I just came across this article that is dated 1/28/13. I guess there will always be a few people trying to mess things up for the rest of us.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20130128/OUTDOORS/301280008/Vehicles-ripping-up-Max-Patch
Happy trails!
– Pilgrim Dave
_Pilgrim Dave_ Thanks for the information. I am aghast at the mindset of people like this who are so selfish and disrespectful as to destroy this kind of natural beauty. I have to believe they were trying to make their own kind of memories and perhaps thinking they were enjoying nature. DwW
_Dances w Wolfie_ Enjoying nature in their own sick, misguided way... Or more likely these were local billies deliberately performing the thrillcraft version of baiting the AT with fishing hooks at eye level. As the article states, they tore down signs and fencing in order to gain access, not once but twice. Innocent and naive fun, I think not. The AT was a symbolic target in this case, and unfortunately an easy one, for country bumpkin terrorists.
_fern_ I agree with you 100%, fern. They knew what they were doing, and I feel like they targeted the AT to get back at those "dirty hikers." I've been fortunate to enjoy Max Patch several times, from a thru-hike in 2007, to many day hikes later on, and one thing is for sure, anybody there knows from the many signs and fences that no vehicles are allowed on the mountain (except for tractors to mow the area).
It is a shame that 2013 thru-hikers and day hikers alike will have to see this big scar on the land as they pass through one of the prettiest spots on the AT.
Happy trails! – Pilgrim Dave
_Pilgrim Dave_