Posted on by santacruzmountainrunners

Encourage new angels from those following and supporting individual hikers

Individual Hiker supporters can easily extend their efforts to many more hikers on the trail at trail heads

While out both hiking and angeling with the Trail Angel Central van, we have come across several vans and vehicles supporting one hiker at various stops as they arrive at different locations going up the trail. Many of these hiker supporters are not aware of the trail angels concept.

We encourage any individual hiker assistance vehicles to understand the Trail Angel Community and how with just a small bit of more effort, they can support both their hiker and general PCT hikers that arrive at locations at the same time. Here are some examples of how these hiker supports can become trail angels easily.

As Trail supporter, you are typically going to drive to a trail crossing. Look for hikers in nearby towns before going to the trail head to see if any hikes needs a ride to the trail head.

Before driving to the trail head, consider buying some Trail Magic food to share with hikers at the trail head. You can offer that magic as you wait for your hiker to arrive.

While you are waiting at trail head for your hiker, you could offer this basic starting conversation line with the hikers – Do you need anything? A hiker may reply with a request for water, battery charging, first aid supplies or maybe a ride back into town or off trail for any reason. As a hiker support vehicle, you can easily transport a hike or two back to a town after you have supported your hiker.

As a hiker support vehicle, you might be able to communicate to hikers farther up the trail important messages or other logistics.

The important take away here is that if you are a hiker support vehicle and team, please consider supporting and angeling for all hikers. It about the same level of effort to offer some food and water to your individual hiker as well offering similar items to hikers that arrive at the trail head at the same time. You will make new friends that will make your hiker assistance efforts far more gratifying when you support several hikers at a stop!

There are tips about what trail angels do on the Trail Angel Central . org website.