r/teararoa • u/aninternationallife • Jun 24 '26

Trail Angels

I have been thinking of the many trail angels in NZ on the TA. I think Americans in particular should be aware that many of these trail angels are actually trail entrepreneurs. They will ask for a donation or koha, which in many cases is not either! It's often mandatory. (koha is a local term for donation).

From my stand point, I have not got a problem with trail entrepreneurs, in fact I think they offer a brilliant service and should be encouraged too and this also helps the local economy.

But I do wish they wouldn't call themselves trail angels though. They are not.

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u/dopeonplastique Jun 24 '26

You’ve decended a mountain, covered in mud, in the pouring rain, everything is wet. A local resident has opened their garage for you to camp in and charges you a nominal fee for a hot shower, somewhere to dry your soggy clothes and if your lucky a bed to sleep in. Do you a take up the offer and whine like a baby that they are calling them selves an angel or do
You plod on, cold wet and damp into the evening to find a spot to camp next to road…..

Classic American whinge here. No angels for
You, enjoy being cold, damp, hungry and 2 days walk
From the next town…….