Cop pulled over an 80 year old lady. He asked her if she had any drugs or guns. She said she had a 45 in the glove box. A 40 in the door pocket. A 10mm in the console. And a 9mm in her purse. The cop said, holy cow. What in the world are you so afraid of? 80 year old said,,, I ain't afraid of nothing.
Timmy what is your point. That person whom was killed did NOT have a fire arm,did NOT!!!!! he got killed,his lady friend wounded, she DID NOT have a weapon. Facts are my point. Why do guns make you wet your pants?Plenty of people have disappeared on trails all across America,think they were ALL ACCIDENTS? You be a victim,I will not.Tell you what though, ever we cross paths,and I see you in trouble, I'll respect your anti gun rights and just keep on keeping on,leave you to settle it.O K? Respect out bro.
Tim Henry,10 mm, wtf?Spoken like a true anti gun sissy. If that man and woman had a weapon, they would be alive and un injured. With the fire arm, comes training how to use it, bad people attack good people because bad people know they are the ones with weapons. Bad people have the advantage, Tell you what,I do some hiking, I do carry,and am real good with it. If I ever see you getting attacked,I will let you handle it.just let me know it's you , Tim the anti gun nut.and I will respect your anti gun stance.
@Little PAW 1969 it is an attempt to insult pro gun people and to deny that is absurd.I get it all the time, but hey,I will not intervene if I ever see him or you in trouble,I'll respect your fear of guns and not get involved.
@@kathyb799didn't I see your name in a men,s room at a truck stop in Virginia, right off 81 or was it in a Waffle House? Some ting about your ability to suck a bowling ball through a swizzle stick.That is you that person wrote about right?
I am a woman and i always carry my .38. I refuse to be a sitting duck. I refuse to let fear rule my life. I wanna go for walks and hike and camp and sometimes by myself. Hopefully i will never need to use it. But i can guarantee i wont go down without a fight. I have 5 rounds. One of them will hit its mark. I will worry about the repercussions later, after i know i am alive and safe.
Who is Mark and why do you want to shoot him lol , no only joking . To be fair I dont blame you , its extra piece of mind just in case . We all hope that just in case never happens but if it does your prepared . What I find more disturbing at the moment is that young females seem to think going abroad hiking is a good idea , when I say abroad I dont mean Sherwood forest in the UK or the Alps . No I mean Morocco , Iraq , Afghanistan etc , yes women are going out to these places un armed and un prepared . You heard about those two Scandinavian girls that were raped and beheaded , now a young Canadian couple have gone missing in Iraq . The Italian woman that wanted to go across the world in a wedding dress , raped and murdered and I think that was in Turkey and there are more just I cant remember the facts . Now to me they are really being stupid and dangerous , if the Army travel around armed to the teeth in that area , then its probably not a good idea to backpack there . I think these young women and men that are thinking of such a trip , should think twice . As for the rest of us level headed people that enjoy the outdoors , have great times .
All five might miss...is it worth it..I say in my opinion,no. You can always find trouble without going to look for it. To go in such a wilderness as a lone woman is madness..sorry.
As a former park ranger and deputy game officer, I'd never go into the woods without firearms. People need to realize that the woods are not Disneyland.
@aaa aaa not so. People get killed, raped and robbed in countries where the citizens are disarmed. The criminal element exists everywhere. I seem to remember not too long ago, 2 lady hikers in morocco got their heads cut off by friendly locals. At least in America you can fight back.
You’re the first person I’ve seen cover this case. Molly was my dad’s cousin and I was 12 years old when this happened. We don’t talk about it at all so it’s always been this weird, horrible story that lingered in the back of my memory. Despite having hiked portions of the trail and only living about an hour from where it happened, I’ve never gone up to that section so I appreciated the video of the trail and area.
Have not hear. d about this case, have heard Missing 411 cases, numerous other murders dating back to the 1950's at the Girl Scout camp out west. I'm sorry your family had to deal with that, I hope they found peace.
The guy friendly died last year at 70. But at the same time I don't want some ex-con living in my neighborhood and I don't know who he is. He was originally supposed to be put on death row and then they changed it to two consecutive life sentences. At taxpayers expense!
Glorifying evil people is definitely not a good thing but the reason they stand out above the victims is that no normal people do what evil people do. The light is on the evil guys because people want to know what made them do what they do, people want to "study" their life and see why they became what they became or if they were just born like that. The victims usually were just good normal people.
@@ByGraceIGo Over the years they have suspended the death penalty and eased up on punishment and now they have cashless bail, and all the while crime keeps getting worse.
I'm an old woman and I hike a lot with my German Shepherd. I have a fanny pack and a bear spray holster on the strap. I practice drawing, removing the clip and aiming it. Never had a problem but I'd rather carry it and not need it. Wouldn't feel comfortable hiking without a dog and it wouldn't be as much fun.
it was as dangerous when Daniel Boone roamed around but they didn't have to worry about 2 legged critter's that appear as human's that are looking for mischief or worse. a famous axe murder happened near my locale years ago and never been found..
A dog, a sheath knife , pepper spray & a Firearm. Look up the amount of people who go missing each year from national parks. I taught my kids from the time they were young to never be alone in the wilderness without a knife & pepper spray & to carry a walking stick.
In our youth we hiked camped all over. In Northern AZ, Tennessee & Florida, many years apart, we encountered very bad men. My husband (ex army) had a 357 magnum. In AZ on the forest road, 2 men in a decrepit truck reached for their guns. My husband had the gun in his backpack cocked in a flash. They told us we know where you’re camped, sleep tight. We left. In Tennessee, in rain, while my husband was in restroom I encountered a creepy man who tried to chat me up, as he rolled toward me, in his beat up car, as I stood in parking lot. Only his left hand was visible. My husband had the keys. I signaled my husband who immediately appeared & man left. In Florida girlfriend & I followed home late @ night from shopping mall parking lot, for over 10 miles. When we entered gated community, Guard saw van make quick uturn. Message be careful everywhere.
I wish Molly and Jeff had a dog with them as an early warning system. I used to hike in the woods at least twice a month by myself and never worried. Rode horses alone...never worried. Then one year I broke my foot. Now I realize how vulnerable and frail we can be and how fast your whole life can change in a flash. At least, these days, most folks have cell phones and are able to stay connected as they wander around.
I was hiking red cloud peak in Colorado and fell and pierced my hand on a log. I had to walk down like 4 miles with a huge open wound and leaking fat and blood. It made me realize how vulnerable I am, if I just have an accidental fall. Always go with someone else, solitude is nice but it can mean the end of you
Every time a man says, "women have so much more to think about [when it comes to casual personal security]," an angel gets its wings. Thank you for taking the time here to really reflect on that. It made the video better, & it demonstrated your depth of understanding on the nuances of the horror of the Geoff Hood + Molly LaRue story. ❤
So true. I often also think of the quote by Margaret Atwood, “Men are afraid a woman will laugh at him. A woman is afraid a man will kill her.” What a profound difference.
My ex had the perfect trail dog. A Chihuahua. The little guy was strong enough to hike many miles on his own, but light enough to carry when he tired. Best thing about him was he noticed/heard everything. When his radar went off, he would not bark. He quietly shuddered. That would wake my wife. She'd wake me.
I'm afraid my dog is a little too trusting of humans. If my dog meets literally any animal she freaks out. But humans she runs up and starts locking them and asking for pets.
As a young female hiker myself, I greatly appreciate that you consider how we feel when we are alone and pass by men on the trails. That definitely goes through our heads! I rarely go anywhere without my husband, but when I do I am extremely cautious. Thank you for taking into consideration how we feel! It is definitely a small chance that we will run into a psychopath, but that small chance is enough to scare us.
You don't need to go anywhere without your husband. Obviously he can't prevent something from happening, particularly with someone who is planning ahead and cunning but still he will be there for you (and you for him) to help fight no matter what end.
@@dougjones3305 I disagree Doug. 96% of the violent crimes are committed by men even if we are equals. And it's because of the testosterone factor. That is a fact. I wonder how many women are in jail for raping a man? I'm not saying women cannot be psychopaths or murderers but the likelihood that there's just as many women that are that way is not true. Thanks to the mothering hormone prolactin and the lack of testosterone. But then again so many people are screwed up because they're hormones are screwed up from all the crap that they're putting in stuff.
ALWAYS carry some fishing line and a couple of empty aluminum cans to set up a little trip alarm around your camp. Also, if possible, strike camp in the middle of thickets or the worst briar patch to discourage two legged predators from pursuing you.
Was thinking the same thing. I also was thinking tie cans together in a circle on ground and hide them with leaves if there is plenty on ground and that way someone can accidentally step on and make lots of noise by stepping on cans crunching under feet. Not sure if that sounds dumb or not but it’s a idea
If I remember right, the killer was a prison escapee from Florida who managed to get to the AT and walk along as a day hiker. He got to PA where he took advantage of the situation to steal a backpack and gear, but he killed to get it. Then he started hiking south wearing the woman's backpack.He was spotted just north of Harper's Ferry by an observant female backbacker who noticed the guy was wearing a woman's backpack. Authorities greeted the killer on the bridge from MD to Harper's Ferry. He immediately asked for his lawyer.
I am from the maryland side of the mountain on the other side is harpers ferry I remember this and the little burg I am from people were scared but some people got armed and hiked the mountain away also they caught 2 bank robbers up on the trail behind my fami home, it makes me very mad that these criminals destroy the peace of enjoying nature ...
