WHEN TRAIL ANGELS GET THEIR WINGS

By Whitney La Ruffa (he/him)

Arlier this year, the Continental Divide Trail Community lost its original Trail Angel when Nita Larronde passed away. Nita was a legend on the CDT, and she had been hosting hikers for as long as anyone can remember at her home in Pie Town, NM, known as the Toaster House. This small home located right along the CDT in Pie Town has hosted numerous hikers, bikers, and other human-powered travelers over the years. Nita not only lived in this home and hosted hikers, but it’s also where she raised her 5 children, even giving birth to some at home.

After years in the small house, Nita built a larger home a few minutes away where she lived, but in the true Trail Angel way, she kept the Toaster House as a place for hikers and bikers to use a self-service hostel of sorts. Pie Town is a tiny little town, and the Toaster House has been the only town lodging option for travelers over the years. Ask any CDT hiker about Pie Town, and you are sure to get a story about their time at the Toaster House.

If you ever had the chance to meet Nita, there is no doubt you walked away smiling, and saying to yourself, “That is the nicest person I have ever met in my life”. Nita always had a big smile on her face and would give you any help she could, but mainly she just made you immediately feel like one of the family. I first had the honor of getting to know Nita back in 2015 when I was the President of ALDHA-West (American Long Distance Hiking Association-West). That was the year that Nita received the Martin Papendick Award for Trail Angel of the Year.

The Award ceremony at that year’s gathering on Mt Hood was awesome. So many hikers came and shared their stories of Nita’s hospitality, and some of her daughters came to see her being honored for the help she had provided to so many strangers. It was a very special evening, and Nita was so proud of winning that award that she carried it with her everywhere for the next year. It was then decided by the board of ALDHA-West that the physical award should stay at the Toaster House, and to this day, the Bronze Boot sits atop the archway to the Toaster House, greeting each visitor as they enter.

In 2016, I was thru-hiking the CDT and Nita told me that I needed to let her know when I would be in Pie Town so she could make sure she was there to see me. Once I started on the trail I gave her the date I planned to arrive and she told me she would fly home early from Hawaii just to see me, a true honor. Well, the old “best-laid plans of mice and men” got the better of me, and the second night out of Doc Campbells, I got sick as a dog. For the next two days, I had a fever and the dreaded vomit and diarrhea combo.

My mileage dropped way down, and there it was: No way I would be to Pie Town when I said I would. However, a few days of being sick on the trail subsided, and the day I said I would be there I awoke 39.8 miles from Pie Town. I told my hiking partner who had been caring for me, “Let’s go to Pie Town today”. He said, “No way am I doing that many miles…”

By mid-day, we were atop Mangus Mountain visiting the fire lookout there and I begged my partner to text our friends already in Pie Town to see if they could meet us somewhere and slack-pack us the last 13 miles to town. Well, a lot of things came together and at dusk that evening I walked through the arch of the Toaster House. I was greeted by Nita, handed a cold beer, and welcomed to a feast! Nita had opened the freezers that day and pulled out piles of food for my other hiking partners to make a huge meal for the 27 of us that happened to be there. She even cut some fresh zucchini flowers from her garden to be roasted and enjoyed. We sat around all night joking, telling stories and just being embraced in that love that Nita had for all.

The next day she lent me her old Ford e-350 pickup so some other hikers and I could travel to Socorro to visit the Very Large Array (VLA), and then that evening she came and took a truckload of us out to her friend’s house for a star party. Her friend was an astronomer at the VLA and had an 8’ telescope in their backyard, it was by far the greatest zero day I have ever had.

I was able to see Nita a few more times since that hike while traveling in the area for work or trail events. It was always a joy to be around her and catch up on life. Some things never changed though: She was still smiling, and she was still the kindest person I had ever met. If someone ever asked me what the embodiment of love is, I would say look no further than Nita Larronde.

It was a very sad day when I heard of her passing, for I not only lost a friend that I cared about and respected, but the trail community lost one of the greatest Trail Angels ever known. My heart goes out to Nita’s family, the community of Pie Town, and all of those who, like me, are going to miss her smiling face, warm hugs, and kindness to strangers and travelers.

Godspeed my friend, and may you now rest in peace…