(footsteps crunching) - Well, it's 10 o'clock, and we're officially at the halfway mark on our Oregon map.

- Past the halfway mark.

- Past the halfway.

So we just ran into a hiker that was headed southbound, and he was like, "There's a fun little surprise "for you in two miles."

So of course we had of course thought, like, Trail Magic.

(optimistic music) - [Harold] There's a saying on the trail, the trail provides.

And it means that the trail's going to take care of you.

Something like Trail Magic, or something's going to happen, it's going to be okay.

(wheels rattling) - [Narrator] Harold Leeson and his family just drove two hours from Eugene to the Pacific Crest Trail, but they didn't bring any hiking gear.

They brought Trail Magic.

- [Harold] Trail Magic is supporting the hikers on the trail, whether it's giving 'em a chair, a meal, anything that's going to help these guys get down the road a ways.

(inquisitive music) - [Narrator] Trail Magic isn't unique to Harold and his family.

They're part of a larger community of people who create these unexpected sanctuaries.

(foot stomping) - We got another tree right up here.

So every year I've made a new sign for the last four or five years, and the hikers, I think, really like 'em.

(footsteps crunching) - [Hiker] Like ooh boy!

- [Suzie] Okay, nuh-uh.

Really?

That's a legit sign.

- [Robert] (indistinct) on the trail.

(whimsical music) - [Suzie] What?

Hot dog, chips, and cold drinks, and cookies?

I hope this- (Robert laughing in mock hysteria) I hope this is actually, like, today.

♪ Hot dog, chips, and cold drinks ♪ - [Narrator] The PCT's no ordinary trail.

It's one of the longest trails in North America, and stretches nearly 2,700 miles from Mexico to Canada.

Completing the entire thing takes about four to six months, and a lot of burned calories along the way.

- So I've got six dogs going here.

Kind of got a system down.

All we need now are hikers.

- [Harold] Hey, welcome!

You like some Trail Magic?

- [Sophie] Wow, yes!

- All right.

How about a couple hot dogs?

- Yeah, it would be great to have a hot dog.

- Well, take your pack off.

- Woo!

- [Harold] We've got Oreos, we've got chips.

- Wow.

- And we've got grapes and bananas over there.

- Ooh, I love this.

(laughing) - Good morning.

- Would you like some hot dogs?

- I'm vegetarian.

- We have vegetarian hot dogs.

- Ah, yes, okay.

- We'll get you some dogs.

We started doing Trail Magic in 2016 when our son hiked the PCT.

- I got a lot of Trail Magic when I was on the trail, and I told my parents about it, and so now paying it back, paying it back.

When you come across Trail Magic like this, it is just a godsend in the middle of nowhere.

It feels really good.

- What's your name?

- I'm Ducky's Dad.

- Oh, okay.

Alexandra.

- There's this phenomena known as trail names, and you know, I'm Ducky's Dad because my son Ducky got the name Ducky on the trail.

- I live in the north of France.

It's quite flat and you haven't got mountains.

- It gets better.

- I think probably over 50% are international hikers, and I think it speaks to the fact that they don't have a lot of long trails in their countries, and this is a pretty famous long trail.

(hikers conversing) - Is it like a hiker box, or...?

- Yes.

- Yeah.

- Yes.

- Take whatever you want.

- [Karen] Help yourself.

- Okay.

(people conversing) (Sophie gasping) - This has got Nutella, whoo!

(laughing) - Our son Ducky, who did the trail in 2016, he said that there's this thing called hiker hunger, and you just can't get enough calories.

(whimsical music) Come on in, I'm Ducky's Mom.

- Hi, nice to meet you.

- [Eric] Oh man, what a nice surprise.

- [Karen] Do you want any chips?

- You know, a lot of these hikers are losing like 27 pounds in the five months they're on the trail.

- With the most fat.

- [Harold] Hey, welcome, guy!

- Hello.

I'll take some radioactive soda.

- There you go.

You're going to be wired.

- That's what we need out here, right?

Sugar rush.

- How are you guys doing today?

- [Harold] We're doing great.

Would you like a couple hot dogs?

- [Amy] I only got five more miles to hike today.

Do you have soda, though?

- Sodas are right here.

- [Amy] Maybe a hot dog.

- [Harold] You got it.

I've got your dog.

- Well, thank you, thank you.

- How about some Trail Magic?

- [Hiker] You betcha - [Harold] Good.

- You get excited 'cause you know that there's a good chance that something's going to be around the corner, but you don't get too excited because you know there's a chance you'll get there and they've already gone.

But when you realize there's, like, you can smell hot dogs or something, then you're like, okay, this is going to be a good one.

(laughing) - I've seen the daddies do it.

I think, "Oh, I think it's a Trail Magic, whoo!"

That is, how you say in English, la fiesta?

- A party.

- This is a party.

Big party.

(laughing) - [Karen] Are you ready for some Trail Magic?

- Sure, yeah, why not?

- Would you like some dogs?

- Yes, please.

- You have to stare at your feet all day long.

- I just love doing it just to see the smiles on their faces.

The fact that they could be having a bad day and somebody cares about 'em, and is supporting them.

- Because I cook.

- Okay.

- [Harold] It keeps them going down the road a little farther.

If you could sign our Trail Magic book, that'd be great.

- [Narrator] Crossing the PCT's a huge undertaking and pushes the physical and mental limits of many hikers.

- [Kyle] I hadn't spoken to anyone for 48 hours before I got here, so not only have you got a cold drink and a hot dog.

- Oh, I bet, yeah.

- You've got some company for a couple of hours, and that really makes a difference to your mindset as you walk in.

It's definitely appreciated.

- Awesome, brother.

It was a pleasure.

- Yeah, thanks so much.

- Slow you down a little bit.

- Yeah.

- These people are on a journey that they will remember the rest of their life, and I can play a small little part in that.

And I really like doing that.

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