The Appalachian Trail is full of magic. It happens often enough that hikers created the term “Trail Magic.” Trail Magic can be something as simple as a cooler packed with cold soda and candy. Other times fresh fruit. It might be jugs of filtered water in parts where water is scarce. It’s all magic. They are usually found in high traffic areas where hikers are sure to see them. Sometimes there is a journal so hikers can write their thank-yous. Other times, the person supplying them stays to hand things out and talk with the hikers. The people who go out of their way to help hikers are “Trail Angels.”

During my hike, countless Trail Magic and Trail Angels came to my rescue. Some stories are small, but at the time made all the difference. Other stories start small and end bigger than expected. These are some of the stories that still stick with me.

Shelter From The Storm

It was early in my hike. April. My fellow hikers and I had just finished the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. All I wanted to do was reach a spot called “Max Patch,” known for its beautiful view. My dad had already hiked there and said it was one of his favorite spots. In my excitement to finally see it, I started early that day. I reached the ascent to Max Patch and saw a man was grilling hot dogs and burgers next to an RV. He called to me saying he was cooking for hikers. When my friends caught up to me, rain began to come down. Hard. Without hesitation, this man told us to go inside his camper. We waited out the storm enjoying hot food and shelter. When we got to the top of Max Patch later, we saw nothing but fog. But the man’s kindness (and food) made Max Patch a memorable experience anyway.

Super Dave

Spider and I found ourselves hiking alone in Virginia. We had separated from our dear friends Tumbleweed and Foolhardy. To catch up, we had been walking extra miles. We were halfway through our day, hiking up a steep hill that came to a road crossing. At the top of the hill, we saw a man sitting down on a chair. Spider and I exchanged looks, hoping there would be some sort of treat for us. To our amazement, the man was handing out hot pizza. Not your typical Trail Magic. He said his name was “Super Dave,” and that he was a former through-hiker. The uniqueness of his food choice still blows me away. Leave it to a hiker to know how to go the extra mile. That pizza gave us the strength we needed to keep moving.

Breakfast For One

I was all alone in Pennsylvania. The LBFC temporarily broke up, and I was close to broke myself. But I made it to Delaware Water Gap, the last town before you cross into New Jersey. It’s a milestone because it means the end of the rockiest state, plus there’s a free hostel. I hiked into town early and treated myself to a luxurious brunch. I was almost out of money, but the food was too hard to pass up. While eating, I struck up a conversation with a nice couple who learned I’m a hiker. They left before I was done eating and wished me luck. When I finished, the waitress told me that the couple paid for my breakfast. Because of them, I was able to buy more food at the grocery store. Their generosity saved me at one of my lowest points on the Trail.

The Captain

The LBFC was back together and in Maine, the final stretch. We have finished walking to a gas station for a junk food pick-me-up. The boys are trying to hitch back to the trail because, at this point, we are all tired. Maine is one of the hardest states. It is a literal uphill battle full of challenging mountain ranges. I don’t have much hope. I’m ready to make camp, have dinner, and sleep. To my surprise, they find a ride.

In the car, we introduced ourselves to the driver. He was strangely silent for a moment. Then he said, “I could ride you back to trail, but wouldn’t you rather stay at my house for a while?” We looked at one another in wonder.

We learned that this man, a former sea captain, had taken in our other hiker friends earlier. They told him to look out for “Breeze and them,” meaning us. When he heard our names, he knew that we were the ones to take in next. We spent two days with him. He gave us each our own room and plenty of food. He kept our heavy packs while we hiked a section carrying nothing but day bags. Then he picked us up and fed us a steak dinner. Because of The Captain, we felt refreshed and ready for the last part of Maine. This man went above and beyond his Trail Angel duties. Not only did he save us, but he took in multiple groups of hikers. I’m certain there were many before us. He was a real angel.

These stories only skim the surface of the countless acts of magic I encountered. My faith in humanity has never been stronger than when I was hiking the AT. Whenever I grow weary of the state of the world, I remind myself that magic does exist.