“That could never happen to me because it’s never happened to me” is step one to trouble. As an experienced West Coast hiker, I started insisting on hiking armed a decade ago. I carry a 45 in heavily trafficked areas and a Smith 44 (chest holster) in potential big game grizz & moose country. A firearm is the same to me as my e-kit. Also, for less that 6 ounces of weight you can carry a spool of kevlar string and pull-away klaxon alarms that blare when triggered. They are like couplings that, when separated ,emit a considerable alarm. Two trip lines of gear take up less space than a typical headlamp. Whereas I agree with this gentleman’s refusal to be paranoid I disagree with his approach. It relies on social benevolence that we no longer enjoy. Things have consistently devolved since the 1990’s. Predators (human) absolutely hunt well known trails and those who pretend otherwise are frankly stuck in outdated thinking (no disrespect to the affable fellow who made this. nice video that I just enjoyed) In fact, I subbed. Ask any ranger who isn’t a leftist gun-hater and they ALL recommend hyper vigilance on trails be they in national parks, state parks or BLM land. Cats are getting more human acclimated too and they do attack children and smaller people. The 1970’s-1990’s were a time when hiking Nor Cal armed seemed like unnecessary weight but like I said, today, in 2020 my “oh sh*t” bag and weapon are essentials. The aforementioned alarms were not available to the general public in 1990 but that murdered couple could’ve used one of several techniques available in Army field manuals post-Vietnam and they would be alive today. Sleeping in one of the AT shelters and relying on the goodness of man in 2020 is IMHO outdated normalcy bias. If you read this all the way through God bless you, be safe and happy trekking 🏕
another self defense that people don't think about is a high power flashlight. You can blind someone for a while, especially with the new super bright flashlights you can get.
true but imagine coming face to face with someone trying to cause harm to you in the woods (at night is the only time this would work) and all u can do is get ur flashlight out and beam them lmaooooooo helll nah get a gun or a knife if you wanna get up close to them and kiss first
@@Pinda50000 I think you don‘t know how strong these new led flashlights can be. 3000 Lumen in your face in darkness and you won‘t see shit for at least ten seconds. Enough time to do some real damage to a guy even without a weapon if you have to. as a less lethal option you can also break a nose with it. it’s so bright it can even cause temporary blindness.
I'm thinking about going on the Appalachian trail, and no fear whatsoever here. Well, for some reason i don't attract the bad stuff in my life. It must be my attitude, and just plain no fear of anything. Of course, we're all different, and that matters.
I have to admit that after 30 years of hiking I still tend to get a little edgy when sleeping alone in the woods at night. I much prefer to be around other hikers when setting up my tent for the night. I have lots of stories about things that go bump in the night!
I think I’d sleep high off ground up in the trees in a hammock or chair swing. A bear might climb up but you have the upper ground & some noise notice especially if you string a couple aluminum cans as a trip alarm.
Thank you for a respectful, kind, and considerate video of a tragic event. I lived about an hour from that location and it truly shocked our community. I have been in three wars for our country (1st gulf war, Iraq, and Afghanistan,) and I did peace keeping in the Balkans. I love the Pennsylvania woods and I have hiked all over the eastern and central parts of the state. That event still resonates in my mind and when these events occur its always the criminals that bask in the light of recognition. Its the victims that matter...to their families, and to us...the criminals should get ZERO notoriety and ZERO respect. I can tell by your telling of this tragedy that you have a good heart. Thanks, and I have subscribed to your channel. PLEASE KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK!!!
If you don’t name and she me criminals snd thier families then the only people who talk about them glorify them. The no nsme movement has been around since the 90’s and it’s changed nothing. Public shaming is a historic part of all cultures. We stopped doing that in America with the “you can’t judge me” bullshit. Name them, and shun and shame thier family’s. It used to be if you acted poorly your family couldn’t get work, loans anything. Would have to move, change their names. It worked better then the modern society. And it democrats sure worked better then ignoring them. You wouldn’t ignore any other issue. Why this one?
@@algernon1119 Servicemen/Women have to go where they are sent, I think?...Don't think it's possible for any to say ''I'd rather not go there, thanks'', or to have any free choice in the matter. just go and do your best, and hope to get back alive, and not too badly traumatised. {Have had family members who Served {WW2} and it definitely was not pleasant for them in the main.
I find that the easiest way to carry a firearm while you are hiking is to wear a chest rig designed for concealed carry, such as the rigs made by Hill People Gear. These pouches enable you to carry and draw, since the waist belt of the backpack prevents belt carry. Plus, you can carry snacks and lights in it too. Being able to quickly and effectively deploy your weapon against a threat is just as important as actually carrying the weapon!
I meet "Johnny (Cash looking) the Slasher" on the trail in 06'. After hiking all day we stopped at a shelter. Guy comes out of no where. I told my bud we better keep going and went to the next shelter. Next day a couple caught up to us and told us they had been assaulted and robbed at knife point. There are people who live on that trail. Also, had a gentleman stop me and wanted (demanding) money. I shoved him out of the way and moved on. Moral of the story, NEVER let your guard down. We came through Blood Mountain at the time when that girl was decapitated...but that is another story for another time....
What a cliffhanger! What happened? I live in dallas and we have a park here where a lady was decapitated. I dont go anywhere alone. It is crazy out there!
Lol the John Muir trail seems so peaceful in contrast with the AT. There are just too many decent sized towns along the AT which give psychos easy access to hikers.
@@soysaucehairdye7869 Do some research on the AT and how many hikers have been killed. You have a much better chance of being struck by lightning...twice, than being the victim of a crime, ANY crime, violent or not, while hiking the AT. Usually, psychos aren't looking to climb mountains for people to kill. The number of hikers that use the AT vs. the number of crimes is infinitesimal. You're much, much, much safer out hiking than just walking down the street in a city.
@@pamike4873 exactly, I feel like when crimes occur in a wilderness area that the stark contrast between the horror of the event and the beauty of the scene make them stick in people's minds.
It is a shame that women hiking/walking out alone has become a dodgy business. Even our local rail trail that spans multiple counties, has its share of indecent exposures and attempted assaults. It just isn’t safe for a lone woman, unfortunately. Sad.
The moment you believe you are in a safe environment, you let your guard down & you give a potential attacker the upper hand.. Not wise to do anywhere in the world, but even worse in the woods. Dont hike alone & unarmed, better to be safe than sorry. 💜💜💜
I think hiking can be a very dangerous pastime indeed, my friends son went missing in a Canadian NP in 2011. David Paulides wrote about his case in one of his Missing 411 books. The missing club is a club nobody wants to belong to but people still seem to go missing sadly.....
I'm from BC and there are a lot of missing ppl lately and most are not found .this is all over BC . family friends teen age girl was almost abducted .think organized kid napping for human trafficking . Scary world it is 🥺
Most people do not know this... In this USA, almost a million people go missing each and every year in our national parks, that's right, A MILLION. I know, it's crazy, fact check me, look it up. Get educated, get trained, carry a weapon or other firearm, and be prepared to fight to the death....or don't go out into the woods.
I carry pepper gel, it's even better than pepper spray. It shoots out about 18 feet and clings to the perpetrator's face and is less likely to blow back on you on a windy day.
Good, but be aware it's not always a surefire thing. Always combine with either fight or flight. Can take a while to kick in, some can be almost immune to it.
Thank you for that. What a sad story that was, terrible way to go for the woman. I enjoyed the spookiness of the weather. Thanks for taking me along, stay safe
This was almost 30 years ago. And in the entire history of the AT, the death rate is less than 1 person a year. Compared to living in a city, its very safe. But always be aware of your surroundings.
Chad being aware is useless after you have been targeted.USELESS! People disappear from trails all across America,do you think they are all accidents? And it just happened again,about two weeks ago.That killer attacked over 6 hikers before the last two, if someone had shot his ass, the fellow in Virginia, he would be alive, girlfriend not hurt and destroyed, Chad if I see you out there and you are in trouble,I will respect you,and not interfere.
Chad, hold on, people just vanish hiking trails all across America every year. In my Park and Forest,I am one of the employee's that go looking for them. Do you actually believe all these are accidents? I carry,I have a chance when that "if" happens,you do not.I would rather be me. And here in Jersey,U.S.A. I have seen the victims of crimes on out trails.
Being aware of does not mean a thing if you need to defend yourself.These people are predators,hunt people,it is their profession.Still waiting for proof that every disappearance on trails all across America are accident's.
Being a single mother I have always had protection with me no matter where I am. Now that my daughter's are grown I have made sure that they are protected as well when they are by themselves. I agree there is safety in numbers. We as females always have to be aware of our surroundings day or night. You should NEVER underestimate the craziness of another. Whether it's human or animal. Please continue to consider some sort of protection when doing your hikes. I want to be able to watch your channel for many years to come. Be safe.❤
If you spend enough time in the woods in general and the AT specifically, you begin to get a 'feel" for the folks you meet. Real, seasoned hikers can spot each other a mile away and the occasional oddball sticks out like a sore thumb. I spend A LOT of time in the woods in Maine and NH and I've only met a few people who gave off a creepy vibe. Most folks are out in the woods for the same reason that I am which is to be alone and mind my own business.
I was telling a friend this..we were hiking tuckermans and hes a bit overwhelmed by crowds..i told him dude 99% of hikers are out there for the same reason..fellow hikers are always easy to have a convo with.
Scott Dunbar, that is exactly how these victims felt.Chances are on the side nothing will happen,BUT what if it DOES? I am prepared,you and these victim's are not. These poor folks did not have the opportunity to avoid this nut,the nut did not let that happen,did he?
Again,being aware does NOTHING when that two legged wolf is at your camp,and armed,.NOTHING! Brains do not beat firepower.Logic does not work with a nut,two poles mean nothing when the bad guy has a sword or a gun.You happy trail nature freak nice people do not understand the enemy that IS out there.
@ColtDeltaElite10mm Got you Colt. These 2 legged predators are pro's ,they have a plan,and they have a weapon.You will not see them lurking ,stalking their target. Till he/she is on the attack. Gun beats sword every day,if you re trained with that gun.I train.All it will take is for just one predator to be shot dead,other shits will get the message,not all hikers are soft targets. Rugger .380 Dave.
Molly LaRue and Geoffrey Logan Hood had camped for the night in a wooden lean-to known as the Thelma Marks Shelter a few miles outside Duncannon. The three-sided structure was nestled among birch, poplar and oak trees on the south side of Cove Mountain about 30 feet below the trail that runs from Maine to Georgia. “They were caught off-guard and somebody attacked them ... sometime before dawn,” Perry County Coroner Michael Shalonis told reporters after the bodies were found on Sept. 13, 1990. They were the 8th and 9th victims at that time now total of 11 on Appalachian trail
You’re absolutely right women do have to look at things from all angles. Something that has taken me my whole adult life to realize. I grew up on a farm surrounded by woods that literally grew up in. Different time though. Thank you for this.
I love how aware you are when you talked about the female hiker coming up to you and what she might be thinking. As a female hiker I feel more at ease when I see a man take that into consideration instantly. Very good video.
JayJay I must look trustworthy or something because when I’ve been walking around late at night back from the bar or parties in college I’ve had girls I’ve never met, as opposed to being wary of me, latch on to me and ask if they can walk with me so I can keep them safe lol.
I appreciate that you don't get too descriptive about the attack on the poor young lady.....like they do on true crime tv. This is so heartbreaking 🥺....thanks for sharing ❤
Im an older woman, very small too. I do carry a gun, but like you said, if you're sleeping what can you do? You can run fishing line between trees around your tent about ankle height to hepefully trip up someone or bring a freakin tiny Chihuahua, they bark at everything!!!
