Providing some Trail Magic on the AT

“Hey,
I have a question for everyone and anyone. Where do you think most thru-hikers of the AT are going to be on June 27th-28th? Do you think anyone will still be in Maryland? I'm gonna go run around and play on the MD AT on those days and I was gonna provide some trail magic to thru-hikers. Cook some cookies or get some friend chicken at a friends house in the area and hand it out.
About three weeks ago I went out there (it's only an hour from baltimore) and left some food at the Dahlgren's camp ground for thru-hikers. Thanks for the help.
-ű”

“but those that are left (north bound)can probably be found from harper's ferry and points further north.”

“For a good idea on where thru-hikers will be, you can go to Trail Journals and find someone who's still on the trail. A little bit of extrapolation and you'll be able to figure out where they will be then.”

“Will people accept food from a total stranger? Especially food that's not factory made and completely sealed.”

“Rumor has it a thru hiker will eat anything.. watch your hands... :P”

“If your really concerned about "food from strangers", you could allways leave a cooler of soda, iced tea, beer, fresh fruit etc. This is allways a great hit-particularly the farther from re-supply it is. If you do decide this just leave a pen or marker, and a bag for any recycleables/trash this may produce, and pick it up on your way out.

For the most part though I'd have to agree with dirtyoldguy.”

“On one thread he's stealing groceries. On this one he's givin groceries to poor starvin hikers.

Good intentions and bad judgement.”

“LOL!”

“I think he/she/it are planning on borrowin' some gear from the thru hikers....”

“"Will people accept food from a total stranger?"

It's a good rhetorical question. My guess is that people can spot folks who are sincere, and want to help. I had a similar idea once, but couldn't get much buy-in into the idea. Why not pick out a shelter along the AT that thru-hikers would pass about the appropriate week, and just camp out there a few days, cooking stews and whatnot? You could haul up some disposible bowls, plates, and lexan and feed a whole mess of folks.

I think it's an incredible idea, and hope you follow thru on your idea, oOoh.”

“On the AT? I would already have my own meal plan and my own food. Deviating from my plans, except for a few minutes of conversation, would not occur. Thanks, but no thanks.”

“Thats very cool of you too do that.

I think that hikers would like thaht very much.

Way to go!

8)”

“order them a pizza!!”

“Although many of the thruhikers will be north of there, there will still be some who are trickling through Maryland. I know some hikers like to go to Fourth of July festivities in Washington, DC. Best bet for trail magic this time of year is fruit and juice -- anything cold and wet that is too heavy for hikers to carry. Salad can be welcome too, if it's fresh. And beer, of course. We ran into a group having a picnic at Caledonia who gave us all their leftover salads and desserts - hiker heaven. And yes, it's true, a thruhiker will eat just about anything they don't have to carry. The only time I turned down food was right after I left town, when I had a too heavy food bag. But if they'd offered fruit, I would have said yes.”

“A few years ago...there was a news article reporting about cheerleaders of a highschool basketball team, treating the visiting team with brownies. The grateful guys gobbled the cookies up...unfortunately they were laced with Exlax. The authorities couldn't charge the girls, since they were minors...the girls only got repriminded. I'm just being the devil's advocate here....”