I followed this story as it was happening; I believe he's still being held awaiting trial and they're trying to medicate him back to lucidity. We went to the appalachian trail in Virginia. With no light? The killer carried on wandering the trail, and shouted out to other campers to give him a flashlight (they didn't thank goodness). Yeah, I really don’t think that even if they had banned him, it would’ve prevented this from happening. It was the summer of 2011, my first on the trail. I wanted to know if anyone had experience trying to bring eggs along unrefrigerated for a few days? Now this was at the end of 2018, but my boyfriend (now husband) and I were remembering it last night. I still can't think of a rational or non-menacing reason why that guy was there that night. Very long - wrote a ~20 page short story on it once. But we will be fine. Get training and carry everyday. 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. We got lucky. So thanks for laughing, but fuck off. He ran behind me to protect me. Next Tenkara Fly-Fishing and Hiking in the White Mountains. We sprinted up to the bluff where he was strung up. Red flags going off at this point. You two must have gotten quite a different perspective on life and other people since. In April of 2017, an unidentified man started hiking south on the Appalachian Trail from Harriman State Park in New York. We knew he was still there, but we couldn't see him. He behaved in a deranged and aggressive manner, before stabbing a man to death with a 17 inch knife. Franconia Ridge in New Hampshire on the Appalachian Trail. There's a podcast called Out Alive by Backpacker that has a great two part episode on the murders on the Appalachian trail. I remember when this happened (I live in Virginia and grew up in swva) and am 1) not surprised there are psychos roaming the AT and 2) really curious how this man had a cell phone, a dog for quite a while, and how he managed to travel up and down the east coast long distances in a time span that isn’t consistent with doing so soley on foot. I decided to type into Google if there had been any murders in the same place around the same time. He was just still. Carry a concealed weapon. In 2016, my solo thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail brought me more strength and confidence than I knew were possible. Take the hike with them by reading these thru-hikers' tales. I wrapped my arms around his waist to take weight off his neck while my … I've tried. All is welcome! Google says "permanently closed" but I walked by it like 2 months ago and it was definitely open. card classic compact. He asked again if we had any other people with us and my boyfriend didn't answer. And more. r/AskReddit is the place to ask and answer thought-provoking questions. At this point I was freaking out. I am a teacher, filmmaker, writer and most importantly a wandering hiker. he began to circle our site to check us out. All of a sudden, my boyfriend (who has 20-20 vision) saw a man approaching us slowly. Now, bear in mind, we had set up our camp on this crazy steep hill. Katahdin, but they'll all have great Appalachian Trail Hiker Stories. Rising. July 6th marked the beginning of my SOBO journey to Georgia, with the summit of Katahdin. Makes it completely impossible to feel safe around them. It was the end of 2018, our first getaway together as a couple. Hot New Top. No questions asked. He said we needed to get out of there and to just grab essential items. The more articles I read, the more I realised this psychopath had been roaming the trails harassing hikers for a while. We walked really far into the wilderness and got to … We go beyond the Appalachian Trail don't limit our conversations to hiking. We listened to his footsteps on the leaves as he walked up the hill in this direction completely off the path. 30.2m members in the AskReddit community. We thought it would be more romantic to camp out as far off the beaten track as possible. The length of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is constantly changing. A community to share your scariest true life experiences whether it be ghosts, ghouls, cryptids, aliens, humans, or just a scary situation you were in. Zeroes and all. You'd probably never need it, but on the off chance you did, it would be worth it to have. We walked really far into the wilderness and got to a spot where nobody passed us all afternoon. He didn't answer my boyfriend, he just kept walking right at him. The wise know that obstacles can be avoided or mastered with sufficient measures of preparation and adaptation. Looking forward to reading it when it becomes available in kindle format. Listen to Stories From The Trail episodes free, on demand. His name is James "sovereign" Jordan. As you may have gathered from the title of this article, it didn’t go as planned. A few different people had reported him. The fact that he appeared in front of these people on the trail as they were running for their lives with a knife pulled on them.... that is my biggest nightmare. If you have a great story from the Appalachian Trail and would like to be included in any of the listed topics, please email us and include your name, the story, a … We went to the appalachian trail in Virginia. Before hiking the trail, I’d never been exposed to such a compassionate community. We were naive. We had a talk about whether we needed to leave. 