Ocala National Forest in FL is beautiful with lots of trails, but it's known for its higher-than-average violent crimes. 30 years ago I was on a 1 night backpacking hike with my boyfriend, and he'd decided to carry a sidearm (against the law). We felt safer with it. We crossed the trail with two men, stopped and chatted a little, and went our separate ways. Soon after we ran into another couple with whom we shared a campfire and dinner. The two men showed up, and they had doubled-back the trail, so chatted, and they left. Got a bad feeling about that. For privacy from the other couple we decided to camp a little further back the trail and pitched our tent and nightfall came. And we got nervous about those two men. So we packed up the tent and went back to the other couple, and they were also nervous and happy to see us. We felt safer as four. No, we never knew if we were justified in our concerns, but like this video's true story, a criminal is more likely to assault a couple than two couples. Beware of the crime statistics of the forrest area you're backpacking and be realistic.
I'm shocked you don't carry a gun. To me, it's like playing Russian Roulette with your life. Sadistic people hunt those trails just hoping to find someone alone. Women are more vulnerable obviously but if you are with a girl, you should be armed to protect both of you. That girl that was up there alone is a total fool. IF you were a bad person or even an opportunist, her day could have ended badly. We just don't live in a world where you can take chances like that.
I use to get called to work at 1 or 2 am many times in a college town. I was always stunned to see young women walking around as if it was no big deal. Pepper spray • never leave home without it
As alphaone suggests, buy or make a tripwire and camp off the beaten path. I'm in grizzly country and found I sleep more soundly with a diy electronic tripwire around the perimeter of my tent. Made with a window opening alarm housed in an old flybox, flyline backing for line, hung from trees using screw in cup hooks. Will wake me from a sound sleep and give me a few seconds to respond while the intruder has freaked out and maybe already turned tail and run.....if not then, bear spray....if not, then XD40 with buffalo bore solid core ammo. Be prepared= no regrets!
I was going to hike the trail with friends in 1981, I was 21. But by an odd set of circumstances, one member couldn’t go so we all bailed. Then …I read the book, Murder on the Appalachian Trail. Based on actual events in 1981. Very very sad that this goes on out on the trail. Thank you for this video, I like how you presented the information. Very unbiased.
My nephews and I are from the area and used to go up to Hawk rock regularly. We only happened to stumble on the shelter by chance one day. Its a beautiful area. I had no idea about this part of it's history. Thank you for sharing and keeping the victims' memory alive.
I'm from the old school thinking... Number one when I'm overnighting it out in the woods somewhere how we set up a perimeter alarm. Nothing fancy but if somebody or something comes within 30 feet of my campsite I'll know it. That gives me just enough time to wake up and grab my sidearm. Some things you learn in the military you don't forget. And yes I always carry a sidearm in the city in the country and on the highways everywhere I go my sidearm goes with me. I carry Jesus in my heart and in my mind. but I also Carry Smith and Wesson on my side. And I carry Mister buck on my other side with a nice pretty 7-inch blade extremely sharp blade... God's word tells me to be instant in season and out of season that means and I best be prepared at all times... In my almost 70 years of life I've learned to be prepared mentally, physically, and spiritually.... BBE 👍 👍
Appalachian trail when I hike / camp I go way off trail make sure that my tent blends in with the sounding can't be seen by no one even if someone is looking right at the tent they can't tell that anything is there
I'm planning on hiking the AT with my coworker friend and my dog next year. We will both be debt free sometime this year and I've wanted to do this for a very long time. Im 25 and hes 22. Right now we both feel like work is taking a toll on our happiness and that we need a break from routine. Right now the plan is to save money and get debt free then start saving for the trail and hike the AT next year then move to North Carolina from PA where we currently live.
Please buy some protection I don't care what the guy in the video says. Anybody who's going to hike that whole trail needs to have a firearm. Never mind people but all the Sasquatch and other cryptids sightings would make me wary of going in the woods at night at all. But I don't want to be a sitting duck myself. My son is 32 and loves to hike alone but he's had second thoughts. He always has a buddy now lately. Be safe! God bless.
I live off the AT in West Virginia. I hike the AT and I have seen some weird characters at times. Most of the people are cool. The most important thing is to be observant. Keep an eye out for people being creepy or weird. I also usually try to hike with someone if possible. I also usually carry a large knife on my back pack strap on my chest. (I want my knife easily accessible and visible.) It serves as a good deterrent and is also useful for being in the woods too. I had to pull it once when a guy walked up to me with a small knife drawn his hand asking me for stuff when I was attempting to go to my car. It was a winter day so not many people were on the trail. The guy tried to sneak up on me so I saw him from 50 feet away. (I pulled my knife out when I saw him carrying his.) I have thought about carrying a gun but I usually do not. Most of the women I know who might hike a long carry guns.
Something needs to be said about people that you bump into in life that mean to do you, or someone, harm that nobody ever really talks about... These people, like was said in the video, are looking for certain types of people. If you read and hear stories about robberies and attacks that happen, you'll notice something. In probably higher than 90-95% of all of those cases, the attacker will most certainly engage their victim in some type of conversation or social interaction first. There's a huge reason for this. They are trying to understand where you both fall in the chain of dominance, wits, hierarchy compared to them, etc. They are trying to understand from a very short interaction what type of person you are, and you can tell a LOT about someone by only hearing them speak a sentence, or even just one or two words. How their voice articulates, how educated they sound, how authoritative they sound, how sane or insane they sound, how their body stance is, how they move....all of these "vibes" they (and you are instantly exchanging and deciding in just a few short seconds who falls where. This doesn't just happen in attacker/victim situations either, this is in many regular interactions in life. You meet someone in business, shake their hand, you meet a contractor you might hire, you meet someone to date, etc. If this isn't something you're keen to, then you need to start being very aware and keen to this, and then, learn how to handle yourself during these interactions. I have undoubtedly, many times in life, come across strangers when I was alone, both as a child and as an adult, in which I KNEW they were looking for someone to attack, and just by the way I handled myself, they knew that I knew who they were and what they were up to, and they move on. So what can you do? First of all, ignore this guy when he speaks about firearms and self defense, he's not trained and doesn't have that experience (with all due respect). YOU need to get yourself trained and start carrying some type of weapon. Whether that be a knife, or a firearm, or whatever it be that you're comfortable with, but first and foremost, you need to get yourself trained. And I don't mean just "educated" on the subject and the use of such weapon, I mean the actual physical practice of producing it and using it. This will build confidence in you for sure. Go somewhere and pay to learn this if you need to. Whatever you do, educate and then TRAIN yourself. Then....when you come into these situations in life in which you meet a stranger in a lonely situation, and I'm not trying to scare you but chances are, you WILL at some point in your life meet an attacker looking for a victim, you know how to handle yourself and the situation. Whenever I come across someone like that in those lonely situations, I know that through my experience, education, wisdom, human insight, and training I've done that I am more experienced than my attacker is. I've put more thought into it than they probably have. I don't even think of them as "attacker" and me as "possible victim", I think of myself as the aggressor here. And I will look, speak and act completely in that mindframe. They are subordinate to me. They need to worry more about me than I do them. I'm the one with the attitude. I'm the one who's crazy here and willing to take it all the way. I'm the one who's got the temperamental mentality that if they accidentally set me off, they will be severely hurt or killed. I'm the one hunting them, not the other way around. If they say the wrong thing, it may be ME that pounces and harms them. Now, am I looking to hurt anyone? Absolutely not, but this is the vibe I put off when these weirdo types run into me, and it most certainly works, or at least has worked, every time. Not only do you need to act this way though, you need to believe it about yourself, and I certainly do. Out in the wild, it's kill or be killed in these situations, and you need to understand that and believe in yourself that you are the dangerous one, not them. You will gain this confidence through your education and your training. It takes time, and I know what I'm saying sounds barbaric, but believe me, you don't know barbaric until you're faced with a life/death situation and you're bleeding to death and this stranger is in the middle of attacking you until it actually happens.....so be that person. Be the one they are afraid to encounter. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I act like this with normal kind hearted souls that I would normally expect to come across. But I know whether they're meaning me harm just as quick or even quicker as they know whether I'm a victim. If you ran into me in the woods and you're a normal person who's just trying to enjoy life like me, we would have a very pleasant exchange and you probably wouldn't have any idea that I was capable of acting like that or saying the things I said. So save that "attitude" for the weirdos you come across in the woods, and in life. I can't tell you how many times I could tell that my "would be attacker" was scared and intimidated by me and just kept it moving. Regardless of how you act though, definitely get educated, get trained, and carry something. Cheers! :)
@Joseph Lucas Thanks. Yup. That initial "first impression" is so quick, so subtle. It's a very fragile time for both parties. Almost by the time you're thinking about it and evaluating, the moment has already passed. I've never been to prison, or been in trouble with the law...but I do watch a lot of prison UA-camr content, people that have been to prison and tell their stories, etc. What you hear about it is pretty horrifying (for men anyway.) It really is barbaric. To be put into a cell by yourself and them bring another man who's in there for murdering a few people and doing horrible things to them before it took place and he looks at you with intent, you really need to be prepared to take it all the way because they certainly are.
Yes, you are right. Moving to NYC alone as a very young woman (18) taught me a lot about sizing up people on a very intuitive level, a very gut level. And that was in the late 70's when it was a very rough and dangerous place.
I would love to meet one of those rats on the trail. Seeing the fear and pain in the eyes of coward who prey upon the weak is a feeling second to none. Justice boner worthy
Older does not necessarily mean an easier target!!! It all depends on the person's background! I'm 65 yr's old, a veteran! I've been around! I'd never intentionally harm another human being, unless pushed to it! Then l'd full intend to do what ever it takes to survive!! Older does not mean easy!!!
There was another case that happened many years ago about an ax attack. Two women camping were attacked by a Stranger wielding and ask. One survived with grave injuries. I think the book was called a strange piece of heaven.
There was a Seriel killer who killed an elderly couple and a young woman (spared her dog) on Blood Mountain which is part of the Appalachian Trail. I hiked it in early 80's with friends. There's a cabin on top but was occupied so we "slept" in a cave. It was freezing!!
Thanks for covering this issue, it is my biggest concern about attempting a long distance hike. You gave some excellent suggestions for safety on the trail.
