Author Topic: PCT hikers hitchhiking? (Read 30312 times)

Joe Schmoe · « **on:** May 04, 17, 03:30:54 PM »

We came across a hiker, one of quite a few we ran across, that looked like she had seen better days and was thumbing for rides on the side of highway 2 between the tunnels and Krakta. I'm not OK with picking up hitchhikers, yet I feel bad for not helping someone who clearly looked like she could really use it. Also, I'm left wondering about the practice of hitchhiking whilst hiking the PCT. I don't get it - I thought the point was to hike the trail. Isn't hitchhiking kind of *not that*? I know there are members here are familiar with this so I thought I'd ask you folks.

Tall Trees · « **Reply #1 on:** May 04, 17, 04:11:23 PM »

I pick up the PCT often and give them rides into town. There is a trail closure issued from Eagles Roost picnic are to Buckhorn Campground due to a court order to protect the endangered Yellow Legged Frog. The alternate is to hike on the road for six miles so some hikers choose to skip hiking the road and hitch a ride around the closure.

3PinkRoses · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 17, 07:43:46 AM »

I pick up and take back any PCT Hiker I can. Each Hiker or set of hikers, has a different situation while hiking.

You came across one that wanted to get up here off the trail and that's certainly OK. I picked up one at Inspiration Point who needed to get down to WW. She happened to go all the way across the top of WW, through Mtn High and popped out at IP. Most begin to descend down to WW at Acorn Trail. She just overshot it by a few miles.

She was going to get a ride back up the next day to IP and start again. She wasn't going to start at Acorn Trail (already did that) and she wasn't gong to go as far as Baden Powell. For her, She didn't miss any of the trail.

However some do. If they come down Acorn and into Town, then get a ride to Baden Powell, they can start their hike right there....they just lost those miles in between. WW and BP. IMO...that's OK too.

Thank you for helping your PCT. If you're never not sure, just yell out "What's your trail name?" and if they look confused and don't know what your talking about, prob not a PCTH. If they yell out....Purple Feet...then you're good....Our latest name Wet Dog! Enjoy all, this is such a fun time of year.

The Boys Dad · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 17, 07:08:32 PM »

I always offer them rides when I see them. I have had them over night and never felt uncomfortable. By the time they reach the detour on Hwy 2, they have gone through the toughest terrain they have encountered so far and are truly going thru a spiritual awaken and debating within their mind if the hike is really what they want to do. I go camping every year about this time at Buckhorn and have talked to quite a few and they all are having second thoughts in this area. I have even taken one who was giving up into town to call for a way home.

ForestGal · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 17, 08:16:49 PM »

As a single woman, the only hitchhikers I would EVER pick up are PCT hikers. It's not difficult to recognize them. I have given many of them rides to Inspiration Point, and have also brought several of them back into town when I have finished a walk up there, and am heading back to the village. It's fun to meet them (if they can speak English, which most of them do, I took one guy up to IP last year who did not), and there are some very interesting stories to learn. I'm not a "trail angel" who hosts them, but I have friends who are, and I have learned a lot of interesting things from talking to them. They love Wrightwood for the friendliness and welcome that they receive here.

SkierBob · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 17, 04:42:43 AM »

PCT hikers have it all

http://budpharm.com/home

Jim Wilkins · « **Reply #6 on:** May 07, 17, 08:59:39 AM »

Quote from: SkierBob on May 07, 17, 04:42:43 AM

PCT hikers have it all

http://budpharm.com/home

Can't imagine a thru hiker willingly staying there.

sagespirit · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 17, 01:19:13 PM »

The original question in this thread was about why PCT hikers find it necessary, or preferable, to hitchhike at times. There is an implication that this is somehow "cheating" and that the hikers are supposed to stay on the trail. It might be interesting for Joe to read at least one account of someone's journey on the trial: one of the older publications, or the recent Wild by Cheryl Strayed, which is also a movie. Bill Bryson's classic A Walk in the Woods is also good, but about the Appalachian Trail and is more of a humorous account.
First of all, hikers need to go off the trail, i.e. coming into WW, to get supplies they've shipped on ahead, and other necessities. Second, there are numerous hazards that end up closing portions of the trail. Both of the major fires in our area last year, while they were active and afterward, closed portions of the trail in the SB Mts, the San Gabriels and the desert. There are some years, where the snowfall has been so great, that the trail is simply impassable in some places. Or the risk of avalanche is too great. Some portion/s of the trail in the San Gabriels have been closed for quite some time. The re-route is also dangerous because it requires hiking on the road for quite a distance. Third, there are unexpected weather conditions. Most of the hikers in WW at the end of this week were trying to restock and then get out of town on the trail quickly to not get caught in the snow, sleet, hail, rain, we are having this weekend. Fourth, a hiker may need to rest, or obtain medical care. These are only a few of the reasons why hikers come off the trial, and it is perfectly OK to seek a ride. It is also appropriate to do a portion of the trail, leave it...perhaps because the next 100 miles are impassible...and return to it at a different time, maybe the next year. Just envision how dangerous it is for someone to be hiking along Hwy 2, or 138, or any of these highways. Much more dangerous on the highway than on the trail at times. Of course, the best education about hiking the trail is to do it...or do portions at a time. It's an amazing feat even to hike portions of it. Experiences we can all learn from.