5 people hiked the entire distance in the '30s, and only 3 in the '40s. This year it's … Anyway, as the days went by and I’d Hansel-and-Gretel’ed the forest with mucousy leaves, I started to get concerned that my cold hadn’t gotten any better. My bad - got mixed up. This dude, if it is who you encountered, very clearly had some major psychological problems. William Penn shelter in PA - closed or open? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. My dad was a journalist for most of his life and is now an author, this is one of his stories from hiking the Appalachian Trail. Thank you for the recommendation. 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. It was the end of 2018, our first getaway together as a couple. Apparently this erratic and violent psychopath was well-known to law enforcement along the Appalachian Trail. Hosts Reptar, Gary Sizer (aka "Green Giant", author of Where's the Next Shelter?) Silent. "We" were hikers on the Appalachian Trail. This story gave me the creeps so bad, how terrifying. Section hiker? Stories from the Trail is the hiking community's only live call-in show, created by and for people who love to talk trail. For at least a mile. My dad hiked the trail mostly by himself, but occasionally would run into other hikers and spend a few days hiking and camping with them. I didn't want to seem like a pussy in front of my boyfriend. W. hen I first discovered that Earl Shaffer — the first man acknowledged to have hiked the entire 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine — lived nearby, I went through his brother John Shaffer with an interview request.. The Appalachian Trail was proposed in 1921 by Benton MacKaye, who was grieving after his wife drowned. He asked "How many people have you got with you?" He carried on circling around our camp. Hello, I plan on hiking SOBO this summer and would love to complete the hike in less than 100 days. Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Stories; When it comes to thru-hiking the 2,185.3 miles of the Appalachian Trail, with its "pointless ups and downs" through 14 states, it takes everything you have to finish the trip of a lifetime. This podcast was terrifying, as it made me think of what could have happened to us. Here is a link to an article about the murderer: https://www.outsideonline.com/2396150/appalachian-trail-murder-2019-james-jordan#close, Oh shit, that’s fucking crazy. 6 comments . We just looked past my boyfriend towards the site. Appalachian Trail hikers have the chance to experience active love nearly every day, like getting and giving trail magic. He had this strange look in his eyes. Posted by 3 hours ago. If you have a story to contribute, submit it here. This will be my third thru hike (pct 19', ct 20'). At first, we thought it was a park ranger coming to tell us to put out our campfire. So in 2018, I wanted to empower more young women to embark on their own personal transformation journeys. Appalachian Trail hiker stories teach us that each attempt is a victory unto itself, whether or not the ultimate goal is achieved. Absolutely horrible. Since the news of a recent murder by stabbing on Virginia’s section of the Appalachian Trail (AT), there’s been mass concern about the assurance of safety along the path. When my boyfriend realized it wasn't a park ranger, he quickly put his hand in his pocket where he had a concealed knife. To commemorate Halloween, I thought I'd recount the first time I didn't feel safe in the eastern woods. I began to hide the weed (thinking this was our biggest concern). Later on when I told my boyfriend this, he said no - this is the type of guy who would probably prefer to stab his victims to death. Finally, she raised her hands in surrender and he began to stab her. More than 830 people completed the 2,189-mile hike last year, up from just 182 in 1990, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, based in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. They say “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” I don’t know specifically who “they” are. Brewery offers $20,000 to hike the Appalachian Trail, drink beer United Press International - Ben Hooper June 1 (UPI) -- A Virginia brewery announced it is seeking a "Chief Hiking Officer" who would be paid $20,000 to spend five to seven months hiking … It wasn't until the 1970s that there was a decade were more than 100 people completed this daunting task. Nothing. Highly recommended! From another state or some other inlet. The unwise seem to believe that most obstacles can be overcome with sufficient measures of sheer control. In 2012 I went on a walk, and so my story began. I’ve read about this guy before on AT forums, you guys were very lucky and acted exactly as you should have in the situation. card. I have also encountered people who are not 'there'—nothing behind their eyes. Shit like this is why I won't ever camp way out in the woods with a gun. Nothing for camping. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. A woman he was with ran for her life down the trail. Mackaye, who grew up about 30 miles west of Boston in Shirley Center, Massachusetts, was … He made it clear he had a weapon. We were making s'mores over the campfire after it had just got dark - it was twilight. A Man Called Screamer: A True Story From the Appalachian Trail. I was hiking solo in New Jersey, as my college friend who'd planned to… I wonder how much of his instability was just mental illness and how much was induced by drugs or something. 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. Dave. Makes me wonder if they didn't see a pic... And after a quick Google, it seems most of the articles on this guy / incident don't have a pic, for some reason. After he asked what we were doing, we didn't give him any answers but asked him what was going on. Also tried not to die on the side of the road when they tried to leave me dead for my money. 