Nice little video with stories and wisdom like would be with my dad when I was young 40+ years ago haha. As for Molly & Jeff, nothing that could be done. To help prevent that, if you are alone, when it is getting near dark go off the trail 50 yards or so. Strike out in a direction and turn 90 degrees in another and go another 25 yards. This way if someone is following you, you'll know it and if they just watch you they will misjudge where you actually are, so if they come after dark. they'll likely not find you. If they are INTENT on finding you they will have to make circles guessing where you are and hopefully they constant sound of them walking around will wake you up. Obviously leave food in a different area to not attract bears. I do carry a gun in the woods and since I always have I would have anxiety not doing it. I am a proponent of bear spray, too. A big threat is a small one called ticks - treat your gear with permethrin. You WILL encounter them. Otherwise just be vigilant and respectful of people just like this guy was when the woman came up. Smile, look them in the eye and say hi. Always show your hands as it shows intent, if someone hides them there is usually a bad reason. I've been all through deep woods and up mountains. I've slept out of my car hundreds of times no exaggeration. I've never had an incident ever. Then again I am probably not the target predators are looking for, but I am prepared. IF you do choose a gun, choose the one you can handle best and PRACTICE with it to be proficient and efficient. Situations happen FAST and no time to figure out how to use one during an event. Be safe out there.
A number of years Pennsylvania passed a law making it illegal to carry on the trail. Whether it was removed I do not know. You also have the concealed carry that is very much frowned upon in Maryland and New York. Is it worth it to carry? You bet!
Actually, I never had any second thoughts while hiking the AT in PA. And usually, the AT is safe, even for a female solo hiker, provided you use your common sense and listen to your gut feelings. If people intend to harm you when out hiking, it‘s more likely to happen at trail crossings with roads or parking lots, or, where campsites in the mountains are easily accessible by forest roads. Nobody usually keeps hiking hours after you, even climbing uphill, to later strike. Keep safe by checking the maps for possible forest roads at your planned camp site, do not camp close to roads or road crossings. Also, when in town or talking to (local) strangers at parking lots or trail heads, do not tell them where you intend to camp for the night. If a person wants to know such details, your inner alarm bells should ring already. I solo thruhiked the entire AT in 2007 northbound, and in 2008 southbound, when I spent sometimes entire days and many nights totally alone on the trail. And I am a female hiker.
Thank you for posting about this. I actually had to stay at the Cove Mountain Shelter last year when I had a medical issue. Was making my way to Duncannon but had to bail early. I was pretty scared there, thinking of the murders, but ultimately everything was fine. Watching this brought back memories. Also - you can see the footprint of the old shelter which is in front of the new one. One last note - far more men have been killed on the Appalachian Trail than women. But I appreciate your thoughts about safety!
I'm a retired Marine (20 years) and Calif. police officer (30 years) and have been armed most my life. I now live in Arizona..we can carry openly here and do.
There is a tunnel system under the Appalachian Trail and various bases. I went 110 miles underground. The tunnel system is occupied. this is why people disappear.
I grew up in gardner's PA in the 1980s and 90s near the AT and I think I remember that weird drifter guy coming through. He was scary looking. I will never forget that.
Beautiful area but truly sad story. When I go for hikes I take my huge dog. She is very protective of me. I am also very careful and never go over night.
To those who liked my comment, thank you so much. It seems like whenever I leave a comment about carrying a gun (no matter the circumstances or context) I get tons of comments throwing shade at me because of it. I don't know if it's because these people don't have any real experience in forests or deep woods or if they're just anti gun liberal/democrats or what their issue is. But I grew up on the top of a mountain of which my family owned along with another half a mountain that was ALL wooded. Aside from trespassing hunters and poachers, we also had people who'd come and hide to shoot/do drugs, have sex etc. We also had Panthers and bobcats and other dangerous wildlife. I obviously never camp without one either. That's why I have my stance on never going into the woods without a gun. I was raised in a place where it was absolutely necessary. Again I say thank you for not trolling me and appreciate the likes. Cheers to y'all 🍻 🍻 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
@@TheKentuckyConservative It's ALWAYS good to be prepared for anything, and glad nothing happened, than not prepared, and dead because something did happen. I didn't have a gun on me the night a homeless bum tried to mug me at a truckstop in northern Indiana, but I DID have a can of starting fluid that I sprayed in his eyes, when he grabbed me from behind, while I was climbing up in my truck. It was behind the driver's seat, so I grabbed it, turned around, and ruined his day. I contemplated lighting his head on fire, when he was rolling around on the ground, because I was so enraged, but I kicked him in the face instead, with heavy steel toed boots. I only did it once, and I left him there to bleed. I bet he never tried that trick again, because most truck drivers do carry, regardless of laws, and if he was smart, he would realize that he picked one guy who didn't have a gun but the next one might.
I came up against 4 hunters that I had to use my gun on, out in federal land. The only reason I had the gun at that time was to protect my dog against wolves and mountain lions, normally do not carry. After that event I carry all the time in the woods. P.S. I am a male, Game-warden was recommending carrying on that trail because of wolves taking dogs. I normally do not carry because of the extra weight and I have been a mountain man all my life and had no misadventure except this one time. Fifty seven years romping around in the woods and loving it.
Speak softly and carry a big stick...seriously though, you need to keep your head on a swivel at all times and never forget that there are many predators, both four legged and two legged in our world. This story was a good reminder that wherever you are, remain vigilant. Thanks for the great video and history lesson!
don't want to recreate where I have to "rotate" my head the whole time looking for possible trouble. carry on you hikers.....make us believe in the great outdoors.
If your hiking alone or just with a few others. You can put up a string with bells, that will wake you up to someone coming into your aera, whether two leged or four. You also can carry wireless drive way buzzers that will go off. The noise will scare an animal, or someone with bad intentions.
Attackers are less likely to harm you if they have a bullet wound.
Especially one between their eyes.
👍🏽
Especially multiple bullet wounds.
Exactly, I don't understand why people don't wanna carry a gun. Better to be safe than sorry.
THATS RIGHT.
Cop pulled over an 80 year old lady. He asked her if she had any drugs or guns. She said she had a 45 in the glove box. A 40 in the door pocket. A 10mm in the console. And a 9mm in her purse.
The cop said, holy cow. What in the world are you so afraid of?
80 year old said,,, I ain't afraid of nothing.
Timmy what is your point. That person whom was killed did NOT have a fire arm,did NOT!!!!! he got killed,his lady friend wounded, she DID NOT have a weapon. Facts are my point. Why do guns make you wet your pants?Plenty of people have disappeared on trails all across America,think they were ALL ACCIDENTS? You be a victim,I will not.Tell you what though, ever we cross paths,and I see you in trouble, I'll respect your anti gun rights and just keep on keeping on,leave you to settle it.O K? Respect out bro.
David he was showing some humor. I took at as he was telling a joke.
Tim Henry,10 mm, wtf?Spoken like a true anti gun sissy. If that man and woman had a weapon, they would be alive and un injured. With the fire arm, comes training how to use it, bad people attack good people because bad people know they are the ones with weapons. Bad people have the advantage, Tell you what,I do some hiking, I do carry,and am real good with it. If I ever see you getting attacked,I will let you handle it.just let me know it's you , Tim the anti gun nut.and I will respect your anti gun stance.
@Little PAW 1969 it is an attempt to insult pro gun people and to deny that is absurd.I get it all the time, but hey,I will not intervene if I ever see him or you in trouble,I'll respect your fear of guns and not get involved.
@@kathyb799didn't I see your name in a men,s room at a truck stop in Virginia, right off 81 or was it in a Waffle House? Some ting about your ability to suck a bowling ball through a swizzle stick.That is you that person wrote about right?
I am a woman and i always carry my .38. I refuse to be a sitting duck. I refuse to let fear rule my life. I wanna go for walks and hike and camp and sometimes by myself. Hopefully i will never need to use it. But i can guarantee i wont go down without a fight. I have 5 rounds. One of them will hit its mark. I will worry about the repercussions later, after i know i am alive and safe.
Who is Mark and why do you want to shoot him lol , no only joking . To be fair I dont blame you , its extra piece of mind just in case . We all hope that just in case never happens but if it does your prepared . What I find more disturbing at the moment is that young females seem to think going abroad hiking is a good idea , when I say abroad I dont mean Sherwood forest in the UK or the Alps . No I mean Morocco , Iraq , Afghanistan etc , yes women are going out to these places un armed and un prepared . You heard about those two Scandinavian girls that were raped and beheaded , now a young Canadian couple have gone missing in Iraq . The Italian woman that wanted to go across the world in a wedding dress , raped and murdered and I think that was in Turkey and there are more just I cant remember the facts . Now to me they are really being stupid and dangerous , if the Army travel around armed to the teeth in that area , then its probably not a good idea to backpack there . I think these young women and men that are thinking of such a trip , should think twice . As for the rest of us level headed people that enjoy the outdoors , have great times .
All five might miss...is it worth it..I say in my opinion,no.
You can always find trouble without going to look for it.
To go in such a wilderness as a lone woman is madness..sorry.
well said lori
Use Speer gold dot 135 gr. In +p. Get the short barrel type. Nasty!!
take also a dog with you if possible
As a former park ranger and deputy game officer, I'd never go into the woods without firearms. People need to realize that the woods are not Disneyland.
Lots of strange things in the woods. Monsters are real. Human and otherwise.
Same here.
@aaa aaa not so. People get killed, raped and robbed in countries where the citizens are disarmed. The criminal element exists everywhere. I seem to remember not too long ago, 2 lady hikers in morocco got their heads cut off by friendly locals. At least in America you can fight back.
Spain didn't need any guns, Spain was on Hitler's side.. Stay where you are and I hope you never need a Gun!
Amen! Even at camp we keep a gun. A crazy animal or people. Any officer is 20 to 30 minutes out from our camp
The most deadly predator is a human, and they are everywhere.
They are more dangerous than pythons or jaguars.
You’re the first person I’ve seen cover this case. Molly was my dad’s cousin and I was 12 years old when this happened. We don’t talk about it at all so it’s always been this weird, horrible story that lingered in the back of my memory. Despite having hiked portions of the trail and only living about an hour from where it happened, I’ve never gone up to that section so I appreciated the video of the trail and area.
So sorry for your family
so sorry for your loss .
Condolences to your family
Have not hear. d about this case, have heard Missing 411 cases, numerous other murders dating back to the 1950's at the Girl Scout camp out west. I'm sorry your family had to deal with that, I hope they found peace.
