July 8, 2018 Angels Have Names Too

Granny Hat learned during Mission’s latest phone call that Trail Angels have names too.  Some of them are former PCT thru-hikers and use their trail name.  Others are given names based on some of the magic they provide for hikers.  One former PCT trekker named Storytime parks a small adventure RV up on Donner Pass and serves hot dogs, water and melons to the thru-hikers.  Granny imagines he tells them a story or two also.  Another guy named Chipmunk pops up a tent on Highway 4 (Ebbets Pass) and offers drinks, cereal and one banana per hiker.  He will also fry up an egg with chili and toast.  This is probably a sure-fire way to make friends, be popular and feel useful, Granny Hat recommends it. This has got to be the real way Angels get their wings.

The Trail Angels that win this week’s Magic Award are simply named Bruce, Susan and Sage Grivey, cousins from Hamilton City, CA, who drove up to Belden on Highway 70 to meet Mission laden with good food and company for a picnic. They also faithfully documented the merry meeting with pictures. In Susan’s eloquent (and familiar) words: “At first he ate a watermelon.  But he was still hungry.  Then he ate a peach and a nectarine.  But he was still hungry.  Then he ate a Chipotle Veggie Bowl.  But he was still hungry.  Then he drank an Aranciata (Orange Pelligrino). But he was still hungry.  Then he drank an Izzy. But he was still hungry.  Then he ate more watermelon, nectarines and peaches.  And we sent him on his way with a Chipotle Veggie Burrito (and some pop tarts) for the road.  And just like the Hungry Little Caterpillar, he is off on his next journey.”

While in Belden, Mission also picked up his re-supply box full of staple dinners, oatmeal, pro bars, cliff bars, nuts, fruit, batteries and those important papers like topo maps and TP.  He seemed most excited about the Red Vines Granny Hat tossed in there on a whim.

Belden’s Post Office operates out of the Caribou Corner store.  Granny Hat shipped Mission’s care package to PO Box 1 which is the owner’s personal box.  There are only a few other residents scattered here and there in the forests and another general store.  Nevertheless, Belden is famous for its rip-roaring weekend raves which motivate many of the PCT hikers to trek a little faster for some wild music and well, whatever else they do, Granny would rather not know.  Bruce and Susan said that they could tell the town was revving up for the evening as they drove away.

A little wilderness humor pictured above…..  Bruce said Mission didn’t get the joke at first, wondered why baby rattlesnakes would play with baby rattles?  Granny Hat asked if this discussion happened before or after they fed him.

Trail Angels work their magic up and down the PCT, sometimes when a hiker least expects it.  “Trail Angel” is one of Granny Hat’s new life goals.  And if life is a journey, then we are all on the trail and could use a little magic every now and then, right?  So let’s be trail angels for each other, a little kindness, fizzy drinks and Chipotle go a long way.  And when life is hard, a picnic in the good company of some angels certainly makes the climb worthwhile.  Thank you Grivey Angels for blessing Mission! (and BTW those Grivey peaches are the most delicious Granny Hat has ever had.)