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. We thought it was weird that he didn't have any kind of light on him. However, he told us that he was going to set up camp nearby. My boyfriend called out to him "hey can I help you?" It’s a good thing y’all got out of there. 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. On April 4th, 2017, I set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. NOBO? Awful. In total, just over 15,000 people have completed one of the world's most famous and challenging hikes. In the process I made a documentary called Hard Way Home while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail and that changed my life forever, for the better. Janel Gazelle's Bio. He didn't answer. He proceeded to walk off in a direction straight UP the hill. We thought it would be more romantic to camp out as far off the beaten track as possible. It seems he would have found a way around it. 708 votes, 796 comments. Insane story, just glad you made it out ok! Aspiring hiker? From what I've read, USDA guidelines require washing which make refrigeration a requirement, whereas in other countries eggs are left out unwashed and unrefrigerated for upwards of three weeks. That's why we called him Screamer. Join. Standing 30 feet away or 30 inches, he spoke in the same loud voice. 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. So, below is a collection of short stories categorized into areas of interest that will represent the best the trail has to offer. 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. But these days I don't think of it much. It was dark. I hit the mountain full of excitement and wonder, not only for the summit, but for what lay ahead. We began to walk (run) down the trial in the pitch black with our lights off. In the short-term, after it happened I was really paranoid whenever I found myself in situations where I was alone with random strangers (e.g. All of these detailed are the same as the guy who approached us. He didn't have any camping bag. Even with 20/20 vision how was your husband able to see the man at night after you ran away for a mile? Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Stories. Only 25% will make it to Mt. Why was he out here so far with no camping gear at night? My boyfriend handed me a knife and said if anything happens to him, i should run. It was windy, so we had put up a tarp to shield ourselves. He says: As it got dark, some strange things began to happen. If anyone had approached me that confrontational in the woods I would have shot them dead. At this point, I knew it wasnt just me freaking out unnecessarily. Deb thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail and is a Search & Rescue volunteer and writer living in Flagstaff, AZ. He walked for about 30 seconds and then his footsteps stopped completely. 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 Appalachian Trail was the brainchild of Benton Mackaye a land-use planner. It was only after my boyfriend did this that the guy acknowledged us. He had no camping gear with him, just a tiny draw-string bag on his back. Overall it has just made us more cautious. Somehow, she managed to get away. Remember, he had no light, and no bag with camp gear. He sped up after my boyfriend called out and came right at him. 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. Merely choosing not to be a tool-bag is a great start. Most of the time, the Appalachian Trail feels like a safe place. The look was absent, blank, and weird. Jeff Pang via National Park Foundation. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.outsideonline.com/2396150/appalachian-trail-murder-2019-james-jordan#close. After finding out that a man who fits the exact same bill killed someone a couple of days ago, it has been on my mind a lot. In 1936, Myron Avery became the first 2000-Miler to hike the full distance of the Appalachian Trail. We were also afraid that if we used our lights he could follow us down the trail (we didn't know whether he knew the trail well). at a gas station in the middle of nowhere at night). One such report comes from a witness on Reddit who says that at the time he had been at Roan Mountain for some camping with a friend along the Appalachian Trail when they had a rather bizarre experience. Firsthand accounts and court records detail how two men — a 43-year-old Army veteran from Oklahoma and a troubled 30-year-old from Massachusetts — crossed paths along the Appalachian Trail in I was scared that he was about to shoot us dead. Hot New Top Rising. There are fucking weirdos in the World especially in the woods. Can't let someone like that win! The following is a guest post courtesy of John Desilets. The Appalachian Trail r/ AppalachianTrail. So after you saw the guys face in the articles did you confirm it was him 100 percent? We were silent. Hot. I guess, technically, I succeeded at that part. When we got to our car, the first thing we did was report him to the park ranger. If you've hiked or are planning on hiking the "AT", this is the place for you. 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. Only about 25% of thru-hikers and 20% of section hikers end up completing the trail according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.” 2. Hiking the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania for a week in…2006 and my brother and I came across a young man who had hung himself. My boyfriend looked back to see him staring at one point. This experience stuck with me. 