I heard a hiker got attacked two miles south of Rockfish Gap. That probably would explain why on my short hike this morning only three of the six thrus I met even replied to my “Good Morning!” I was beginning to wonder if there was a larger than average number of jerks among them this year. Anybody know any details?
Informed Consent
So a hiker gets beat up and you assume its because he was being a jerk? That seems rather odd logic.
A lot of hikers wear hedphones and may not hear your “good mornings”. I usually take my headphones off when approaching other hikers on trail but have been on the opposite side of that exchange, saying “good morning” and not getting a reply in return.
Try not to take it too personally. Sometimes you have a day where you a dozen good mornings and it gets a little tedious. Everyone has bad days and not everyone is into exchanging pleasantries on the trail.
stryker
the hiker got beat up about a week ago. He was not your average hiker, but a trailrunner attempting to set a new record, hopefully doing the entire AT in less than 60 days. He was well on target when the incident occurred. he was not being a jerk, he was sleeping.
Redhat
I think the original poster’s point was that thru’s in that area are being wary of strangers, and as a result aren’t being as friendly as he’s used to. And he originally thought they were being jerks, but now realizes that their attitude might have something to do with the attack.
Jester
We have been hiking this trail this year…and the only one we know trying to complete the trail in such few days is Nature Boy…so hoping this is not who you are speaking of.
Stylin & Tony
My first thought on this topic was of Nature Boy…which I posted. Still hoping for his well being.
Second thought…the trail brings many ups and downs…sometimes downs overtake the good…I’m usually the socialite, but I have my bad days too and may give a nod instead of a “Hey…Good Morning.”
While I never wear the ear pieces of any sort…love the outdoor sounds…some do, and that is an explanation of a non response. So, consider that as you pass a hiker - thur or not.
Just, plainly, be considerate of your fellow human being.
Stylin
They weren’t wearing ear gear. They were just simply unresponsive, which is kind of rude when someone makes the effort to say good morning. A fifty percent ratio of jerks at the 850 mile mark is pretty high so early in the hike. You never know when you’re going to need help from someone you meet along the way – it doesn’t pay to be rude to day or section hikers, even though they’re not the hiking gods that thrus seem to think they are. Wait until the ankle swells, then how mighty are the jerks? How quick they are to be friendly me when they find out I have a vehicle at the trail head.
My idea was that they were being jerks to me, while perceiving me as a local, because of the alleged assault that happened the week before, an avoid the locals, kind of thing. Too bad. And if they’re so miserable at nine in the morning that they won’t even nod at a passing walker, maybe they should get off the trail and think about their attitude. There is never an excuse for being rude.
Informed
I wasn’t implying the original poster was being a jerk, I was implying that the people who beat up the hikers were being jerks. I got the sense that the OP was somehow justifying the attack because hikers are being rude to the locals.
Styker
I tend to get a 50% response from hikers whether they be thru hikers, day hikers or locals. Sometimes its because people feel its enough for one person in a line of hikers to exchange the pleasantries which makes sense. Sometimes I just a get a faint-hearted nod and as I’m a little hard of hearing, I also may be missing a few exchanges muffled by heavy breathing or said under duress.
I get a better response int he morning when people are fresh and haven’t had to day howdy a million times already.:cheers
Stryker
What could cause two people who apparently are strangers to come to blows? Only the participants involved have a perspective, but even then the truth may elude them. Both parties probably never thought such an event would happen a mere ten minutes prior to the episode…Did it occur at the shelter by the stream with a beautiful bench dedicated to a former hiker? Thru hikers are warned about the perils of setting up camp within a mile or so of a road crossing as they are more accessible to the whims of society. Past experience concerning violence on the trail generally involves alcohol or men approaching ‘local’ women and usually a combination of the two. It is a tragedy that Nature Boy was assaulted while on an adventure and I wish him a speedy recovery both physically and mentally. He hopefully will come to realize that the chance of this type of event happening again is very remote and he will most likely never be in a similar situation again. However, that said he will not be the last hiker assaulted on the trail in the years to come. Hopefully, his fellow class of hikers in the Waynesboro area will support him and encourage him to continue his journey when he has recovered.
stealthblew
For S’s S, only wear one earbud, in case of growling panthers, rattling rattlers, or roaring bears. However, even if you only listen at night, it’s good to get the weather report & your favorite songs really make the miles fly by (IE> “up on the watershed” by Indigo Girls; or “Blood (Mtn) for Blood” by David Broza; or “I am on the Outside looking in” (quote: “what’s it like to be, on the downhill side… I’m still on the other side, & I’m finding it so hard that I just stop trying!” by Trish Murphy of TX)… I think most thru hikers are happy to talk, unless they are trying to race to get to the PO asap!
gingerbreadman