19E Alert - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

The following was taken from Juniper’s journal, March 22nd, 2007. After all these years, a few locals are still causing problems on 19E. Don’t hang around this area and don’t park your car any where near here.

Juniper’s Journal:
A long, rotten day that I’m very glad is almost over. Only the weather was anything close to nice. First thing in the morning, when I crossed 19E, I saw that the two section hikers’ car had been badly vandalized. Someone had smashed the driver’s side window and tore up the inside–there were wires sticking out from all around the steering column, although the tires hadn’t been slit. Poor guys.

Bilko

#2

Someone should notify the state police. And Erwin police, because the culprits are most likely to be from Erwin.
Maybe be we could have a community /trail watch set up. couple of volunteers off the road with radios to contact police. (and 12powered zoom video cameras with maybe a dummy vehicle)

The police are probably busy. and they would not approve of this(litigation thing)
But it would be cool to catch these kids (adult/drunks)

I live in a small town and my friend had her daughters bike stolen and I asked “did you report it” and she said no “they are too busy to handle this” “and nothing will be done”. Documentation is very powerful If we use it.

Oh by the way. They found her daughters bike in the next town, along with almost 1500 other bikes that had been appropriated by one person. (and his son)- Major bike theft ring busted because some citizens had enough &%$# to catch him. (with the help of local police)

jack bailey

#3

I don’t disagree with much written here, but why are “the culprits . . . most likely to be from Erwin”?

Skyline

#4

I knew I would get a chirp for that Erwin suggestion. Only because it is so close? and “convenient”? Heck I don’t know. just want to stop it, any way I can. its a shame and the saying goes…

-Evil happens when good people do nothing-

I know I get a kick out of Fayetteville NC having volenteer (paid?) citizens doing accident reports for the police. hopefully they (the police) have more time stopping crime.

jack bailey

#5

While it’s not funny to loose your stuff the Trunk Monkey has helped.

Bushwhack

#6

This area on the trail has been a problem since the Federal Government took some of the local’s land and allowed the AT to go through this area. Not everyone in the area is evil, but there have been many cases of abuse, stealing and vandalism to cars parked in this area.

jack bailey might be right. Some people don’t report crime because they figure others have already reported it. I doubt if many thru-hikers have problems with the locals and so they have no need to report any problems to police. I hope that the section hikers that have problems report the problems. It has been going on for over 20 years. Longer I guess since the land was taken.

Bushwhack, thanks for advice. I’m thinking about getting the Trunk Monkey for my vehicle. :cheers

Bilko

#7

You’re right that vandilism isn’t funny, but I was crying laughing at Trunk Monkey. :lol

Early Bird

#8

I bet it is one person or one group of people that more than likely live nearby, that is responsible.

We should stop it before they go that one step further and harm a hiker. (thru hiker or section) This is a sign, do we choose to ignore it? or pass it to someone else (ie; not my problem)
How many signs do we need before something bad happens?

Anyone live in that general area? Maybe we just dont care enough.

Does any one like to form a vigilanty group of angry, skinny, young hikers with sticks and stones :slight_smile: - -lol JUST KIDDING-

jack bailey

#9

19E…where there trail crosses near roan, tn., is one of the prettiest areas on the trail!(no wonder families were angry that their land was taken!..how would i have felt?!!..how would you have felt?)…but the two times we hiked there we never had any “trouble”…i think last year i had a bit of an “epiphany” there after considering all the trash dumped into the woods and creek, and it went something like this : we ALL do what we do because of who we ARE…and that has to do with HOPE…i wouldn’t say it’s all about the “white hat” thru-hikers versus the “black hat” whoevers (we all have been known to wear the occasional black hat, have we not?)…still, we shouldn’t ignore the wrong…a very Good Book suggests we “overcome evil with good”…maybe some of us smelly ol’ thru-hikers should rally for the towns (erwin or roan or whoever) and “vigilantly” do some sacrificial good there…you can read my thoughts on the subject (if you so desire) in “day 31 2006” of our journal on this site (maw-ee and paw-ee 2006)

maw-ee

#10

Two thumbs up to those guys who sent a message that outsiders with their pushy ways aren’t welcome. I’d been a bit discouraged in recent years, not seeing any reports of local resistance.

Keep it up boys!

:cheers

Greg