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UID:Indybay-18467814
SEQUENCE:18490915
CREATED:20071219T113600Z
DESCRIPTION:On December 28th, 2007, hitchhikers young and old will be thumbing into the 
 California desert to swap stories and tips from the road. Hippies, hobos, 
 punk-rockers, military veterans, and other modern nomads will come together 
 for the 5th year in "Slab City," an off-the-grid community of snowbirds and 
 seasoned travelers near the Salton Sea of Southern California.\n\n"It's a 
 non-denominational gathering," says Morgan Strub, creator of digihitch.com, 
 a popular website devoted to hitchhiking and vagabonding with over 10,000 
 members around the world. "We gather to celebrate road culture, make new 
 friends, and share tips to help us all travel safer and with a stronger 
 sense of purpose. We're a pretty diverse group of people, but it's our urge 
 to explore outside the norm that brings us together."\n\nRevelers are 
 reportedly making their way to the event from as far away as Canada and the 
 U.S. East Coast. Martin, a longtime member of digihitch.com and hippie-era 
 hitchhiker is known by username, Kahliah. He sent this message on the 
 website before leaving from Ohio on December 18: "Heading off toward Slab 
 City this morning a day late, was way too cold Monday hahahah. See you in 
 Slab City..."\n\nKat, a mohawked man in his twenties, plans to drive from 
 Iowa. He has toured with punk bands and logged his share of miles by thumb, 
 but is now 'rubber tramping' in a vehicle he calls "vanarchy," picking up 
 hitchhikers along the way. He's been coming to Slab City for the last three 
 years, staying for part of the winter as many thousands of others do- in 
 makeshift mobile homes, conversion vans and even late model RVs.\n\nRedford 
 will also be returning to Slab City for his 3rd hitchhiker happening. At 
 6'7" tall, he is an imposing figure by the side of the road, but this 
 30-something chef puts drivers instantly at ease with his smile and stories 
 from 50,000+ miles of hitchhiking North America. He has thumbed from up 
 near the arctic circle of Alaska all the way into the heart of Mexico. On 
 his digihitch member profile he writes, "Started on a two month 
 vacation/hike. Now 47 states, 7 provinces of Canada, 12 states of Mexico 
 before trying for the world."\n\nRex aka "Scrappy," a Vietnam veteran, 
 world traveler, and featured writer on digihitch, will be attending for the 
 first time. His more than two dozen stories published on the website have 
 inspired many travelers this past year. He plans to hitchhike out from 
 Central Arizona shortly after Christmas.\n\nThe New Year's gathering, 
 called a "Hitchhiker Happening," is a volunteer-based, non-sponsored event 
 and no one profits financially.\n\n"We encourage everyone to pitch in what 
 they can, and to give back to the Slab City community in one way or 
 another," says Strub, known on digihitch by his road name, "Salman" -- a 
 reference to Jack Kerouac's character, Sal Paradise, in "On the Road." 
 Morgan began promoting hitchhiker happenings in 2002 via digihitch.com. He 
 has thumbed over 35,000 miles in the last 18 years, most recently to attend 
 the National Hobo Convention in Iowa, and see the Kerouac exhibit in 
 Lowell, Massachusetts, last August. To date, he has helped coordinate over 
 a dozen events across the USA and Canada, often with no more than 10-30 
 attendees.\n\n"This year will see a lot more people out there. We've 
 avoided hype and most media attention in the past, but now everyone's been 
 googling our Slab City and Chris McCandless pages, curious to see the place 
 featured in the 'Into the Wild' movie," Strub says.\n\nChris McCandless had 
 hitchhiked to Slab City in the early 90s, before his fateful trip to 
 Alaska, as written about in the book, "Into the Wild," by Jon Krakauer. Now 
 a major motion picture of the same name, the movie -directed by Sean Penn 
 and starring Emile Hirsch- includes pivotal scenes at this desert 
 community. Several "Slabbers" (as locals are often called) also appear in 
 the film as extras, including 'Builder' Bill of outdoor music venue The 
 Range, and Leonard Knight, creator of Salvation Mountain- the unique art 
 landmark featuring gospel messages made with over 100,000 gallons of 
 paint.\n\n"Slab City is a one-of-a-kind destination," Morgan Strub says. 
 "Everyone should see it at least once. You don't have to be a hitchhiker to 
 come. But if you are or once were, find our camp out near Salvation 
 Mountain, scrounge a seat, and swap some road tales."\n\nEVENT 
 DETAILS:\nThe event lasts December 28, 2007, through January 2nd, 2008.\n* 
 Bring a sleeping bag and tent/tarp and expect primitive camping 
 conditions.\n* Musicians are encouraged to bring an instrument and jam with 
 the band at The Range, a no-permit, outdoor music venue.\n* Artists are 
 invited to come and create free-standing art or reclaim unused structures 
 for art. Looking for team interested in creating a free-standing 
 installation for hitchhiker tribute.\n* Ages 18+ recommended at hitchhiker 
 camp unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. \n\nHitchhiker-friendly 
 directions and maps to Slab City - and hitchhiker camp- at 
 gathering.digihitch.com/slabmaps.php\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/12/19/18467814.php
SUMMARY:5th Annual New Year Hitchhiker Happening
LOCATION:3 miles east of Niland in Southern California, Slab City is a vagabond/ 
 snowbird community by the Salton Sea. Directions and maps can be found on 
 the included weblink at digihitch.
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/12/19/18467814.php
DTSTART:20071228T200000Z
DTEND:20071229T080000Z
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