Trail Closure near Pearisburg

imported
#1

The A.T. is currently closed from VA 606 (near Trent’s Store) about 24 miles north to Pearisburg at VA 100. Hikers and others who have been in this area during the last six weeks and encountered suspicious persons are urged to contact the Giles County sheriff’s office (540-921-3842) or incident@appalachiantrail.org. The suspect in custody is a white man in his mid-50s with dark-brown hair and a salt-and-pepper beard.

For more information, please see our website at http://www.appalachiantrail.org/pburgtrailclosure. This page includes a photo of the suspect.

Laurie Potteiger
Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Laurie Potteiger

#2

Maybe I’m reading this wrong? How is the suspect going to cause problems for hikers if he is in custody?

Bear Bag Hanger

#3

I do not understand how this guy who killed two hikers 27 years ago ,served what 15 years of his sentence,? gets out and attacks a couple of fishermen 27 years later at almost the same spot near the At. Could some one please explain that one to me, how that could happen yet again?

The come back kid

#4

Thanks Laurie for the heads-up. Bear Bag Hanger, he isn’t going to cause more problems, but the police are still investigating and don’t want any hikers destroying evidence, if there is any. Comeback, I’m not sure how you know he is the same guy, I didn’t see any connection…

Red Hat

#5

A.T. near Pearisburg Closed until Further Notice
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (May 7, 2008)—The Appalachian Trail in Giles County, Virginia, from Va. 606 north for about 25 miles to Pearisburg is closed until further notice to allow local and federal law-enforcement authorities to investigate a shooting Tuesday of two fishermen at a campground near the Trail. A suspect is in custody, and he and the victims are all in hospitals in serious condition.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Trail neighbors are arranging shuttles for hikers around the 24-mile stretch. The northern closure is at the crossing of Va. 100.

Hikers and others, such as Trail maintainers, who have been in this area during the last six weeks and encountered suspicious persons are urged to contact the Giles County sheriff’s office (540-921-3842) or incident@appalachiantrail.org. The suspect in custody (shown here) is a white man in his mid-50s with dark-brown hair and a salt-and-pepper beard.

The shooting occurred about a half-mile from the A.T. at a Forest Service campground. At this time, it is not known if any of those involved had been on the Trail itself…Why do they keep letting these Nuts LOOSE AGAIN??? I know I being a women I will have a partner this yr doing any hiking and it should not be that way to be terrified to do what I enjoy or allways have to look over your shoulder in fright and it is just not the women that have to worry now …I just keep our thru hikers in my prayers and God speed to all of you stay Safe out there…Tambourine

Tambourine

#6

Red,

The papers said he was the same guy who killed two hikers back in 1981 near a couple of the shelters there and buried them in shallow graves near by. That is how I know he is the same guy, because I read my newspapers.

The comeback kid

#7

It is the same guy who killed in 1981.

An eye for an eye is what I say.

southpaw