Crime on the trail

imported
#1

Were any of you ever the victim of a crime(assault, theft, harrassment, etc.)while thru hiking the A.T.? How common of an occurence are crimes like these? Does everyone experience things like this at some point during their hike?

granny

#2

Yes, at Uncle Johnnnnnnies. Lets not go there, but that was where it took place. Saw one freak take a friends trekking poles. SAid, “I found them in the shelter”. Where Twig put them next to his pack. He ran south almost twelve miles total to get them back.

Bushwhack

#3

I dont think crime is really an issue on the trail. I spent two months on the trail this summer and did not see anything shady. It’s definitely not something that happens to everyone, I’d say that it rarely happens to anyone.

Inspector Gadget

#4

I often see batteries discarded on the trail, butts laying everywhere, I even had a bunch of moonlight hikers come into a lean-to at 2:00am in the morning and leave us the empty Whisky bottle to carry out. What a crime!!
I had only heard of one or two 5 finger crimes resulting in lost stove or headlamps.
I did have a mouse run off with a few things once.

Skunker

#5

I have been having hikers in my home for years and “crime” has never really been a problem. I have never had anything like a fight between hikers or such. I did have donations taken out of my box 2 times… I think Bob at Kincora has had this happen several times… and I had my brand new SD Flex 15 degree bag stolen a few years ago. I think I know the girl that took it. I have had qustionable hikers clean out the hiker box but then they are not really stealing… just taking more than they need or can use. I had a hiker remove the pages they wanted from my brand new guide book… another hiker saw it and replaced the book that day!
But considering how many hikers have been in my home I think these are very few incidents.

Other hikers have occaisionally thought someone took something of thiers while they were here but we usually find it in the blankets, behind a bunk or it the couch! I have a great collection of 1 of a kind socks, zip off pant legs, knives and spoons!! I have people leave things… with no name on them and almost no way of finding the owner…and I am sure they might think that someone took them. PUT YOUR NAMES ON YOUR STUFF!!!

Miss Janet

#6

Last year on the AT in I think Vermont two thru-hikers got their packs stolen. They were left at a hostel while they were slackpacking and some character talked the hostel owner out of them saying he was picking them up or something. I heard it all second or third hand on the trail but I do know the packs were stolen. The thru-hikers grapevine, there is such a thing, had us all looking out for the guy. He was traversing the trial in the area claiming to be a thru-hiker. I personally had nothing happen to me on my thru-hike. Well I did come to think of it. I was meeting some friends at Crabtree Falls in VA over the Memorial Day holiday and I got there early. So I hiked down a familiar road to all of us and put one on my bandanas on a small tree marking the turn off to a drive-in campsite a few hundred feet off of the road. I did it so the friends could find me. Well someone took the thing. An old bandana I had carried from GA and someone wanted it more than me. There were all sorts of people up there that weekend so it doesn’t surprise me.

Two Scoops

#7

Nothing happened to me last year or anyone I know. Well, actually something maybe almost happened - this crazed, drunken local came into the hostel in Glencliff. Showed us drugs, demanded rolling papers, and started loudly, verbally threatening us when we said we had none. Hostel owners called police, police knew him well, but he’d run off by the time they came. We laughed about it afterwards. I think it would’ve been scary if there wasn’t so many hikers there that night. The hikers and hostel owners handled it well. All hikers were sober and none could be accused of antagonizing the situation, the police were happy about how we handled it. The drunk had supposedly never been to the hostel before. If we’d have encouraged him in any way, it would’ve been like feeding a bear. I hope he has stayed away from the hostel since.

That was the only incident in almost 6 months, though. I could tell MANY happy stories about hikers or hostel owners going out of the way to help others, for instance carrying gear to someone who forgot it in town. Also, suspicious characters usually stick out (yes even among us crazy hikers) and you avoid them, or try to find out their story through others.

I didn’t worry about my pack generally, and stashed it outside of businesses in town when dining, shopping. But I think that is another good argument for cheap, homeade gear. If someone steals a Pepsi can stove or home made tarp - very little monetary loss.

Jitterbug

#8

My partner and I camped the 1st night out of Hot Springs,at Rich Mountain Fire Tower.It was dark when we arrived, so we set up our tents and ate.We saw a dirt road leading up to the Fire Tower, and thought it was used just by Rangers.11 PM I heard a car coming up the road,and pulled up within 3 feet of our tents.The car sat beside our tents until I crawled out of mine.Then drove up on the hill by the Tower and put their lights on bright.Sat there for about 5 minutes, then drove past our tents, and down the road.I carried a mini-recorder and described the incident and the car.Just incase they came back.
The rest of the section hike,we avoided any campsite around ANY kinds roads.We have hiked extensively on the AT and that’s the first scare we have encountered.

Bill Harris

#9

I have stated this a few times on this forum before, I have belonged to NCHA (National Hikers and Campers Association) since before I could walk and throughout my life have attended almost every regional and national campout. Campers and Hikers are amoung the most beautiful people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
There are ALL TYPES of people, and you will ALWAYS find a few of the bad lurking within, however, they are far a few between and definately overshadowed by the graces of the kind hearted campers and hikers.
I have found that the wilderness spirit attracts a certain type of well natured traveler and I am glad to make the acquaintance of any of them.

I remember my wife and I packing into a shelter one evening to find a scraggly, shady looking character at the lean-to and wondered whether we should push on and avoid this lonely traveler.
I told my wife to simply set her pack down without unloading anything since we probably would not be staying.
During our conversation with this man, I had come to feel that he was one of the most respectful, well natured individuals we had met on the trail to date. What a wonderful evening we had talking and sharing the warm glow of a fire with such a perfect stranger.

Skunker

#10

During my thru in “01” I never saw or experienced any kind of “crime”. Before I started I thought that the trail would be full of danger, ie., people, animals, river fords and other imaginable things. I found it totaly different. No dangers at all.
I would not fear for my wife or three daughters doing a thru.

Grampie

#11

My friend Voyager Bob’s pack was stolen at a small pizza/general store kind of place. It was a few miles before Harper’s Ferry. He laid his pack by the door. Went in to order a pizza, came back out about 5 minutes later and it was gone. So were 3 young men he had seen sitting outside. – With the help of a number of Outfitters along the trail and fellow hikers all his gear was replaced. He went on to summit. He only lost a few days from the trail and to his dismay his journal and his Springer stone. That was the only sad story I heard that year. Sue/HH

Hammock Hanger

#12

Ummm… first, I agree with all that is said here. I never really felt unsafe on the trail.
But what about the kid that killed his father and then went to the woods (north of Daleville) to live? Or the kid that killed the VT state trooper and then hitched to Delaware Water Gap? Both happened this year, a little too close to me for comfort.
But both I took as the “other” world disturbing the peace of out nice, happy, hiker world. I was never nervous about other hikers.

Tang