Could I

[Jester2000]

In 2000 a hiker named Screamer, who was actually a homeless guy, subsisted off of hiker boxes and dumpster diving in towns. He didn't beg money or food from hikers.

He made good progress up the trail, and the last time I saw him was in Gorham. So it's possible, I suppose, but definitely not for everybody. I wouldn't attempt it.

[Lone Wolf]

In 2000 a hiker named Screamer, who was actually a homeless guy, subsisted off of hiker boxes and dumpster diving in towns. He didn't beg money or food from hikers.

but i gave him both just because

[Jester2000]

but i gave him both just because

Yeah. He wouldn't take money from me, but he'd let me buy him coffee in town.

One of the funnier things I saw that year was Screamer, who had been given $100 by a tourist (!), offer Blister Sister money because she was momentarily low on funds. Priceless.

[fredmugs]

there's plenty of deer, bear, turkey and grouse to whack and stack

you forgot to mention the ponies...way more docile

[moytoy]

Eat lots of Ramps. You can find these along the southern AT. Then when you get to a shelter. Well hikers will just seem to go away. Often times leaving food stuff behind. Thats how you do it!

[Donde]

Dude if you can find enough ramps you can sell them to big city chefs for $25 a pound, and you really won't need many to clear out a shelter.

[veteran]

A Patch of Ramps.

[JAK]

It is definitely worth considering, because you can learn alot.
I think I managed to forage 100 calories once.

I can scare up a pretty mean cup of tea though.

[Connie]

...eat mice, great thread!

seriously, though, I just got a nice eBook The Essential Wild Food Survival Guide, a good read.

I wouldn't count on it. Although, I will try to have those plants on my own property.

I was told if you pick up a rock, a small rock, in the National Park it is an offense with a ticket and a fine.

Is this true?

I haven't tried it.

[Jester2000]

. . . I was told if you pick up a rock, a small rock, in the National Park it is an offense with a ticket and a fine.

Is this true?

I haven't tried it.

I've heard this as well, but have yet to have anyone quote an actual regulation regarding this. I suspect this is a bit of a myth with it's origins in a related actual event that was changed over time, or a misreading of the regulations.

Here's what's actually covered in that section of the rules:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following is
prohibited:
(1) Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging,
or disturbing from its natural state:
(i) Living or dead wildlife or fish, or the parts or products
thereof, such as antlers or nests.
(ii) Plants or the parts or products thereof.
(iii) Nonfossilized and fossilized paleontological specimens,
cultural or archeological resources, or the parts thereof.
(iv) A mineral resource or cave formation or the parts thereof.
(2) Introducing wildlife, fish or plants, including their
reproductive bodies, into a park area ecosystem.
(3) Tossing, throwing or rolling rocks or other items inside caves
or caverns, into valleys, canyons, or caverns, down hillsides or
mountainsides, or into thermal features.

I think it's possible that, say, throwing rocks in particular places was transformed into picking them up or moving them. It's also possible that the origins involved relic hunting or getting caught doing something like trying to take one of the rocks from the Devil's Postpile National Monument. Or maybe from some old, unenforced law that seems close, like the fact that it's illegal to mutilate a rock in a Colorado State Park. Whatever that means.

I think you can pretty comfortably pick up a rock in a National Park. Just don't throw it inside a cave.

[Canada Goose]

In 2000 a hiker named Screamer, who was actually a homeless guy, subsisted off of hiker boxes and dumpster diving in towns. He didn't beg money or food from hikers.

He made good progress up the trail, and the last time I saw him was in Gorham. So it's possible, I suppose, but definitely not for everybody. I wouldn't attempt it.

I was minding my own business, loafing away the afternoon at Clyde Smith shelter, when out of the corner of my eye I spot a guy with a passing resemblance to Charles Manson approaching the shelter carrying a plastic pail in one hand, and what appeared to be a "Grandma Gatewood" style kit in the other, slung over his shoulder. I think it was the vocal mumbling that caused me to think I should be on-my-way pronto, but before I could hightail it, someone gave me the heads-up that this guy was "Screamer", a homeless guy who was put on the trail at Neels Gap by state police as a means of getting him out of the state quietly. Starting with next to nothing, he made his way up the trail as discribed, accumulating his "gear" as he went. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so self-reliant as he was, and after the initial shock, grew to admire his fortitude and resolve to hike the trail. Hikers were travelling by foot, as he was; he had found his tribe!

He was on his own schedule, hiking his own hike, and fell behind me after camping together (with Blister Sister) at Overmountain Shelter the next night. I would not see him again.

Of course, it only makes sense that I would meet another wild/weird/crazy character the next evening at Apple House shelter. You may have even heard of him; his name was "Jester", and he was travelling with some other wackos that eventually became known as the "Travelling Bills".

But that is a story for another time CG

[TheTank]

I've heard this as well, but have yet to have anyone quote an actual regulation regarding this. I suspect this is a bit of a myth with it's origins in a related actual event that was changed over time, or a misreading of the regulations.

Here's what's actually covered in that section of the rules:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following is
prohibited:
(1) Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging,
or disturbing from its natural state:
(i) Living or dead wildlife or fish, or the parts or products
thereof, such as antlers or nests.
(ii) Plants or the parts or products thereof.
(iii) Nonfossilized and fossilized paleontological specimens,
cultural or archeological resources, or the parts thereof.
(iv) A mineral resource or cave formation or the parts thereof.
(2) Introducing wildlife, fish or plants, including their
reproductive bodies, into a park area ecosystem.
(3) Tossing, throwing or rolling rocks or other items inside caves
or caverns, into valleys, canyons, or caverns, down hillsides or
mountainsides, or into thermal features.

I think it's possible that, say, throwing rocks in particular places was transformed into picking them up or moving them. It's also possible that the origins involved relic hunting or getting caught doing something like trying to take one of the rocks from the Devil's Postpile National Monument. Or maybe from some old, unenforced law that seems close, like the fact that it's illegal to mutilate a rock in a Colorado State Park. Whatever that means.

I think you can pretty comfortably pick up a rock in a National Park. Just don't throw it inside a cave.

I think it depends on what the rock is. Since what Jester quoted here includes fossils and "mineral resource or cave formation or the parts thereof." as things that cannot be removed, if your "rock" is one of those then you cannot disturb it from its natural state.

[RoosterTail]

See I knew that were rules but did not no them thanks for the info

[Jester2000]

I think it depends on what the rock is. Since what Jester quoted here includes fossils and "mineral resource or cave formation or the parts thereof." as things that cannot be removed, if your "rock" is one of those then you cannot disturb it from its natural state.

Connie may not have seen my post -- I completely forgot that Connie probably has me on "ignore." Oh well.

[Jester2000]

See I knew that were rules but did not no them thanks for the info

For those not ignoring me, you can read up on National Park Service Rules & Regulations at:

http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/e-mail/regulations.htm

But I warn you -- it's not as exciting to read as you might think.

[ShelterLeopard]

Sorry Jester, I'm ignoring you.

Not exciting- I was riveted!

[napster]

In 1970, at age 83, while visiting Appalachian Outfitters in Oakton, Virginia she was asked what she thought about the latest lightweight backpacking gear. Emma advised: "Make a rain cape, and an over the shoulder sling bag, and buy a sturdy pair of Keds tennis shoes. Stop at local groceries and pick up Vienna sausages... MOST EVERYTHING ELSE TO EAT YOU CAN FIND BESIDE THE TRAIL... and by the way those wild onions are not called "Ramps"... they are "Rampians" ... a ramp is an inclined plane."
." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandma_Gatewood