So very sorry for this senseless loss on your family
Be friendly to all... trust no one.
Amen!!!! Pay attention to your gut and pay attention to your surroundings!
Alabama Woodsman my words exactly 👍👍
Dude...So true. The secret to success right there.
Aye..
TRUTH!
I agree 💯! Glorifying the the evil ones instead of remembering the innocent and good is a huge issue that we need to fix in the media&Co.
The guy friendly died last year at 70. But at the same time I don't want some ex-con living in my neighborhood and I don't know who he is. He was originally supposed to be put on death row and then they changed it to two consecutive life sentences. At taxpayers expense!
Glorifying evil people is definitely not a good thing but the reason they stand out above the victims is that no normal people do what evil people do. The light is on the evil guys because people want to know what made them do what they do, people want to "study" their life and see why they became what they became or if they were just born like that. The victims usually were just good normal people.
@@ByGraceIGo Over the years they have suspended the death penalty and eased up on punishment and now they have cashless bail, and all the while crime keeps getting worse.
Name an example of "evil ones"???? Who???
I'm an old woman and I hike a lot with my German Shepherd. I have a fanny pack and a bear spray holster on the strap. I practice drawing, removing the clip and aiming it. Never had a problem but I'd rather carry it and not need it. Wouldn't feel comfortable hiking without a dog and it wouldn't be as much fun.
it was as dangerous when Daniel Boone roamed around but they didn't have to worry about 2 legged critter's that appear as human's that are looking for mischief or worse. a famous axe murder happened near my locale years ago and never been found..
I’m glad you are remembering the victims and not the scumbag.
The back ground, with the fog, goes well with your story. Sad story. Nice view.
Beautiful woods though
Unlike with George Floyd...
.... nice view" - - then night time sets in and a cool breeze 😳
@@benjaminollis7621 huh?
A dog, a sheath knife , pepper spray & a Firearm. Look up the amount of people who go missing each year from national parks. I taught my kids from the time they were young to never be alone in the wilderness without a knife & pepper spray & to carry a walking stick.
And the ability to make fire.
I think that the very best defense is to carry a gun and have a dog with you. The dog will alert you so that you won’t be caught off guard.
Yep I totally agree 100%
It's a proven fact that violent people are less likely to commit violence against you after they have been shot.
@@mattjack5830 there's a 100% chance you won't be harmed if the attack is dead from a gun shot before they get to you.
Sound advice.
I always carry my side arm not from animals from people.
There is no better advice! I never go without at least a 9mm and my 100lb male pitbull.
In our youth we hiked camped all over. In Northern AZ, Tennessee & Florida, many years apart, we encountered very bad men. My husband (ex army) had a 357 magnum. In AZ on the forest road, 2 men in a decrepit truck reached for their guns. My husband had the gun in his backpack cocked in a flash. They told us we know where you’re camped, sleep tight. We left. In Tennessee, in rain, while my husband was in restroom I encountered a creepy man who tried to chat me up, as he rolled toward me, in his beat up car, as I stood in parking lot. Only his left hand was visible. My husband had the keys. I signaled my husband who immediately appeared & man left.
In Florida girlfriend & I followed home late @ night from shopping mall parking lot, for over 10 miles. When we entered gated community, Guard saw van make quick uturn. Message be careful everywhere.
As a woman, my husband told me,”always be aware of your surroundings.” That statement has protected me a number of times!
I wish Molly and Jeff had a dog with them as an early warning system. I used to hike in the woods at least twice a month by myself and never worried. Rode horses alone...never worried. Then one year I broke my foot. Now I realize how vulnerable and frail we can be and how fast your whole life can change in a flash. At least, these days, most folks have cell phones and are able to stay connected as they wander around.
I was hiking red cloud peak in Colorado and fell and pierced my hand on a log. I had to walk down like 4 miles with a huge open wound and leaking fat and blood. It made me realize how vulnerable I am, if I just have an accidental fall. Always go with someone else, solitude is nice but it can mean the end of you
Spot on about being female and parking lots--the first thing I do when getting in my car is lock the door.
Me too. Even my own driveway.
Im male and do the same. We guys just have a too big ego 😂
Every time a man says, "women have so much more to think about [when it comes to casual personal security]," an angel gets its wings.
Thank you for taking the time here to really reflect on that. It made the video better, & it demonstrated your depth of understanding on the nuances of the horror of the Geoff Hood + Molly LaRue story.
❤
So true. I often also think of the quote by Margaret Atwood, “Men are afraid a woman will laugh at him. A woman is afraid a man will kill her.” What a profound difference.
I know alot of people don't think of dogs as tools anymore but if anything it is a alarm 24/7
*an alarm. Learn proper English.
@@Anonymous-wb3nz bahahaha get a life
My ex had the perfect trail dog. A Chihuahua. The little guy was strong enough to hike many miles on his own, but light enough to carry when he tired. Best thing about him was he noticed/heard everything. When his radar went off, he would not bark. He quietly shuddered. That would wake my wife. She'd wake me.
I always have my dog with me while hiking. I carry a big knife also but I depend on my dog more then my knife
I'm afraid my dog is a little too trusting of humans. If my dog meets literally any animal she freaks out. But humans she runs up and starts locking them and asking for pets.
I very much appreciate that you understand that women see the world and certain situations differently because of safety issues
Only gullible types of women doesn't recognize danger when it staring them in the face.
@@myrnawashington9057 *Anyone* can be taken off guard. Its not just the "gullible"...
Yes honey, and that's why we always keep an eye out, and check on you ladies and the kiddo's! Mojo, Nj
@@myrnawashington9057 Overconfidence has also racked up quite a body count in the wilderness.
As a young female hiker myself, I greatly appreciate that you consider how we feel when we are alone and pass by men on the trails. That definitely goes through our heads! I rarely go anywhere without my husband, but when I do I am extremely cautious. Thank you for taking into consideration how we feel! It is definitely a small chance that we will run into a psychopath, but that small chance is enough to scare us.
Why? Y'all women are equal to us men aren't you? Besides your just as likely to be a psychopath as a dude is I reckon.
You don't need to go anywhere without your husband. Obviously he can't prevent something from happening, particularly with someone who is planning ahead and cunning but still he will be there for you (and you for him) to help fight no matter what end.
@@dougjones3305 I disagree Doug. 96% of the violent crimes are committed by men even if we are equals. And it's because of the testosterone factor. That is a fact. I wonder how many women are in jail for raping a man? I'm not saying women cannot be psychopaths or murderers but the likelihood that there's just as many women that are that way is not true. Thanks to the mothering hormone prolactin and the lack of testosterone. But then again so many people are screwed up because they're hormones are screwed up from all the crap that they're putting in stuff.
Safety in numbers
Take pepper or bear spray with you.
ALWAYS carry some fishing line and a couple of empty aluminum cans to set up a little trip alarm around your camp. Also, if possible, strike camp in the middle of thickets or the worst briar patch to discourage two legged predators from pursuing you.
Wait. . . 2 legged predators?????
@@christofjeromepaul6752 humans bro. Scarier than wildlife
Was thinking the same thing. I also was thinking tie cans together in a circle on ground and hide them with leaves if there is plenty on ground and that way someone can accidentally step on and make lots of noise by stepping on cans crunching under feet. Not sure if that sounds dumb or not but it’s a idea
Oh but that won't stop stop Bigfoot
If I remember right, the killer was a prison escapee from Florida who managed to get to the AT and walk along as a day hiker. He got to PA where he took advantage of the situation to steal a backpack and gear, but he killed to get it. Then he started hiking south wearing the woman's backpack.He was spotted just north of Harper's Ferry by an observant female backbacker who noticed the guy was wearing a woman's backpack. Authorities greeted the killer on the bridge from MD to Harper's Ferry. He immediately asked for his lawyer.
I am from the maryland side of the mountain on the other side is harpers ferry I remember this and the little burg I am from people were scared but some people got armed and hiked the mountain away also they caught 2 bank robbers up on the trail behind my fami home, it makes me very mad that these criminals destroy the peace of enjoying nature ...
He also died in prison in July 2022
“That could never happen to me because it’s never happened to me” is step one to trouble. As an experienced West Coast hiker, I started insisting on hiking armed a decade ago. I carry a 45 in heavily trafficked areas and a Smith 44 (chest holster) in potential big game grizz & moose country. A firearm is the same to me as my e-kit. Also, for less that 6 ounces of weight you can carry a spool of kevlar string and pull-away klaxon alarms that blare when triggered. They are like couplings that, when separated ,emit a considerable alarm. Two trip lines of gear take up less space than a typical headlamp. Whereas I agree with this gentleman’s refusal to be paranoid I disagree with his approach. It relies on social benevolence that we no longer enjoy. Things have consistently devolved since the 1990’s. Predators (human) absolutely hunt well known trails and those who pretend otherwise are frankly stuck in outdated thinking (no disrespect to the affable fellow who made this. nice video that I just enjoyed) In fact, I subbed. Ask any ranger who isn’t a leftist gun-hater and they ALL recommend hyper vigilance on trails be they in national parks, state parks or BLM land. Cats are getting more human acclimated too and they do attack children and smaller people. The 1970’s-1990’s were a time when hiking Nor Cal armed seemed like unnecessary weight but like I said, today, in 2020 my “oh sh*t” bag and weapon are essentials. The aforementioned alarms were not available to the general public in 1990 but that murdered couple could’ve used one of several techniques available in Army field manuals post-Vietnam and they would be alive today. Sleeping in one of the AT shelters and relying on the goodness of man in 2020 is IMHO outdated normalcy bias. If you read this all the way through God bless you, be safe and happy trekking 🏕
Very well said. I very much agree with all you've said here.
I agree 100%
another self defense that people don't think about is a high power flashlight. You can blind someone for a while, especially with the new super bright flashlights you can get.
true but imagine coming face to face with someone trying to cause harm to you in the woods (at night is the only time this would work) and all u can do is get ur flashlight out and beam them lmaooooooo helll nah get a gun or a knife if you wanna get up close to them and kiss first
@@Pinda50000 I think you don‘t know how strong these new led flashlights can be. 3000 Lumen in your face in darkness and you won‘t see shit for at least ten seconds. Enough time to do some real damage to a guy even without a weapon if you have to. as a less lethal option you can also break a nose with it. it’s so bright it can even cause temporary blindness.
@@wodidos Absolutely, if you need to attack eyes are a great place to start.
this is better advice than a gun for a bunch of reasons.
