Yeah, I really don’t think that even if they had banned him, it would’ve prevented this from happening. Sorry yeah, it was when we were leaving the site he looked back and saw. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the TrueScaryStories community. 99.9% of the people you meet on the trail are amazing but you can never be too careful. We were silent. Google says "permanently closed" but I walked by it like 2 months ago and it was definitely open. Appalachian Trail hikers have the chance to experience active love nearly every day, like getting and giving trail magic. Finally, she raised her hands in surrender and he began to stab her. A few months after our incident on the same trail, an unhinged man with crazy eyes approached some hikers at twilight as it was getting dark. He should have been banned from the trail the first time he terrorized hikers; this would have prevented the murder and mayhem he inflicted on others later. I had done about as much internet scouring as one might dub borderline obsessive on the AT, and I was so anxious to see how it all played out. Dave. Rising. r/AskReddit is the place to ask and answer thought-provoking questions. He didn't have any camping bag. It was really scary and maybe it did have a lasting effect in some way. Only about 25% of thru-hikers and 20% of section hikers end up completing the trail according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.” 2. We knew he was still there, but we couldn't see him. It seems he would have found a way around it. If anyone had approached me that confrontational in the woods I would have shot them dead. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. When we got to our car, the first thing we did was report him to the park ranger. If you have a story to contribute, submit it here. I have also encountered people who are not 'there'—nothing behind their eyes. I hit the mountain full of excitement and wonder, not only for the summit, but for what lay ahead. So glad you two did the right thing by trusting your instincts and leaving your site in a hurry. 6 comments . The one time I tried to blow without a leaf, I got a trail of yellow slime going from my left nostril to my knee. Absolutely horrible. The look was absent, blank, and weird. All of these detailed are the same as the guy who approached us. In April of 2017, an unidentified man started hiking south on the Appalachian Trail from Harriman State Park in New York. He asked "How many people have you got with you?" It was the end of 2018, our first getaway together as a couple. Makes it completely impossible to feel safe around them. They say “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” I don’t know specifically who “they” are. Get training and carry everyday. Also tried not to die on the side of the road when they tried to leave me dead for my money. We were naive. In 1936, Myron Avery became the first 2000-Miler to hike the full distance of the Appalachian Trail. I began to hide the weed (thinking this was our biggest concern). 5 people hiked the entire distance in the '30s, and only 3 in the '40s. An Appalachian Trail Hiking Adventure that Almost Turned Deadly For anyone who knows me, one of my favorite things to do is to go running trails in the mountains. NOBO? This experience stuck with me. Merely choosing not to be a tool-bag is a great start. All is welcome! It was really the only way. He was creeping up on his. Remember - we were miles away from a single soul - and it was beginning to get dark when he began to approach us slowly without a flash light. We had a talk about whether we needed to leave. card. Now this was at the end of 2018, but my boyfriend (now husband) and I were remembering it last night. Now the stories of MacKaye, four other trail pioneers, and the trail itself are being told at the Appalachian Trail Museum, which opened June 5 in Pine Grove Furnace State Park. He asked again if we had any other people with us and my boyfriend didn't answer. The length of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is constantly changing. We thought it was weird that he didn't have any kind of light on him. The killer carried on wandering the trail, and shouted out to other campers to give him a flashlight (they didn't thank goodness). As you may have gathered from the title of this article, it didn’t go as planned. Next Tenkara Fly-Fishing and Hiking in the White Mountains. He had no camping gear with him, just a tiny draw-string bag on his back. I wrapped my arms around his waist to take weight off his neck while my … Thank you for the recommendation. 16. In total, just over 15,000 people have completed one of the world's most famous and challenging hikes. Flip-Flopper? I'm just hoping to hear some general feedback from the community on the possibility of this and to read other hikers experience whom have attempted this goal. Long story short - went looking for weed, ended up trying not to watch the porn with the rest of the family in a crack-house while they made crack-pipes. When my boyfriend realized it wasn't a park ranger, he quickly put his hand in his pocket where he had a concealed knife. I know that I'll probably reconsider otherwise after some time but my luxuries for hiking will definitely include having some whole light vegetables, breads, and other more-perishable foods to eat the first day or two after hiking again from a resupply. We got lucky. Hot New Top Rising. I'm aware of the "risk," I just want to ask anyone who HAS tried or has knowledge of it could share their experience in trying to hike eggs on the trail. Walking the A.T. is only for uber-fit athletes. He says: As it got dark, some strange things began to happen. The unwise seem to believe that most obstacles can be overcome with sufficient measures of sheer control. My boyfriend handed me a knife and said if anything happens to him, i should run. Hot. It was dark. Take the hike with them by reading these thru-hikers' tales. I haven't, and won't be able to do a thru hike for several years, but I'm a foodie. From another state or some other inlet. Standing 30 feet away or 30 inches, he spoke in the same loud voice. This podcast was terrifying, as it made me think of what could have happened to us. The Appalachian Trail was proposed in 1921 by Benton MacKaye, who was grieving after his wife drowned. We just looked past my boyfriend towards the site. Remember, he had no light, and no bag with camp gear. And more. A woman he was with ran for her life down the trail. Author: Deb Kingsbury. Nothing. Looking forward to reading it when it becomes available in kindle format. This dude, if it is who you encountered, very clearly had some major psychological problems. He had this strange look in his eyes. We began to walk (run) down the trial in the pitch black with our lights off. Those who attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail are heroes. Nothing for camping. Jeff Pang via National Park Foundation. I wanted to know if anyone had experience trying to bring eggs along unrefrigerated for a few days? Carry a concealed weapon. https://wlos.com/amp/news/local/new-details-in-appalachian-trail-attack-authorities-search-for-more-possible-victims, Might I add, I was hoping you guys got married lol before u even said it. The scariest night of my entire life was a close encounter with a (later confirmed) murderer when I was camping with my boyfriend in the mountains. Janel Gazelle's Bio. I guess, technically, I succeeded at that part. It was the only spot for miles that was possible to put a camp. 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