When I called with questions, I spoke to a very nice lady. As a result, I was completely unprepared for the horrendously rude shuttle driver. Wade was a complete jerk from the moment he opened his mouth. First, he wanted me to write down my information on a notepad (I'd rented a bear can). I tried to tell him at least three times that I had the form from the website in my backpack. He refused to listen to me and made me write my info on his notepad. In the interest of full disclosure, he did apologize when I handed him the form later. The fact that he just refused to let me speak or retrieve the form helps paint the picture of my entire, horrible shuttle ride. Wade doesn't let other people speak. He doesn't listen when they do and he only seems interested in listening to himself speak. Wade wasn't interested in learning about the people in his shuttle. If he'd known he had a federal park ranger in his van I wonder if he would have been even more hostile and derogatory towards the federal government? Would he see the irony? He has a job driving this shuttle because people want to hike in the beautiful, federally managed, Lost Coast. Does his boss know that he said to a shuttle full of people that as long as he changes his hat and stands 50 feet away from the van he could sell marijuana during his breaks? Does the BLM know that a company that has a permit with them employees such an idiot? We were subjected to one hour and 45 minutes of Wade talking. When I tried to get a word in, he very rudely told me to stop interrupting so he could answer my question (which he never did because he didn't give me a chance to voice it). He berated me for interrupting for at least 2 minutes before launching into a lecture about marijuana cultivation. I don't know how he was able to breathe, he didn't pause at all. No one spoke except Wade, for at least the next 30 minutes. No one could have without interrupting. As well as learning all about growing marijuana, Wade told us his view on Meth (not bad for you, unless you're already on the verge of a mental break down, that's when you lose your teeth and become addicted. The dentist in the shuttle actually did interrupt to set him straight on that point) and heroin. Wade thinks the next boost for Shelter Cove's economy should be the growing of heroin (it's actually poppies, Wade). I couldn't help but wonder, as we careened down the narrow, winding road to Mattole, whether I was safe with Wade behind the wheel. How many of the drugs he'd mentioned were coursing through his bloodstream at that moment? Wade did not, in any way, instill confidence or a sense of safety. I hardly spoke for the rest of the trip, and not one more word to Wade. I couldn't believe how unprofessional he was. He said the most ridiculous things. One of my favorites was as we were unloading at last. He said his boss wants him to hike the trail so he could talk about it. His boss sounds brilliant. I might have enjoyed Wade's diatribe if it had been about something interesting, like the trail I was about to hike. I was so upset that I told Wade, at the end, that he's an asshole. He tried to argue with me, but I was having none of it. No, I'd listened to Wade long enough. It was my turn. I repeated my opinion and walked off. My fellow shuttle passenger later told me he was really glad I did that. All of us, as we hiked sections of the trail together, talked about how horrible Wade was. I actually feel a little bad saying that, because Wade will see this. But he could take this critique as an opportunity for improvement. Let the other people talk. Enjoy meeting people from other places who have come to see the beautiful area you live in. Don't talk about drugs, it doesn't belong in the professional setting of a shuttle bus driver. Don't make me question whether or not I'm safe in your shuttle because you might be impaired. If you must talk about marijuana, limit yourself. Check the clock. Aim for no more than 5 minutes, then stop. Let people ask questions. If they don't ask questions, they're not interested. Move to another topic. Let others speak. You tried your best to ruin my amazing backpacking trip. You failed. But you were still an asshole and I will never recommend your shuttle service to anyone (which is ironic since a BLM Ranger actually recommended this company to me). If I have any friends who want to do this trail, I will personally drive them and pick them up at the end just so they can avoid the negative experience I had. read more