jwhays661 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 17, 07:08:37 PM »

I've backpacked for the last 25 years. I used to spent a large portion of my summers in the southern Sierra on and off the PCT. One of my favorite things was to chat with through hikers. Always met an eclectic bunch of people. Some were young and wanted to do this before they knew life would get in the way. Some were older and retired and were finally getting their chance to do it. What was common was that they were always respectful and polite. If they were "smokers", which was very common back then at least, they would be discreet about it. Fast forward to today. I took a group of youth to the KOA in Acton and the experience dealing with the through hikers was terrible. We had to protect the kids from these folks all weekend. They were foul mouthed, smoked marijuana without any concern for the others in the campground, drank a lot of alcohol, stayed up way past curfew making a huge ruckus and used the bathrooms like they we homeless people at the beach. We had to ask the camp host to talk to them about standing nude in the public portion of the bathroom. I talked to a number of them but they were so stuck up they wouldn't be caught dead talking to a lowly car camper. I was shocked. I chalked it up to just a bad group. Came back with the same youth group the next summer and had nearly the same experience. I'm not sure what's happened but I'm going to hedge my bets and assume that it's just a different culture these days. I'm not going to be picking anyone up personally. I know there are plenty of good through hikers but I've had some bad experiences that make it hard to pick someone up with my family in the car.

ChrisLynnet · « **Reply #9 on:** May 07, 17, 07:46:58 PM »

Heavy pot smoking cost PCT hikers at least 1 camping area here in Wrightwood. Do your thing in your own camp, but don't assume it's OK in someone else's camp. Or house.

SkierBob · « **Reply #10 on:** May 08, 17, 06:15:56 AM »

Quote from: Jim Wilkins on May 07, 17, 08:59:39 AM

Can't imagine a thru hiker willingly staying there.

Can't imagine it's legal. I wouldn't go by there.

Jim Wilkins · « **Reply #11 on:** May 08, 17, 07:37:04 AM »

Definitely one of the eyesores on the way into town.

AvocadoFlyer · « **Reply #12 on:** May 08, 17, 09:07:29 AM »

Where is this located that it is an eyesore?
(sincere question)

Jim Wilkins · « **Reply #13 on:** May 08, 17, 11:27:27 AM »

As you drive up the highway, look to your left. You'll know.

AvocadoFlyer · « **Reply #14 on:** May 08, 17, 01:16:26 PM »

Seriously, what am I looking for? How far up from 138 is this?

Jim Wilkins · « **Reply #15 on:** May 08, 17, 02:08:56 PM »

There are only so many homes on the left side of the road (down hill) that qualify as an eyesore. This is like a treasure hunt. You shouldn't have to look too far.

SkierBob · « **Reply #16 on:** May 11, 17, 11:42:33 AM »

I couldn't pick it out on google earth.

ezzpete · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 17, 03:25:43 PM »

The house up near the highway is not Bud Pharm. They are at the end of the dirt road and can hardly be seen from the 2.

lwt42 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 17, 02:19:58 PM »

Maybe we've been lucky.

We've had 29 hikers stay with us so far this year, ranging in age from 20's to 70's.

They've all be pleasant, respectful, helpful and kind. They've all been asleep by hiker-midnight (8:00pm).

Just FWIW.

lwt42 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 17, 07:11:48 PM »

We've had 34 people come through our home, stay a night (or two), helped a couple with this or that, and they've all been good people.

Ran into the first one that I'm okay that we didn't help.

She and her SO need to get to LAX. She's apparently turned to trail angels (on facebook) to see if she could get someone to take them.

Several people suggested flying out of Ontario. No, that's too expensive. Airfares are better out of LAX.

Metrolink (on the weekend) will get you from pretty much anywhere to LAX for $10. Didn't want to hear it.

Acknowledged that whoever took them was going to spend 6-7 hours on the road, but didn't seem to understand that whoever made the trip would be "inconvenienced."

Deleted the posts from people trying to help them.

I'm good with that. There will be someone else who will call, be happy for anything and everything we do, write us a nice thank-you notes, and show genuine appreciation.

So, we'll keep doing it, we'll just keep getting better at choosing.

Author Topic: PCT hikers hitchhiking? (Read 30312 times)

jwhays661

ezzpete