Trail Mercy On The Appalachian Trail

I’ve been hiking the Appalachian Trail (the AT to those who know and love it) since I was an eleven year old Boy Scout, when in August of 1958, our Boy Scout Troop 156 from Smyrna (sponsored by Smyrna American Legion Post 156), led by Scoutmaster Melvin Posey, hiked the Blood Mountain leg of the trail. That initial introduction to the AT was less than fun, as it rained the entire trek up and back. The only way I made it up there was Melvin telling us that there were Coke and vending machines awaiting us. Upon arrival, all we found was a rudimentary shelter and a pipe sticking out of the ground with a trickle of cold water coming out. Never trusted Melvin after that (just kidding – he was a great guy).

Anyway, over the years, after I got out of the Army and finally got over my aversion to long hikes, I ventured back to the AT. I am a section hiker, a day hiker of the AT, unlike those hardy souls who start at either the Southern end of the trail in Georgia or the Northern point in Maine, and hike the entire trail, or at least attempt to. We call these folks Through Hikers. I’ve hiked different sections of the trail, but my favorite, by far, is Charlies Bunion, where you start at the Newfound Gap Trailhead and head north into the Smokey Mountains. It is a grueling uphill trek, but well worth the hike. I have done it several times and hope to do it again before I die.

My brother, Bruce, is an avid hiker, and I have hiked some with him over the years. He started a couple of years ago with a goal of hiking the entire AT in segments, one leg at a time in sequence from South to North. He is somewhere into the Smokey Mountains at this point. It will probably take him several more years to finish it, but he is committed to doing so, and I believe he will, if his legs hold up. My legs, on the other hand, always my strongest asset physically, have finally said “Whoa, big Fella” and told me to take it easy.

In March of 2012, Bruce called me and asked if I would like to join him for an overnight camp on the AT at Tray Gap, at the foot of Tray Mountain, but high in the mountains, where a dirt mountain road crosses the AT North of Helen, Georgia. He said he was going to camp and set up a Trail Magic station for Through Hikers on their early Spring trek starting out from the Southern end of the AT headed North. He said you have to catch them in March, or they will be gone on their way by April. As I said, I’ve been hiking the AT for over 55 years, and I have never heard of Trail Magic or what it was. Bruce explained that folks along the AT have started setting up little stations on the AT where hikers will pass by, and hand out food, snacks, water and assorted drinks, to the Through Hikers. This unexpected gift is called Trail Magic by the hikers, and they refer to the people who give out the goodies as “Trail Angels.” This really appealed to me, having done similar things on numerous Mission Trips to hard places.

Just so you know, the Through Hikers have to carry everything they are going to eat or drink on their person. Weight is an issue, so careful thought is given to what they carry, and that goes to their gear as well. There is a real science to it. Reminds me of the Army where you only carried what you absolutely had to have. Sometimes, prior to reaching a trail crossing where supplies can be replenished, the hikers will run out of stuff. Usually food or water, and even though all of them will carry some sort of water pump and filtration system to suck up whatever water they may pass along the way, pure fresh water is valued greatly. And the luxury of a candy bar or hot dog on the trail is just not going to happen.

But that is where the Trail Magic comes in. Imagine trekking up this arduous climb, knowing that you are only half way to your next stop, a shelter or camping spot where there is hopefully going to be water. Your water supply is gone. You are on the verge of dehydration, and while people on the trail will not let fellow hikers do without, it is rare for them to ask another hiker to share. Then here you find yourself at the base of this imposing climb, knowing you are an hour or so from the top and welcome rest and a camp fire, with a meal and water to drink. But there beside the trail are some folks with maybe a table set up, some chairs circling a campfire, a blanket on the ground and FOOD and WATER! It is Trail Magic!

You can’t imagine the gratitude and appreciation these hikers have for an unexpected treat such as this, or maybe you can, but it is special.

So, back to two years ago when Bruce asked me to go with him. I said yes, and called son Lew, who also said yes, and we were off the next weekend. I took cases of Gatorade, water and soft-drinks, along with granola bars and assorted snacks. Bruce brought a bunch of stuff, too. We drove up to Tray Gap on an early Saturday morning and set up our Trail Magic station. I lost count of how many Through Hikers we served that day, but it was dozens. And they all loved it. While we were there, two couple from Gainesville, Georgia were also there, and they had set up a grill and were cooking hotdogs. This was a hit, for sure. I knew what I would serve if I ever did this again. One of the ladies from Gainesville kept slipping a note in the hiker’s pocket as they left on their hike, telling them to read it that night. It had a Bible verse on it. Nice touch.

