The Pacific Crest Trail stretches from Mexico to Canada for a grueling 2,700-mile adventure in which hikers push themselves to the limit. But amid the blistered feet and mosquito bites, there’s an unexpected reprieve: They call it “trail magic.”

Trail magic is like stumbling onto a treasure chest in the middle of nowhere. The term generally refers to all the beautiful moments that happen on the trail — right when they’re needed.

Picture this: You’re hot, tired and low on food when suddenly, the forest opens up to reveal a small oasis offering cold drinks, snacks and folding chairs. This surprise kindness is the work of volunteers known as trail angels.

Eugene resident Harold Leeson has been a trail angel since 2016 when his son Jeffrey tackled the PCT and returned home full of stories about trail magic he encountered along the way. Inspired, Harold and his wife, Karen, started creating trail magic stops of their own. They drive several hours to set up near Charlton Lake between Diamond Peak and South Sister, serving calorie-rich snacks like hot dogs, chips, cookies and even ice cream.

“So I’ve got six dogs going here,” Karen Leeson said while boiling a pot full of hot dogs in early August 2024. “All we need now are hikers.”

Farther up the trail, a lone hiker smiled when he saw one of several trail magic signs Harold posts to alert hikers of the upcoming sanctuary. Kyle Holsgrove traveled all the way from London to hike the PCT. For him, stumbling onto trail magic is about more than just food.

“I hadn’t spoken to anyone for 48 hours before I got here,” Holsgrove said. “Not only have you got a cold drink and a hot dog, you’ve got some company for a couple of hours, and that really makes a difference to your mindset. It’s definitely appreciated.”

Trail magic highlights how small acts of kindness can have a big impact, even on the toughest days. For Harold Leeson, the opportunity to lift people’s spirits on such an arduous journey motivates him to keep coming back.

“I love doing it just to see the smiles on their faces,” he said. “The fact that they could be having a bad day and somebody cares about them and is supporting them, it keeps them going down the road a little farther.”

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/04/pacific-crest-trail-magic-angels/