Military grade laser. Can also start a fire with it.
I've hiked all my life and never feared a thing. But when my girl comes along, my dog joining us is mandatory
If that couple had a dog with them, they likely would have been warned by its barking.
I try to be aware of my surroundings at all times but it’s best to have someone with you.
Watching these videos made (and David Paulides Missing 411) me afraid to go into the woods!
Good man
I'm thinking about going on the Appalachian trail, and no fear whatsoever here. Well, for some reason i don't attract the bad stuff in my life. It must be my attitude, and just plain no fear of anything. Of course, we're all different, and that matters.
I have to admit that after 30 years of hiking I still tend to get a little edgy when sleeping alone in the woods at night. I much prefer to be around other hikers when setting up my tent for the night. I have lots of stories about things that go bump in the night!
Tell us some of those stories
Stories please! Lol!
....I'm listening
I think I’d sleep high off ground up in the trees in a hammock or chair swing. A bear might climb up but you have the upper ground & some noise notice especially if you string a couple aluminum cans as a trip alarm.
Thank you for a respectful, kind, and considerate video of a tragic event. I lived about an hour from that location and it truly shocked our community. I have been in three wars for our country (1st gulf war, Iraq, and Afghanistan,) and I did peace keeping in the Balkans. I love the Pennsylvania woods and I have hiked all over the eastern and central parts of the state. That event still resonates in my mind and when these events occur its always the criminals that bask in the light of recognition. Its the victims that matter...to their families, and to us...the criminals should get ZERO notoriety and ZERO respect. I can tell by your telling of this tragedy that you have a good heart. Thanks, and I have subscribed to your channel. PLEASE KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK!!!
If you don’t name and she me criminals snd thier families then the only people who talk about them glorify them. The no nsme movement has been around since the 90’s and it’s changed nothing. Public shaming is a historic part of all cultures. We stopped doing that in America with the “you can’t judge me” bullshit.
Name them, and shun and shame thier family’s. It used to be if you acted poorly your family couldn’t get work, loans anything. Would have to move, change their names.
It worked better then the modern society. And it democrats sure worked better then ignoring them.
You wouldn’t ignore any other issue. Why this one?
Peace keeping in the balkans 😂😂, you mean attacking the Serbians?
I piss on you and your "accomplishments"
@@stevewillis1916 Sir, while I was deployed I did my duty assigned. Do I think we were on the wrong side of that conflict? ABSOLUTELY
@@algernon1119 Servicemen/Women have to go where they are sent, I think?...Don't think it's possible for any to say ''I'd rather not go there, thanks'', or to have any free choice in the matter.
just go and do your best, and hope to get back alive, and not too badly traumatised.
{Have had family members who Served {WW2} and it definitely was not pleasant for them in the main.
I find that the easiest way to carry a firearm while you are hiking is to wear a chest rig designed for concealed carry, such as the rigs made by Hill People Gear.
These pouches enable you to carry and draw, since the waist belt of the backpack prevents belt carry. Plus, you can carry snacks and lights in it too.
Being able to quickly and effectively deploy your weapon against a threat is just as important as actually carrying the weapon!
I meet "Johnny (Cash looking) the Slasher" on the trail in 06'. After hiking all day we stopped at a shelter. Guy comes out of no where. I told my bud we better keep going and went to the next shelter. Next day a couple caught up to us and told us they had been assaulted and robbed at knife point. There are people who live on that trail. Also, had a gentleman stop me and wanted (demanding) money. I shoved him out of the way and moved on. Moral of the story, NEVER let your guard down. We came through Blood Mountain at the time when that girl was decapitated...but that is another story for another time....
What a cliffhanger! What happened? I live in dallas and we have a park here where a lady was decapitated. I dont go anywhere alone. It is crazy out there!
Lol the John Muir trail seems so peaceful in contrast with the AT. There are just too many decent sized towns along the AT which give psychos easy access to hikers.
@@soysaucehairdye7869 Do some research on the AT and how many hikers have been killed. You have a much better chance of being struck by lightning...twice, than being the victim of a crime, ANY crime, violent or not, while hiking the AT. Usually, psychos aren't looking to climb mountains for people to kill. The number of hikers that use the AT vs. the number of crimes is infinitesimal. You're much, much, much safer out hiking than just walking down the street in a city.
That gal was my daughter's good friend..
@@pamike4873 exactly, I feel like when crimes occur in a wilderness area that the stark contrast between the horror of the event and the beauty of the scene make them stick in people's minds.
It is a shame that women hiking/walking out alone has become a dodgy business. Even our local rail trail that spans multiple counties, has its share of indecent exposures and attempted assaults. It just isn’t safe for a lone woman, unfortunately. Sad.
The moment you believe you are in a safe environment, you let your guard down & you give a potential attacker the upper hand.. Not wise to do anywhere in the world, but even worse in the woods. Dont hike alone & unarmed, better to be safe than sorry. 💜💜💜
They were asleep.so guns wont help.
I have .38 Special Rossi. If anyone tries to break into my house, they will get a surprise they will never forget.
What a nice young man you are...your mother raised you right! 😃
npc
I think hiking can be a very dangerous pastime indeed, my friends son went missing in a Canadian NP in 2011. David Paulides wrote about his case in one of his Missing 411 books. The missing club is a club nobody wants to belong to but people still seem to go missing sadly.....
I'm so sorry to hear this. God be with you.
I'm from BC and there are a lot of missing ppl lately and most are not found .this is all over BC . family friends teen age girl was almost abducted .think organized kid napping for human trafficking .
Scary world it is 🥺
@@Brad-99 Yes, and organ trafficking is happening in the US too. Not just other countries.
Most people do not know this... In this USA, almost a million people go missing each and every year in our national parks, that's right, A MILLION. I know, it's crazy, fact check me, look it up. Get educated, get trained, carry a weapon or other firearm, and be prepared to fight to the death....or don't go out into the woods.
I carry pepper gel, it's even better than pepper spray. It shoots out about 18 feet and clings to the perpetrator's face and is less likely to blow back on you on a windy day.
Good, but be aware it's not always a surefire thing. Always combine with either fight or flight. Can take a while to kick in, some can be almost immune to it.
Humans, by far, are the most dangerous animals you will come across in the woods. The other animals are either afraid or just curious.
Hiking sounds fun, but I’d be too afraid, even with other people there.
Thank you for that. What a sad story that was, terrible way to go for the woman. I enjoyed the spookiness of the weather. Thanks for taking me along, stay safe
This was almost 30 years ago. And in the entire history of the AT, the death rate is less than 1 person a year. Compared to living in a city, its very safe. But always be aware of your surroundings.
Les than 7 people since its creation.
Chad being aware is useless after you have been targeted.USELESS! People disappear from trails all across America,do you think they are all accidents? And it just happened again,about two weeks ago.That killer attacked over 6 hikers before the last two, if someone had shot his ass, the fellow in Virginia, he would be alive, girlfriend not hurt and destroyed, Chad if I see you out there and you are in trouble,I will respect you,and not interfere.
Chad, hold on, people just vanish hiking trails all across America every year. In my Park and Forest,I am one of the employee's that go looking for them. Do you actually believe all these are accidents? I carry,I have a chance when that "if" happens,you do not.I would rather be me. And here in Jersey,U.S.A. I have seen the victims of crimes on out trails.
Being aware of does not mean a thing if you need to defend yourself.These people are predators,hunt people,it is their profession.Still waiting for proof that every disappearance on trails all across America are accident's.
Don’t seem like much till you are that one percent
I've lived in PA for over 40 years, and I've learned and enjoyed watching your videos. Keep up the excellent work.
Being a single mother I have always had protection with me no matter where I am. Now that my daughter's are grown I have made sure that they are protected as well when they are by themselves. I agree there is safety in numbers. We as females always have to be aware of our surroundings day or night. You should NEVER underestimate the craziness of another. Whether it's human or animal. Please continue to consider some sort of protection when doing your hikes. I want to be able to watch your channel for many years to come. Be safe.❤
You are so right.
Wise words
If you spend enough time in the woods in general and the AT specifically,
you begin to get a 'feel" for the folks you meet. Real, seasoned hikers can
spot each other a mile away and the occasional oddball sticks out like a sore
thumb. I spend A LOT of time in the woods in Maine and NH and I've only met a few
people who gave off a creepy vibe. Most folks are out in the woods for the same reason
that I am which is to be alone and mind my own business.
I was telling a friend this..we were hiking tuckermans and hes a bit overwhelmed by crowds..i told him dude 99% of hikers are out there for the same reason..fellow hikers are always easy to have a convo with.
Scott Dunbar, that is exactly how these victims felt.Chances are on the side nothing will happen,BUT what if it DOES? I am prepared,you and these victim's are not. These poor folks did not have the opportunity to avoid this nut,the nut did not let that happen,did he?
Again,being aware does NOTHING when that two legged wolf is at your camp,and armed,.NOTHING! Brains do not beat firepower.Logic does not work with a nut,two poles mean nothing when the bad guy has a sword or a gun.You happy trail nature freak nice people do not understand the enemy that IS out there.
@ColtDeltaElite10mm Got you Colt. These 2 legged predators are pro's ,they have a plan,and they have a weapon.You will not see them lurking ,stalking their target. Till he/she is on the attack. Gun beats sword every day,if you re trained with that gun.I train.All it will take is for just one predator to be shot dead,other shits will get the message,not all hikers are soft targets. Rugger .380 Dave.
@ColtDeltaElite10mm dam right you are.
Molly LaRue and Geoffrey Logan Hood had camped for the night in a wooden lean-to known as the Thelma Marks Shelter a few miles outside Duncannon. The three-sided structure was nestled among birch, poplar and oak trees on the south side of Cove Mountain about 30 feet below the trail that runs from Maine to Georgia.
“They were caught off-guard and somebody attacked them ... sometime before dawn,” Perry County Coroner Michael Shalonis told reporters after the bodies were found on Sept. 13, 1990.
They were the 8th and 9th victims at that time now total of 11 on Appalachian trail
You’re absolutely right women do have to look at things from all angles. Something that has taken me my whole adult life to realize. I grew up on a farm surrounded by woods that literally grew up in. Different time though. Thank you for this.
Thank you for emphasizing the victims, not the killer.
I love how aware you are when you talked about the female hiker coming up to you and what she might be thinking. As a female hiker I feel more at ease when I see a man take that into consideration instantly. Very good video.