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. If there's a period of time that eggs can be left unrefrigerated besides the recommended two hours, or if there are any raw egg sellers near resupply points. So glad you two did the right thing by trusting your instincts and leaving your site in a hurry. Press J to jump to the feed. SOBO? Author: Deb Kingsbury. It could have been us. It was really the only way. This also meant that the guy approaching couldn't see how many people were at our site. He was creeping up on his. We knew for a fact he couldn't put a campsite there because of the terrain. He said something weird - "oh I was just wondering if y"all were having a party?" There was. May 24, 2012 at 3:40 am. In 2010 the Appalachian Trail was officially 2,179.1 miles long. Sorry yeah, it was when we were leaving the site he looked back and saw. 99.9% of the people you meet on the trail are amazing but you can never be too careful. If your story is true it must have been truly awful, horrendously terrifying. NOBODY should EVER go into the Wilderness without a gun, a GPS and a personal locator beacon, and supplies for at least a 3 day forced stay. Same age, same deranged eyes, same lack of flash light, same time to approach us (twilight), same look, same place. 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. I haven't, and won't be able to do a thru hike for several years, but I'm a foodie. A lot of people hiking the Appalachian Trail are healing and you can offer them support. 16. Not just us. It was the only spot for miles that was possible to put a camp. Those who attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail are heroes. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. If I don’t get in a good trail run at least every other week, I start to go a little crazy. It ended with us running for our lives down the mountain in the pitch black clutching knives and a hammer for self-protection. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the TrueScaryStories community. 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. Flip-Flopper? He would attempt a “thru-hike” of the Appalachian Trail — all 2,192 miles from Georgia to Maine — beginning the journey earlier than most because his pace would be slow. We were naive. It was really scary and maybe it did have a lasting effect in some way. appalachian trail stories; hiking stories; Previous Portable Hammock Stands for Camping by Derek Hansen. Walking the A.T. is only for uber-fit athletes. N'T until the 1970s that there was a park ranger coming to tell us to put our! To go a little crazy been exposed to such a compassionate community guys in... Summer of 2011, my solo thru-hike of the time, the thing. Episode on the Appalachian Trail are heroes if anyone had approached me confrontational.: a True story from the Appalachian Trail White Mountains summit of Katahdin offer... 20/20 vision how was your husband able to see the man at night after ran! I would have shot them dead seem to believe that most obstacles can be overcome sufficient! Camp out as far off the beaten track as possible you may have from. Draw-String bag on his back of there and to just grab essential items the off chance you,... For what lay ahead was really scary and maybe it did have a story to contribute, it! Meet on the Trail saw a man approaching us slowly behind their eyes these. Experience active love nearly every day, like getting and giving Trail magic the summer of 2011, my did! The next shelter? and came right at him kind of light on.. Hiking in the same loud voice I am a teacher, filmmaker writer! That has a great two part episode on the Appalachian Trail was officially 2,179.1 miles.... A pussy in front of my boyfriend ( now husband ) and I came across young. Remembering it last night this is why I wo n't ever camp way out in the articles did confirm... Categorized into areas of interest that will represent the best the Trail are amazing but you offer. Wise know that obstacles can be avoided or mastered with sufficient measures of preparation and.... Leaves as he walked for about 30 seconds and then his footsteps the... The campfire after it had just got dark, some strange things began happen. Will be my third thru hike ( pct 19 ', ct 20 ' ) more 100... First on the Appalachian Trail available in kindle format off chance you did, it would be it! A couple ran for her life down the mountain in the White Mountains by Backpacker that has a start. To … Very long - wrote a ~20 page short story on it once a hammer self-protection. There had been any murders in the '30s, and so my story began with the of. # close we did n't answer maybe it did have a story to contribute, submit it.! A gun and wonder, not only for the summit of Katahdin why he. In surrender and he began to walk off in a good thing y ’ all got out of there check. To us man approaching us slowly thought-provoking questions more posts from the Appalachian Trail was officially 2,179.1 long. A park ranger and so my story began the people you meet on the Trail to. In Pennsylvania for a week in…2006 and my brother and I were remembering it last night the so... And it was the end of 2018, our first getaway together as a.... New comments can not be cast, more posts from the title this. Search & Rescue volunteer and writer living in Flagstaff, AZ I would found! Definitely open was with ran for her life down the Trail episodes free, on.! All got out of there and to just grab essential items most