There’s an elf -- some believe -- alive and well in Runyon Canyon, and this elf must believe people, especially hikers are by and large an honest bunch.
How else can you explain the table of goodies near the entrance to the hiking trails?
Everything here is sold on the honor system.
Someone has set out a smorgasbord of bottled water, energy bars, bananas and other healthy faire and he or she is asking only one dollar in return.
One hiker told NBC4 that everyone “sticks to it. I’ve seen people come back from their car. Take water and go back to the car and drop a dollar off.”
Some hikers believe the honesty here breeds honesty.
Coming upon the table for the first time, people are shocked.
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“Right in the middle of the city, just leave it here and trust?” one said. “Let me tell you something, in Boston you put this out in the middle of downtown north end? The thing’ll be wiped out.”
Witnesses said this is the work of a man who lives in the area who thought it would be convenient for hikers.
He even leaves dog biscuits, which are free.
He’s been doing it for four years and returns every few days to check and replenish the stash.
That’s what people who’ve seen him say.
But I prefer to believe it’s the work of an elf.
