Please support us thru our ongoing campaign at :

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-marc-and-sue-keep-the-trail-magic-alive-at-mile-15374

Each year thousands of hikers set off to ambitiously complete an end-to-end hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT) spanning almost 2,200 miles and passing through 14 states from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. Carrying all their needs of food, water, and shelter strapped to their back, some head Northbound (NoBo), some Southbound (SoBo), some flip-flop, but all are considered a thru-hike of the AT when completed within one calendar year. This adventure can take five months on average and is estimated that fewer than 20% complete the trail.

By the time hikers reach Great Barrington, MA, it’s been months of eating dehydrated food, sitting on stumps, and occasional loneliness. Our goal is to lend support to these long-distance hikers. Located just off the Appalachian Trail on Route 23, our tiny Chapel offers a refuge where these weary hikers can refuel their souls with home-cooked meals and baked goods, recharge their devices, refill their water, resupply their packs, sit in a real chair, enjoy some conversation, and even shelter for the night – all free of charge.

Lending free support to long-distance hikers is not a new concept. When the trail was being laid out in 1923, volunteers would show up to feed the workers who were blazing the trail. These acts of generosity became known as “trail magic”, and the folks offering the trail magic are commonly called “trail angels”. Hikers consider these acts of trail magic to be remarkable acts of kindness and a positive influence on their trail experience. Just look at some of our feedback from last year:

“Your cookies will live in my dreams for the remainder of the trail” - Sauce

"Thanks so much for the food and conversation" - Habib

"Very gracious and kind. Thank you for accommodating us during the heavy rainfall" - Pilgrim

"Amazing setup. Thank you for everything" - Duckie

"Thank you so much for the trail magic! It absolutely made my day" - Sidetrack

When we purchased the Chapel in 2021, we never intended on asking for financial help. The Chapel was our gift to weary hikers, and Trail Magic was an altruistic event we wanted to undertake. But as you are no doubt aware, food prices have spiked 20% since 2021. Last year we did receive enough unsolicited donations of food, money and manpower to hold two Trail Magic weekends, but this year we are looking to do even more. 100% of your donation will go directly to food, water and other operating essentials. Any funds not used will be carried over to the next year. Feeding hungry hikers is not cheap, but with your help, we can give them an experience they won’t forget.

At this point, you may be wondering why it's called The Chapel, and asking yourself if there is any religious affiliation to our Trail Magic. No, there is no religious affiliation. The Chapel was built in 1996 as a memorial to three people who lost their lives when an F4 tornado hit the property. At that time the property was known as Eagleton School. Killed in the tornado were two students and a staffer. The Chapel was built by their friends using wood from fallen trees. “In cutting up the timber that was on the land we were able to use the timber to build the chapel and put it on the spot where the children had died and it some how became comforting to us and a place of worshiping and of respect,” said Bruce Bona the Executive Director of the Eagleton School. In 2016 the school shut down. The Chapel sat neglected for five years and started to deteriorate. We bought the property with every intention of keeping the Chapel intact. After all, it's only fitting that Trail Angels operate out of a Chapel. We have replaced the roof, fixed broken windows, removed the dangerous trees, and recently added electrical service. These repairs were necessary to improve its safety and usefulness. We think it's a truly special spot with serene surroundings and is worthy of being saved.

In closing, we say...thank you! Thank you for all that you have done, and thank you for what is to come. Some of you have already volunteered your time alongside us, some have donated food and supplies, and so many of you have offered words of encouragement. It all means the world to us, and we can't wait to share it with this year's crop of hikers and non-hikers alike. If you see us there, please stop by and say hi. If you're lucky, you may even get one of Sue's cookies.

Sincerely,

Marc and Susan Serra