Appalachian Trail Journal -- Trail Magic
One of the things that makes the Appalachian Trail truly unique is the extent of the generousity shown by strangers for the people walking the trail. No other trail even comes close when it comes to trail magic. Coolers filled with goodies are left in the woods. Cans of soda and beer are found cooling in streams. People wait at intersections of roads to pass out food. Containers of water are left along dry sections. Locals pick up hitch-hikers they know will smell terrible. Fellow hikers dole out their excess supplies in communal hiker boxes. Hostels are run by people who would rather help you than make a profit. In short, it's heart-warmingly amazing.
Of course, it isn't perfect either. There's some price gouging and unfriendly trail towns. I've stood on the side of many a roadway unsuccessfully trying to hitch into town as car after car goes by, some even shouting insults. I've seen kids out for a day hike gobble up all the food in a trail magic cooler. I've seen incredibly rude people at shelters. I've had problems getting service at hotels, stores and restaurants.
There's far more good than bad though, just to an amazing degree. I can't over-emphasize how much this adds to the thru-hiking experience. Several times I'd be in real need, primarily because I had so many difficulties with my drop boxes and seemed to be perpetually short of food, and I'd come away from a town or some trail magic with a feeling of overwhelming gratitude. It's often a hard life on the AT for a thru-hiker, but the good people you meet along the way make it immeasurably easier.
A few hikers, or actually more often than not faux-hikers, take advantage of the trail's generousity. There are some trail bums who are basically just trying to scrounge their way along. Again, these are the minority, and you get a "play it forward" effect from all the good will. Since most of the people you meet are generous, you become more so yourself. I'd sometimes buy extra food at a store just to give away on the trail or to toss into a hiker box. I felt like I owed the hiker boxes sometimes because I wasn't getting the expected bounty from my missed drop boxes. So instead of tossing in the usual crap that only the truly desperate (like myself sometimes) would take, I would sometimes add a real goodie, such as a snicker bar, just to try and even out the karma a bit.
So many people were helpful to me on the trail that I couldn't possibly name them all. Please allow me this blanket expression of thanks for everyone that did me a good turn. I'm grateful not only for whatever nice thing they did for me, but for helping to boost my faith in humanity and making me a better person in the process. I'm truly touched and hope I can live up to their example.