Heckler Mentions Trail Angels

The Gainesville (FL) Sun of 3 February 2012 has a piece by Desiree Farnum titled "Local expert now has segment on 'Nightly Business Report'," in which she says Lou Heckler will be giving short essays on the public television show each Friday. And

Heckler plans to use metaphors to illustrate how people can more effectively manage employees in two- to three-minute essays. For example, he refers to the “Trail Angels,” people who give energy bars and water to hikers on the Appalachian Trail, as good examples for business partners and co-workers. He said there were trail angels in his life who gave him the knowledge he needed.

So maybe he hiked. That's not mentioned.

Trail Magic, Part 3

The third part of Noah C. Kady's series on trail magic appears in the 31 July 2007 issue of the Waynesboro (PA) Record Herald. It's titled "Trail magic comes in many forms."

Kady describes the food/drink side of trail magic again, with some specific examples (including one that he suggests might have gone too far). Then he contrasts that with the magic of the Trail itself -- how does the thing continue to exist? The answer, of course, is the corps of volunteer maintainers. Kady suggests that people wanting to 'give back' to the Trail might better do it by volunteering some time to keep it going rather than simply buying some snacks to leave at a road crossing.

Excellent series, this.

Trail Magic, Part 2

The second article in the Waynesboro Record Herald's series of three by Noah C. Kady, on trail magic, is titled "Trail magic has its negative side" and appears in the 30 July 2007 issue.

Kady does a very good job of parsing the difficulties that can arise out of current forms of trail magic. He interviews numerous hikers, as well as the ATC's Laurie Potteiger and NPS's Rita Hennessy (both based in Harpers Ferry).

The drawbacks of trail magic? They include folks hauling all kinds of gear into otherwise pristine, primitive areas simply to provide a big feed to a crowd (kind of dents the wilderness experience for many), the trash that can be left behind where unattended magic is left trailside, people who might try to exploit the concept, and "reports of too much trail magic in the form of alcohol or drugs being provided at some events."

One thing's for sure:

"'(Hiking the trail) has become much more of a social experience,' Hennessy says. 'The thru-hikers that I know who did it 20 years ago had a much different experience than now.'"

That's highlighted by the experience of one of the hikers interviewed for the story who has caught up with a group of hikers who started a month before he did, but make a point of stopping for any and every party - or hint of a party - along the way. That's maybe a different issue, but the party hardy attitude is fostered by planned, organized "trail magic."

Trail Magic Story

The 28 July 2007 Waynesboro Record Herald from Waynesboro, PA has Noah C. Kady's first in a 3 part series on trail magic titled "'Magic' is commonplace along Appalachian Trail."

It's a very good analysis of the various kinds of trail magic that pop up along the Trail. And it hints at possible 'down sides' to what is sometimes a surfeit of artificially staged trail magic.