I kept a watch on the trail and called out to all hikers coming up the trail to come over and have some Trail Mercy. Bruce kept correcting me and laughing at me for getting Magic and Mercy mixed up. I swear I did it all day, and not on purpose. I’m old, you see. For those of you not aware, the hikers give each other Trail Names. They all ask each other what their Trail Names are, using that, if you have one, rather than your given name. You do not give yourself a Trail Name. It comes about and is given to you by someone who may hike with you for a while, and who may notice some characteristic, virtue or idiosyncrancy you may have. My brother, Bruce, for instance, is named “Small Talk” for his ability to talk with just about anyone about anything. About halfway through the day, one of the hikers we were feeding, who along with his group who stayed with us for a while, inevitably asked me what my Trail Name was. I told him I did not have one. He laughed and looked at his friends, and they all agreed that yes I did have a trail name – “Trail Mercy.” That’s how it happens. My son Lew, who has the same name as legendary rocker, Lou Reed, famous for his song “Walk On The Wild Side”, was given the Trail Name “Walk On The Wild Side.”

We camped that night, and got up the next morning and came home feeling all good inside. I swore I would do it again.

The next year, March of 2013, Bruce was going to do it again, and I was going to go with him, but weather was a bitch, and conflicts arose, and we did not go. Then this year, Bruce asked me to go with him on Saturday, March 15^th to do it again. I was excited and was all in. Then the weather reports started coming in as being stormy with heavy rains and winds, and it was looking sketchy. Finally, Bruce pulled the plug and said he would try and go up the next weekend. That would not work for me. The weather report improved somewhat and looked good for Friday, with rain to come in later on Saturday. I asked Bruce to go up with me on Friday, camp at Tray Gap, then give out Trail Magic as long as the weather allowed on Saturday. He could not go on Friday, and I decided to go by myself.

I set up camp at Tray Gap, and I had some neighbors, Cashmere and Curly (their Trail Names), camping back in the woods off the trail. I enjoyed my solitude by a roaring campfire that night, finally going to sleep, waking up early to set up “Trail Mercy’s Trail Magic Café.” Cashmere and Curly were hiking south to Unicoi State Park near Helen, then back Saturday evening, as day hikers. They said they would tell the Through Hikers headed my way to look out for grilled hotdogs from Trail Mercy. I had dozens of customers at the Café that day. I was down to my last two pieces of firewood at the Café, when this older gentleman and his dog drove up and asked if they could join me. Of course. He opened up the rear camper on his truck and there was a load of firewood. We had a roaring fire all day to cut the chill for the hikers. Another couple showed up with p-nut butter and jelly and loaf bread for sandwiches, along with cookies and soft drinks. Then another couple showed up, also bringing a grill to cook hotdogs. We had the hotdog market covered. There was a big bowl full of medical supplies for the hikers to grab whatever they needed. I had a big jar of Ibuprofen I handed out like M&M’s.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that one of the ladies giving out Trail Magic would run after each hiker as they left and give them a hug and slip a note in their pocket and tell them to read it that night. As she walked back to our Café, she smiled and told me it was a Bible verse. I stopped and stared at her and told her that two years ago another lady I handed out Trail Magic with had done the same. We looked at each other for a second, and she squealed and said, “You are Walk On The Wild Side’s Dad!” Go figure, huh? Serendipity for sure.

Everyone left, as the hikers dwindled down as it was near the end of the day. I told them I would stay until all the food was gone, or darkness caught me. The last two through hikers of the day arrived, and all I had left were some chips, cookies and water. They were thrilled anyway. They said I was famous on the Trail. He said that everyone they talked to that day was talking about getting hotdogs from Trail Mercy at Tray Gap. They then told me that everyone they had met on the trail since they started 10 days earlier, were beyond friendly. Then they made my day – they said I was the friendliest person they had met on the AT. That choked me up a little and even gave me pause right now as I type this.

See you next year.