JayJay I must look trustworthy or something because when I’ve been walking around late at night back from the bar or parties in college I’ve had girls I’ve never met, as opposed to being wary of me, latch on to me and ask if they can walk with me so I can keep them safe lol.
I would never be walking around the woods late at night unarmed and I Never automatically trust just any man I see.
I appreciate that you don't get too descriptive about the attack on the poor young lady.....like they do on true crime tv. This is so heartbreaking 🥺....thanks for sharing ❤
Im an older woman, very small too. I do carry a gun, but like you said, if you're sleeping what can you do? You can run fishing line between trees around your tent about ankle height to hepefully trip up someone or bring a freakin tiny Chihuahua, they bark at everything!!!
Or you can set up a daisy chain of Claymore mines!
This Is why I have a dog because what good is my gun if someone can sneak up on me.
Yes, a loyal dog is a friend indeed.
I was thinking maybe a porcupine or two would make good camping buddies. No. No.
@@Wistful77 or maybe a couple of honey badgers? LoL
My time spent with a golden retriever was without incident except for a Big Foot, Tall Brown Man/Thing. At least I had warning the thing was close!
@@robertl.fallin7062 stay safe out there I'm so very scared of Bigfoot
Music cats are stupid things,.rather have my dogs around anyway.
Very well presented. Your statement about not naming the criminals in these type stories is spot on! Much respect. Safe journies!
Ocala National Forest in FL is beautiful with lots of trails, but it's known for its higher-than-average violent crimes. 30 years ago I was on a 1 night backpacking hike with my boyfriend, and he'd decided to carry a sidearm (against the law). We felt safer with it. We crossed the trail with two men, stopped and chatted a little, and went our separate ways. Soon after we ran into another couple with whom we shared a campfire and dinner. The two men showed up, and they had doubled-back the trail, so chatted, and they left. Got a bad feeling about that. For privacy from the other couple we decided to camp a little further back the trail and pitched our tent and nightfall came. And we got nervous about those two men. So we packed up the tent and went back to the other couple, and they were also nervous and happy to see us. We felt safer as four. No, we never knew if we were justified in our concerns, but like this video's true story, a criminal is more likely to assault a couple than two couples. Beware of the crime statistics of the forrest area you're backpacking and be realistic.
Definitely go with your gut feeling.
Safety is worth it.
I have been camping in the Ocala National Forest. No more.
I'm shocked you don't carry a gun. To me, it's like playing Russian Roulette with your life. Sadistic people hunt those trails just hoping to find someone alone. Women are more vulnerable obviously but if you are with a girl, you should be armed to protect both of you. That girl that was up there alone is a total fool. IF you were a bad person or even an opportunist, her day could have ended badly. We just don't live in a world where you can take chances like that.
I use to get called to work at
1 or 2 am many times in a college town.
I was always stunned to see young women walking around as if it was no big deal.
Pepper spray • never leave home without it
Thank you for not mentioning the killer's name. I completely agree with you on that subject.
As alphaone suggests, buy or make a tripwire and camp off the beaten path. I'm in grizzly country and found I sleep more soundly with a diy electronic tripwire around the perimeter of my tent. Made with a window opening alarm housed in an old flybox, flyline backing for line, hung from trees using screw in cup hooks. Will wake me from a sound sleep and give me a few seconds to respond while the intruder has freaked out and maybe already turned tail and run.....if not then, bear spray....if not, then XD40 with buffalo bore solid core ammo. Be prepared= no regrets!
I always go heeled! My motto is " l refuse to be an easy target and l refuse to be a victim!! Be alert be vigilant, be prepared!!
I was going to hike the trail with friends in 1981, I was 21. But by an odd set of circumstances, one member couldn’t go so we all bailed. Then …I read the book, Murder on the Appalachian Trail. Based on actual events in 1981. Very very sad that this goes on out on the trail. Thank you for this video, I like how you presented the information. Very unbiased.
Hi Sherri hope you’re okay?
You never know when you will need protection! There is no reasoning with a rabid animal. Or an unbalanced human.
Hi Patricia hope you’re okay?
My nephews and I are from the area and used to go up to Hawk rock regularly. We only happened to stumble on the shelter by chance one day. Its a beautiful area. I had no idea about this part of it's history. Thank you for sharing and keeping the victims' memory alive.
I'm from the old school thinking... Number one when I'm overnighting it out in the woods somewhere how we set up a perimeter alarm. Nothing fancy but if somebody or something comes within 30 feet of my campsite I'll know it. That gives me just enough time to wake up and grab my sidearm. Some things you learn in the military you don't forget. And yes I always carry a sidearm in the city in the country and on the highways everywhere I go my sidearm goes with me. I carry Jesus in my heart and in my mind. but I also Carry Smith and Wesson on my side. And I carry Mister buck on my other side with a nice pretty 7-inch blade extremely sharp blade... God's word tells me to be instant in season and out of season that means and I best be prepared at all times... In my almost 70 years of life I've learned to be prepared mentally, physically, and spiritually.... BBE 👍 👍
I appreciate this video. Thank you for putting it together.
Appalachian trail when I hike / camp I go way off trail make sure that my tent blends in with the sounding can't be seen by no one even if someone is looking right at the tent they can't tell that anything is there
I'm planning on hiking the AT with my coworker friend and my dog next year. We will both be debt free sometime this year and I've wanted to do this for a very long time. Im 25 and hes 22. Right now we both feel like work is taking a toll on our happiness and that we need a break from routine. Right now the plan is to save money and get debt free then start saving for the trail and hike the AT next year then move to North Carolina from PA where we currently live.
Please buy some protection I don't care what the guy in the video says. Anybody who's going to hike that whole trail needs to have a firearm. Never mind people but all the Sasquatch and other cryptids sightings would make me wary of going in the woods at night at all. But I don't want to be a sitting duck myself. My son is 32 and loves to hike alone but he's had second thoughts. He always has a buddy now lately. Be safe! God bless.
I totally agree and commend you for simply respecting the dead and their families instead of celebrating the murderer.
One of your best videos! In my opinion. Your insight is spot on! Ty.
I do worry as my daughters walk or run the trails. You you are right to make us aware of what goes on the trails.
Sandra Plonka if I lived there which I’d don’t..my daughters wouldn’t be allowed to run out there..I don’t care if they are older,no way.
Sandra: that sounds way too dangerous.....not worth it......have them find a urban place to run unless they are with a group.
I live off the AT in West Virginia. I hike the AT and I have seen some weird characters at times. Most of the people are cool.
The most important thing is to be observant. Keep an eye out for people being creepy or weird. I also usually try to hike with someone if possible. I also usually carry a large knife on my back pack strap on my chest. (I want my knife easily accessible and visible.) It serves as a good deterrent and is also useful for being in the woods too.
I had to pull it once when a guy walked up to me with a small knife drawn his hand asking me for stuff when I was attempting to go to my car. It was a winter day so not many people were on the trail. The guy tried to sneak up on me so I saw him from 50 feet away. (I pulled my knife out when I saw him carrying his.)
I have thought about carrying a gun but I usually do not. Most of the women I know who might hike a long carry guns.
Something needs to be said about people that you bump into in life that mean to do you, or someone, harm that nobody ever really talks about... These people, like was said in the video, are looking for certain types of people. If you read and hear stories about robberies and attacks that happen, you'll notice something. In probably higher than 90-95% of all of those cases, the attacker will most certainly engage their victim in some type of conversation or social interaction first. There's a huge reason for this. They are trying to understand where you both fall in the chain of dominance, wits, hierarchy compared to them, etc. They are trying to understand from a very short interaction what type of person you are, and you can tell a LOT about someone by only hearing them speak a sentence, or even just one or two words. How their voice articulates, how educated they sound, how authoritative they sound, how sane or insane they sound, how their body stance is, how they move....all of these "vibes" they (and you are instantly exchanging and deciding in just a few short seconds who falls where.
This doesn't just happen in attacker/victim situations either, this is in many regular interactions in life. You meet someone in business, shake their hand, you meet a contractor you might hire, you meet someone to date, etc. If this isn't something you're keen to, then you need to start being very aware and keen to this, and then, learn how to handle yourself during these interactions. I have undoubtedly, many times in life, come across strangers when I was alone, both as a child and as an adult, in which I KNEW they were looking for someone to attack, and just by the way I handled myself, they knew that I knew who they were and what they were up to, and they move on. So what can you do?
First of all, ignore this guy when he speaks about firearms and self defense, he's not trained and doesn't have that experience (with all due respect). YOU need to get yourself trained and start carrying some type of weapon. Whether that be a knife, or a firearm, or whatever it be that you're comfortable with, but first and foremost, you need to get yourself trained. And I don't mean just "educated" on the subject and the use of such weapon, I mean the actual physical practice of producing it and using it. This will build confidence in you for sure. Go somewhere and pay to learn this if you need to. Whatever you do, educate and then TRAIN yourself. Then....when you come into these situations in life in which you meet a stranger in a lonely situation, and I'm not trying to scare you but chances are, you WILL at some point in your life meet an attacker looking for a victim, you know how to handle yourself and the situation. Whenever I come across someone like that in those lonely situations, I know that through my experience, education, wisdom, human insight, and training I've done that I am more experienced than my attacker is. I've put more thought into it than they probably have. I don't even think of them as "attacker" and me as "possible victim", I think of myself as the aggressor here. And I will look, speak and act completely in that mindframe. They are subordinate to me. They need to worry more about me than I do them. I'm the one with the attitude. I'm the one who's crazy here and willing to take it all the way. I'm the one who's got the temperamental mentality that if they accidentally set me off, they will be severely hurt or killed. I'm the one hunting them, not the other way around. If they say the wrong thing, it may be ME that pounces and harms them.
Now, am I looking to hurt anyone? Absolutely not, but this is the vibe I put off when these weirdo types run into me, and it most certainly works, or at least has worked, every time. Not only do you need to act this way though, you need to believe it about yourself, and I certainly do. Out in the wild, it's kill or be killed in these situations, and you need to understand that and believe in yourself that you are the dangerous one, not them. You will gain this confidence through your education and your training. It takes time, and I know what I'm saying sounds barbaric, but believe me, you don't know barbaric until you're faced with a life/death situation and you're bleeding to death and this stranger is in the middle of attacking you until it actually happens.....so be that person. Be the one they are afraid to encounter.