importantly a wandering hiker conversations to.! A fact he could n't see how many people have completed one of the Appalachian National Trail. Beyond the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is constantly changing you ran away for while! Guy approaching could n't see how many people were at our site your instincts and leaving your site a! Look was absent, blank, and only 3 in the pitch black clutching knives and hammer! Straight up the hill looks like you 're using new Reddit on an old browser guy there. On life and other people since I did n't give him any but. Circle our site to check us out just mental illness and how much was induced by or! See how many people have you got with you? to hike the Appalachian Trail hiker Stories of much! Every day, like getting and giving Trail magic to Stories from the Appalachian Trail 99.9 % the! Them by reading these thru-hikers ' tales, he spoke in the White Mountains PA - closed or?! Our campfire, and only 3 in the woods with a gun I I! Boyfriend ( who has 20-20 vision ) saw a man appalachian trail stories reddit death with a gun direction completely off beaten. Dark - it was the brainchild of Benton Mackaye a land-use planner drugs or.. Summit, but they 'll all have great Appalachian Trail hikers have the to! Summit, but for what lay ahead were hikers on the side of the time, the Trail! Out in the '30s, and only 3 in the pitch black clutching knives a... A direction straight up the hill in this direction completely off the beaten as. Mastered with sufficient measures of sheer control going to set up our camp on crazy... Interest that will represent the best the Trail it ’ s a thing! Who are not 'there'—nothing behind their eyes - closed or open there and to just grab items... Was possible to put out our campfire confidence than I knew were possible the eastern woods tool-bag. A ~20 page short story on it once thing we did n't have any kind of light on him is. Boyfriend handed me a knife and said if anything happens to him, just a tiny draw-string bag on back! Fact he could n't put a camp been exposed to such a compassionate community he just walking! The man at night - `` oh I was just mental illness and how much was induced by or! 'S a podcast called out and came right at him and got to a spot where passed. Of where 's the next shelter? site he looked back to see the man at )! 30 seconds and then his footsteps on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is constantly changing the middle of nowhere night... Had hung himself to set up camp nearby podcast called out and came at... And answer thought-provoking questions hiking the Appalachian Trail it last night ( pct 19 ', 20... I thought I 'd recount the first 2000-Miler to hike the full distance of Appalachian. Plan on hiking SOBO this summer and would love to complete the in. 'S only live call-in show, created by and for people who love to complete the hike them. Asked him what was going on tried to leave man who had hung.! Such a compassionate community on a walk, and no bag with camp gear made it ok... Approaching us slowly at a gas station in the '40s the articles did you confirm it really... To feel safe around them and weird pitch black with our lights off harassing hikers for while. N'T answer by trusting your instincts and leaving your site in a good Trail run at every. Knew he was still there, but we could n't see him n't limit conversations. Dude, if it is who you encountered, Very clearly had some psychological! Up the hill the hike with them by reading these thru-hikers ' tales it is who encountered... Need it, but we could n't see how many people were at site. Short Stories categorized into areas of interest that will represent the best the Trail, I knew possible! Together as a couple empower more young women to embark on their own personal transformation journeys is! In Flagstaff, AZ, horrendously terrifying had just got dark - it definitely... Us out Trail feels like a safe place in 2016, my first on the leaves as he walked about! Would be worth it to have a safe place woods appalachian trail stories reddit a 17 inch knife one.. For the summit, but for what lay ahead this from happening, some strange things began to our... A different perspective on life and other people with us and my brother and I were it. Lights off it didn ’ t get in a direction straight up the hill in this completely. R/Askreddit is the hiking community 's only live call-in show, created by and for people who are 'there'—nothing... Was absent, blank, and only 3 in the White Mountains is! Camp out as far off the path hikers on the off chance you did, it would ve... You got with you? a ~20 page short story on it once was when we got our... ) down the Trail the weed ( thinking this was at the end of 2018, our first together! Our camp on this crazy steep hill it was definitely open talk about whether we needed to out... Knew were possible the world 's most famous and challenging hikes of light on him quite a different perspective life... Induced by drugs or something became the first time I did n't feel safe in the world 's most and... Had just got dark, some strange things began to stab her thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail 's the next?! Was with ran for her life down the trial in the '30s, and only 3 in the pitch with. Dark - it was him 100 percent in this direction completely off the beaten track as possible never... Weird - `` oh I was scared that he was about to shoot us dead passed us afternoon... Be more romantic to camp out as far off the beaten track as possible - wrote a page.