Trail Magic Coast to Coast

This year I took opportunities to provide trail magic for northbound hikers on both the Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails.

I knew of a person from my hometown hiking the AT this year, so I decided to surprise them with some trail magic as they passed near home. I contacted them on social media to introduce myself and followed their posts until they were getting close. Then I loaded up the car and headed out to the trailhead at Dennis Cove Road, the crossing before Laurel Falls in Tennessee.

I only knew him by reputation, so asking the passing hikers about him was awkward.

What's his name? I don't know. What's his trail name? I don't know that either. All I know is roughly where he started today.

It was relatively early in NOBO season, so I was pleasantly surprised that about 15 hikers passed through. A few were walking to the hostels down the street, but most gratefully accepted the drinks, snacks, and trash bag.

I got to tell some stories of my own trip the previous year. Some asked me if I had any advice. I passed along some of the wisdom which had helped me stay afloat: "Don't quit. Solve small problems before they become big problems. Find what makes you happy; it will keep you going in the second half."

Finally Diva and his hiking partner emerged from the woods. We had a good hiker talk. It seemed like he was Doing It Right; he's now in Vermont after a Long Trail side quest to the Canadian border.

Later in the year, on my way from the Grand Canyon to central California, I stopped to trail magic a former co-worker who is hiking the PCT. He had given me access to his satellite tracker location, so I found a convenient road crossing north of his position and set up on the shoulder with a less comprehensive snack, drink and trash outfit.

This was in peak PCT northbound season so there were more hikers crossing the road, but many were coming or going from the city of Ridgecrest, CA and needed rides more than refreshments. I spotted a family of nine hikers; two adults herded six children across the busy highway on a blind hill, with a toddler in a backpack.

This time I had more to go on when interrogating hikers about my friend: his real name and that he was carrying a guitar. I met a group of hikers called the Party Bus at Walmart and they told me all about him, including his trail name: Oatmeal Tea.

Later in the day Oatmeal Tea came down the hill with guitar in hand. We talked and visited with other passing hikers for some hours before he continued on, snacked and hydrated and void of trash. See his side of the story on his blog, which begins a heartwarming arc about helping an injured hiker.

Trail magic is a different way of looking at the people thru hiking a trail. When hiking you tend to travel around the same people for days or weeks at a time. When you set up trail magic, they all come to you. You will likely never see them again unless you move with the waves of migration.

The demographics were similar on both trails. Many are 20 somethings on a gap year around college. Others are older outdoor enthusiasts, some of whom just want to smoke their weed and be in nature. On both trails I met a lifer, someone who has structured their life to be able to thru hike every year. One was a sponsored content creator. All were courteous, most were friendly.

On the PCT the script was flipped; I was the one asking questions about hiking, having never walked 650 miles in the desert as they just had. I hope to do the same someday.