Don't get me wrong, it's not like I act like this with normal kind hearted souls that I would normally expect to come across. But I know whether they're meaning me harm just as quick or even quicker as they know whether I'm a victim. If you ran into me in the woods and you're a normal person who's just trying to enjoy life like me, we would have a very pleasant exchange and you probably wouldn't have any idea that I was capable of acting like that or saying the things I said. So save that "attitude" for the weirdos you come across in the woods, and in life. I can't tell you how many times I could tell that my "would be attacker" was scared and intimidated by me and just kept it moving. Regardless of how you act though, definitely get educated, get trained, and carry something. Cheers! :)
@Joseph Lucas Thanks. Yup. That initial "first impression" is so quick, so subtle. It's a very fragile time for both parties. Almost by the time you're thinking about it and evaluating, the moment has already passed. I've never been to prison, or been in trouble with the law...but I do watch a lot of prison UA-camr content, people that have been to prison and tell their stories, etc. What you hear about it is pretty horrifying (for men anyway.) It really is barbaric. To be put into a cell by yourself and them bring another man who's in there for murdering a few people and doing horrible things to them before it took place and he looks at you with intent, you really need to be prepared to take it all the way because they certainly are.
This is exactly why I keep a "bitch face" on and do not engage with anyone. Excellent comment!
Well stated! Violence only understands violence.
Yes, you are right. Moving to NYC alone as a very young woman (18) taught me a lot about sizing up people on a very intuitive level, a very gut level. And that was in the late 70's when it was a very rough and dangerous place.
Too wordy.
I would love to meet one of those rats on the trail. Seeing the fear and pain in the eyes of coward who prey upon the weak is a feeling second to none. Justice boner worthy
Thank you for posting this I hope people pay attention to what you have said and travel safely
Hi Mary hope you’re okay?
something eerie about overlooks when it's all fogged out.
I agree 100%. The criminals name should be forgotten.
No we gotta study the guy - i read up on him to see how to recognise the signs.
Older does not necessarily mean an easier target!!! It all depends on the person's background! I'm 65 yr's old, a veteran! I've been around! I'd never intentionally harm another human being, unless pushed to it! Then l'd full intend to do what ever it takes to survive!! Older does not mean easy!!!
You brought a lot of painful truth to my attention when you said "1990, almost 30 years ago". I'm like Jesus Christ I'm almost f ing 30....
I dont use shelters anymore . i stealth camp with a trip line going around the tent tied to my bear bell in the tent.
Fishing line is a good gear item.
I always hike with my dog. I do carry a pistol. My dog will warn me long before anyone gets near us.
Not always!
Smart man
There was another case that happened many years ago about an ax attack. Two women camping were attacked by a Stranger wielding and ask. One survived with grave injuries. I think the book was called a strange piece of heaven.
There was a Seriel killer who killed an elderly couple and a young woman (spared her dog) on Blood Mountain which is part of the Appalachian Trail. I hiked it in early 80's with friends. There's a cabin on top but was occupied so we "slept" in a cave. It was freezing!!
@@terrikrucina2023 that is so frightening. Thank goodness you were not at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Thanks for covering this issue, it is my biggest concern about attempting a long distance hike. You gave some excellent suggestions for safety on the trail.
Again, thank you for the journey. Nothing but age will keep me out of the woods.
Hi Margaret hope you’re okay?
Nice little video with stories and wisdom like would be with my dad when I was young 40+ years ago haha. As for Molly & Jeff, nothing that could be done. To help prevent that, if you are alone, when it is getting near dark go off the trail 50 yards or so. Strike out in a direction and turn 90 degrees in another and go another 25 yards. This way if someone is following you, you'll know it and if they just watch you they will misjudge where you actually are, so if they come after dark. they'll likely not find you. If they are INTENT on finding you they will have to make circles guessing where you are and hopefully they constant sound of them walking around will wake you up. Obviously leave food in a different area to not attract bears. I do carry a gun in the woods and since I always have I would have anxiety not doing it. I am a proponent of bear spray, too. A big threat is a small one called ticks - treat your gear with permethrin. You WILL encounter them. Otherwise just be vigilant and respectful of people just like this guy was when the woman came up. Smile, look them in the eye and say hi. Always show your hands as it shows intent, if someone hides them there is usually a bad reason. I've been all through deep woods and up mountains. I've slept out of my car hundreds of times no exaggeration. I've never had an incident ever. Then again I am probably not the target predators are looking for, but I am prepared. IF you do choose a gun, choose the one you can handle best and PRACTICE with it to be proficient and efficient. Situations happen FAST and no time to figure out how to use one during an event. Be safe out there.
Ok. I officially love this guy. I'm a subscriber. Thank you!
Scary, be safe out there Wandering Woodman. Like seeing your vlogs.
Hi Mary hope you’re okay?
A number of years Pennsylvania passed a law making it illegal to carry on the trail. Whether it was removed I do not know. You also have the concealed carry that is very much frowned upon in Maryland and New York. Is it worth it to carry? You bet!
Actually, I never had any second thoughts while hiking the AT in PA. And usually, the AT is safe, even for a female solo hiker, provided you use your common sense and listen to your gut feelings.
If people intend to harm you when out hiking, it‘s more likely to happen at trail crossings with roads or parking lots, or, where campsites in the mountains are easily accessible by forest roads. Nobody usually keeps hiking hours after you, even climbing uphill, to later strike. Keep safe by checking the maps for possible forest roads at your planned camp site, do not camp close to roads or road crossings. Also, when in town or talking to (local) strangers at parking lots or trail heads, do not tell them where you intend to camp for the night. If a person wants to know such details, your inner alarm bells should ring already.
I solo thruhiked the entire AT in 2007 northbound, and in 2008 southbound, when I spent sometimes entire days and many nights totally alone on the trail. And I am a female hiker.
I love to hike in the fog like that! Great story! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for posting about this. I actually had to stay at the Cove Mountain Shelter last year when I had a medical issue. Was making my way to Duncannon but had to bail early. I was pretty scared there, thinking of the murders, but ultimately everything was fine. Watching this brought back memories. Also - you can see the footprint of the old shelter which is in front of the new one. One last note - far more men have been killed on the Appalachian Trail than women. But I appreciate your thoughts about safety!
I'm a retired Marine (20 years) and Calif. police officer (30 years) and have been armed most my life. I now live in Arizona..we can carry openly here and do.
There is a tunnel system under the Appalachian Trail and various bases. I went 110 miles underground. The tunnel system is occupied. this is why people disappear.
uh?
@@ChapSinclair Well, fuck it, why not. But zero prove though. Zero, mere speculation. But yes, again, WHY NOT...
Thank you for this conversation, Cliff.
I grew up in gardner's PA in the 1980s and 90s near the AT and I think I remember that weird drifter guy coming through. He was scary looking. I will never forget that.
Did that case ever get solved????
@@lark3414 not sure actually, bc I was a kid
Deus ti abençoe sempre Lauren!
Beautiful area but truly sad story. When I go for hikes I take my huge dog. She is very protective of me. I am also very careful and never go over night.
I dig the spooky fog! Thanks for posting. I'm a new fan of yours :) Chris Pelletier in Philly
Loll *that one friend everyone has that sucks at saying goodbyes and can't help but make goodbyes long drawn out awkward*
I was chased by a screaming woman through the woods a few years ago. Never found out what she wanted.
Car's Extended Warranty
I NEVER go into the woods without a gun, a sidearm at least. I typically ccw wherever I go though
To those who liked my comment, thank you so much. It seems like whenever I leave a comment about carrying a gun (no matter the circumstances or context) I get tons of comments throwing shade at me because of it. I don't know if it's because these people don't have any real experience in forests or deep woods or if they're just anti gun liberal/democrats or what their issue is. But I grew up on the top of a mountain of which my family owned along with another half a mountain that was ALL wooded. Aside from trespassing hunters and poachers, we also had people who'd come and hide to shoot/do drugs, have sex etc. We also had Panthers and bobcats and other dangerous wildlife. I obviously never camp without one either. That's why I have my stance on never going into the woods without a gun. I was raised in a place where it was absolutely necessary. Again I say thank you for not trolling me and appreciate the likes. Cheers to y'all 🍻 🍻 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
@@TheKentuckyConservative It's ALWAYS good to be prepared for anything, and glad nothing happened, than not prepared, and dead because something did happen.
I didn't have a gun on me the night a homeless bum tried to mug me at a truckstop in northern Indiana, but I DID have a can of starting fluid that I sprayed in his eyes, when he grabbed me from behind, while I was climbing up in my truck. It was behind the driver's seat, so I grabbed it, turned around, and ruined his day.
I contemplated lighting his head on fire, when he was rolling around on the ground, because I was so enraged, but I kicked him in the face instead, with heavy steel toed boots. I only did it once, and I left him there to bleed.
I bet he never tried that trick again, because most truck drivers do carry, regardless of laws, and if he was smart, he would realize that he picked one guy who didn't have a gun but the next one might.
Thank you for talking about how women vs men deal with certain day to day situations.
This is gold get this man a Netflix contract
I came up against 4 hunters that I had to use my gun on, out in federal land. The only reason I had the gun at that time was to protect my dog against wolves and mountain lions, normally do not carry. After that event I carry all the time in the woods. P.S. I am a male, Game-warden was recommending carrying on that trail because of wolves taking dogs. I normally do not carry because of the extra weight and I have been a mountain man all my life and had no misadventure except this one time. Fifty seven years romping around in the woods and loving it.
user user ...you shot four hunters????
What the heck happened?? I am glad you are ok.
Crazy story! Hope things were resolved without violence.
You ever seen bigfoot?
Sounds like bullshit to me.
When and where? Who were they?
Sad story to hear... Beautiful location for hiking. Thanks for great advice for hikers... Stay safe... 🤓👍
Hi Sandra hope you’re okay?
Oh hell yea. Always be armed!! Never leave home without it. 👍🏻
A gun and a dog would be the only way I would hike the AT and I'm 6'1 290 pounds.Its about being smart and prepared
In the US, certainly. In other western / English- speaking countries, unnecessary or even not allowed.
Speak softly and carry a big stick...seriously though, you need to keep your head on a swivel at all times and never forget that there are many predators, both four legged and two legged in our world. This story was a good reminder that wherever you are, remain vigilant. Thanks for the great video and history lesson!
don't want to recreate where I have to "rotate" my head the whole time looking for possible trouble. carry on you hikers.....make us believe in the great outdoors.
If your hiking alone or just with a few others. You can put up a string with bells, that will wake you up to someone coming into your aera, whether two leged or four. You also can carry wireless drive way buzzers that will go off. The noise will scare an animal, or someone with bad intentions.