Do you pick up hithhikers?

illusion88

Lifer
Oct 2, 2001
13,164
3
81
I hitch to get up Little Cottonwood Canyon (and down) sometimes. LCC is a canyon where some ski hills are located in Utah. There is lot's of back country there, so a bunch of people hitch from the road back to the resort or hitch up from the base of the canyon.

It's part of the ski bum lifestyle I guess. Every hitchhiker I picked up was either someone I knew or knew someone I knew. The ski community is pretty tight like that.
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Only the hot looking girls.

Which is never. But i don't see many hitchhikers actually. Maybe once a month if even that.
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
I've given rides to people that have gotten stranded before.

I was young and stupid, and they got lucky.


<---always stops to help a woman change a tire though:D

At least in VA anyways:eek:
 

mpitts

Lifer
Jun 9, 2000
14,732
1
81
Are you in tune with the rules of the road? Have you seen Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back!?
 

buck

Lifer
Dec 11, 2000
12,273
4
81
Yes I did in costa rica, they were workers near the village we were staying in. Looking back on it, it wasnt such a good idea.

Never hitched before and wont pick up another hitchhiker.
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
The only time and place I'll pick up hitchhikers is during the day, on the mountain passes when I'm in Colorado (usually Berthoud and Loveland) so they can drop in at the top (backcountry ski/snowboarding).

I've asked for many a hitches myself for the same reason.
 

slsmnaz

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2005
4,016
1
0
I have picked up a stranded motorist before (xmas eve) but would never pick up someone just thumbing for a ride. AS much as I like to believe most people are good, they just aren't.
 

mooglekit

Senior member
Jul 1, 2003
616
0
0
no an no...all the hitchhikers I see around here are...well, frankly, they're scary looking...:D
 

pnad

Senior member
May 23, 2006
405
1
0
I have never hitched myself but I have picked up a few over the years.

Here is my most recent hitcher story posted on my local forum:

Picked up an interesting hitchhiker this morning

His name was Peter. Looked like a stranded business man standing on the onramp of I94 at hwy20 in Racine. As I rounded the corner he flipped up his thumb with a hopeful look. How could I resist?

I unlocked the door and he hopped in and said, "Alo, ma name is PeeTah!" So I asked him where he was headed and where he is coming from. He proceeds to tell me that he is a Faith Healing Minister from South Africa and he is on a mission in the states. "People in wheelchairs walking, blind people seeing... miracles Dan, Miracles!" Apparently he was down in LA after Katrina hit and headed north after that settled down a bit. He then told me stories about South Africa and how wonderful it was until the blacks took over the government and started forcing the white to leave. "Damn savages my friend!"

So I took him all the way to the the Bluemound exit of hwy45 (about 35 miles). Before he got out of the car he blessed me and of course hit me up for some cash. He thanked me, called me an Angel and told me the Devil would be mad at me for helping him. As I was driving away I got a nasty headache - ****** Devil.


Later that day I had a funny IM convo with the wife:

[16:11] I'm soooo cool: what is with your name?
[16:11] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: hah
[16:11] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: I forgot to tell you
[16:11] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: I carpooled today
[16:12] I'm soooo cool: ok so are you going to be home late?
[16:12] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: no dork
[16:12] I'm soooo cool: and who did you take a ride with?
[16:12] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: um... a HEALING MINISTER FROM SOUTH AFRICA?
[16:12] I'm soooo cool: ok what ever
[16:12] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: lol
[16:12] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: i picked up a hitchhiker this morning
[16:13] I'm soooo cool: WHAT THE F ARE YOU DOING DON'T YOU THINK THAT MAYBE HE OR SHE WOULD F KILL YOU OR SOMETHING
[16:13] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: nah
[16:13] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: not Peter or pEEtAH as he pronounced it
[16:14] I'm soooo cool: don't you ever do that again do I have to rent the hitchhicker for you to study?
[16:14] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: yeah yeah, it wasnt 2am and raining ok?
[16:14] I'm soooo cool: it doesn't matter
[16:15] I'm soooo cool: so what did you get for the ride ;)
[16:15] Blessed by a Healing Minister Hitchhiker from South Africa: Why - BLESSED of course

edit: added IM convo
 

effowe

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
6,012
18
81
The town I grew up in had a Mental Hospital, complete with "Don't pick up Hitchhikers" signs. Besides that, I would never pick one up. You don't know what sort of crazies are out there, the risk outweighs whatever moral benefits.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
No. I've considered it in Hawaii, but I wouldn't do it in NJ. I've only seen a few hitchhikers in NJ though, pretty sure it's illegal here.

I'd only pick one up if my wife wasn't in the car with me.