PCT Hikers' meeting place changes as they proceed North

Pacific Crest Trail Hikers will be disappointed this year as they proceed north from Mexico! They will learn that one of their favorite and famous traditional stops has closed, the Safley’s in Aqua Dulce. (See below for Donna Saufley's recent announcement.) Hikers will miss this place! In past years previous hikers have enjoyed showers, the mail stop, delicious food and fun, and many other delights as they collapsed in Agua Dulce after walking hundreds of miles across mountain crests and desert floors from the Mexican border. Luckily there is a KOA nearby, and that will help.

We can help them even more by befriending them and giving them rides as they walk all over Tehachapi from the trail heads nine miles away, and to the market, to the Post Office, and to the places where they will sleep. These locations are not near each other, as you know. If you see hikers, give them rides! They have started coming through our fair town this month and their numbers will soon increase rapidly. The biggest group will depart from the border on April 22, their joyous "Kickoff Day" celebration.

If you would like to be on the PCT Angels list for Tehachapi, please call Anne Marie at (661) 822-5379 for further information. With your permission, your first name and telephone number will be added to our Angels list and shared with hikers as they approach our area. Hikers are from all over the USA and many are from other countries. Picking them up is an adventure in itself!

Hiker Heaven is closed

Our lives and our hearts have been very blessed to have a National Scenic Trail going through them: The 2,650 mile long Pacific Crest Trail. For the past 18 years our family has hosted the intrepid adventurers who are attempting to walk the trail’s length. This experience has changed our lives, opened up new worlds of possibilities, and gifted us with friends from all over the world.

But all good things must come to an end – to make way for other good things. In this case, our new grandson and hiking plans of our own. So, for the first time in 18 years, we both regret and rejoice to say we will not be hosting hikers this year or in the foreseeable future.

Hikers should not despair, however, as the KOA in Acton, directly next to the trail where it crosses Soledad Canyon, is stepping up to fill the void, with many things that hikers need:

They will accept and hold packages, and they have camping, showers, laundry facilities

A list of local trail angels is also being developed, and will be shared at discreet locations along the trail. Until then, the KOA is the best resource.

http://www.koa.com/campgrounds/acton