c) Andrew Carter, 2021
There are people who dedicate themselves to helping PCT hikers. They are called “trail angels.” On weekends, they will often park themselves at PCT road crossings and offer food and beverages to the hikers who pass by. I have met two different trail angels of this type during the 650 miles I’ve hiked so far.
The first angel I met was “Mother Bear,” who sets up her aid station in a large culvert underneath the I-10 just outside of Palm Springs. Here are some photos.
(We had both been vaccinated.)
I also ran into “Santa Claus” at a roadside rest area in the Mt. Laguna Recreation Area in rural San Diego County. In a few minutes, I consumed one donut, one Rice Krispies Treat, a slice of cake, a banana, an orange, and some Gatorade. I would have eaten more, but I didn’t want to be a pig.
Other trail angels set up and stock water caches on the trail. Here’s one on a very dry section of trail in rural San Diego County.
An here is Mary’s Place not too far away.
That’s Walt Whitman on the left. John Muir in the center, and Henry David Thoreau on the right. Note the “Little Free Library.” This cache had a giant tank of water plus two picnic tables.
Some trail angels focus on providing hikers rides into town from PCT trailheads or rides back to the trail. I’ve gotten two rides from trail angels so far. One drove me from Tehachapi to the trail. Another drove me from the trail into Julian.
Carter Hikes 