died hiking in the Smokies. He also did parts of the AT and it was his heart's desire to do the the entire AT. Many of the women in my widow's group (we're Noah's Ark because we're all in the same boat) also enjoyed good times with their husbands in the Smokies. This is our special love for hikers that motivates us to do what we do (we have many other ministry projects); and it's the most exciting adventure of our yearly activities. I will pass on your concerns to my group.

I don't usually make comments on this website, but I wanted to thank you personally for what you do for hikers.
WhiteBlaze is about the only place you'll hear of anyone complain about, or state that they would pass by the kindness, food and beverages you offer.
I've been around lots of trail magic, both providing and gratefully accepting, and I have only seen one hiker pass it up.

Have you ever done any trail maintenance, or is this only about you ego? 98% of the fundalmentalist christians I've ever met don't care about other peoples needs or opinions. Bring a shovel or ax instead. please

Like I said above...I don't usually comment on WhiteBlaze, but this statement is one of the most ridiculous I've ever seen here.
Did you actually read what Sojourner 70 wrote before you made up your mind to chastise her for helping others out of the goodness of her heart?
One of you two have an ego problem....and it's not Sojourner 70.

[Sojourner 70]

Stumpkocker: Thank you for your kind words. Your respect and appreciation is what we experience on the trail and what keeps us coming back year after year. It's always a give and take and a win-win situation. My husband did plenty of trail maintenance when he was alive. Some people just don't know how brutal the trail can be. You will always have your elites who are fit and well prepared, and even they can come upon unexpected disaster. For the under prepared and under experienced it's even more critical that there be some measure of support and help. We enjoy doing our small part on a vast and complex undertaking by many adventurers.

[Puddlefish]

Eh, one's at the Fontana Hilton. Not like they'll be clogging the trail for that one. Is the picnic shelter even directly on the AT? I don't have my trail map for that section yet, and don't see it in the guide.

As for "dumping" on threads, he's just stating an opinion. When there's something that one person enjoys, and another person feels detracts from the trail experience, then both people should be able to express their opinion. As long as everyone is respectful, that would seem to be within the TOS of this website.

I don't enjoy crowds, I don't enjoy ministry groups, I don't enjoy this kind of activity. I fail to see why my voice should be stifled, and yours should be heard.

Maybe between all of our opinions there can be compromise reached, and concerns can be addressed. Reasoned debate is a wonderful thing. Internet forums are a great place for such debate, as long as we keep within the terms of service.

[Sojourner 70]

Thr Fontana Hilton is the hiker shelter at Fontana Dam, so named because it's the biggest and best with a heated rest room with showers!

[Coffee]

I bet most of the critics wouldn't pass up an ice cold soda on a hot day.

[Puddlefish]

I bet most of the critics wouldn't pass up an ice cold soda on a hot day.

I gave up soda years ago, it's poison. It's essentially a serving of acid, with enough sweetener added so that your body doesn't immediately reject it for the poison that it is. It does horrible things to your body because of the pH balance. Basically most tasty foods are acidic. Ingest too much acid and your body has systems that negate that acid, push the limits and that balancing system will start eating your own bones.

I'd gladly pass up a soda, but I'd probably accept some water from a single individual hanging out, who wasn't evangelizing, and wasn't widening the trail by setting up a pavilion and grill and otherwise destroying my peace of mind.