Shelters or specific areas on the trail that give you the creeps...

[Bigglesworth]

Looks like I'm going to avoid this shelter. Anyone know if Maryland is pretty crowded during this time of year?

Just hiked from Washington Monument Park through Harpers Ferry earlier this week and only passed by about a half dozen people. Crampton Gap did have water running fine - and didn't seem too creepy to me, but just stopped for lunch. Be aware that Rocky Run Shelter is being rennovated (new shelter being built) and not currently usable.

[dessertrat]

Where is that, Tater?

[Appalachian Tater]

Where is that, Tater?

Bluff Mountain in Virginia. I am a little creeped out right now just thinking about it.

http://www.jcpinkerton.com/people/ottie.html

[dessertrat]

Yes, that's really sad. When I was growing up in Maine, a classmate of mine in elementary school lost her little brother up north in Maine while on a camping trip. There was a search involving hundreds if not thousands of people, and lasting for weeks. They finally gave up.

He was never found-- it is not known whether he was abducted or got lost.

[rafe]

Yes, that's really sad. When I was growing up in Maine, a classmate of mine in elementary school lost her little brother up north in Maine while on a camping trip. There was a search involving hundreds if not thousands of people, and lasting for weeks. They finally gave up.

I remember worrying about this kinda thing while hiking with my nephew in Maine. He was 16 or so. I didn't want to be too mother-hen-ish by requiring that he stay within sight at all times. OTOH, I'm sure my sister would have been seriously pissed if I'd lost him.

[dessertrat]

The child I am thinking of was about 4 years old, I think, so obviously a different situation. Also, we were all about 8 years old, so I guess I shouldn't say she lost him, specifically-- he wandered off when nobody was watching and was never seen again.

[CrumbSnatcher]

just hope L.Wolf and BJ dont get too mad at me
i thought about the poll when i read the post on the 'murders on the AT' and reflected back to when i did pass Wapiti...i remember thinking how wrong murder is on the trail, thinking it belongs in big cities and the real world, but in so many ways the trail is even more real world isnt it?

i'm pretty sure murder is frowned upon every,not just on the trail.

[Bare Bear]

Hey quit picking on Baltimore Jack. He is not dangerous unless he is cooking then it is just the spices that will get you.

[CrumbSnatcher]

Started this poll after passing by the Wapiti Shelter and years ago when passing the Vandeventer Shelter.
Do they give you an eerie feeling?
Any other places of 'ill-repute' on the trail you can think of?

the water fountain at the highpoint state park headqtrs.

[Undershaft]

I felt creeped out a few times in southern Penn. When I crossed into PA from MD everything just started feeling kinda weird. I don't know how to explain it, everything just felt strange. I didn't see any other hikers on the trail for like three full days. The only people I met on the trail were rangers looking for a missing woman. I met them as I was crossing Dead Woman Hollow road, which added to the overall creepiness of the area. I also got creeped out in the woods just south of Limestone Spring lean-to in CT. I was hanging with 2 thru's at an overlook and then set out alone to hike to the lean-to. I started walking along the ridgeline and the woods seemed to get really dark and cool and claustraphobic. A very unsettling place. Come to think of it, Riga mtn. was like that too. I saw hikers every night in CT except the nite I spent at Riga. Kinda weird.

[minnesotasmith]

19E (with the pickup loads of trash dumped on the trail at road crossings).
Elmer's.
A recently-burnt long side trail in VA.
The GA shelter I saw Eric Rudolph's name carved into in 2005 (since removed)
Duckett main house den.
Any campsite with some "hoods in the woods".
The large narco/ex-con self-help group at Overmountain shelter.
A couple of long-abandoned shelters I ran across by taking wrong turns.

[buff_jeff]

Just hiked from Washington Monument Park through Harpers Ferry earlier this week and only passed by about a half dozen people. Crampton Gap did have water running fine - and didn't seem too creepy to me, but just stopped for lunch. Be aware that Rocky Run Shelter is being rennovated (new shelter being built) and not currently usable.

I just got back on Monday from doing Maryland. Really nice state overall, actually. I was quite surprised. I didn't get to take my time and start out with a shorter mileage day into Ed Garvey or Crampton, though, because my train got into Harpers Ferry late on Saturday and I got caught in that nasty (but real brief) storm so I turned back. The one night I was out, I camped at the Pine Knob Shelter

[buff_jeff]

19E (with the pickup loads of trash dumped on the trail at road crossings).
Elmer's.
A recently-burnt long side trail in VA.
The GA shelter I saw Eric Rudolph's name carved into in 2005 (since removed)
Duckett main house den.
Any campsite with some "hoods in the woods".
The large narco/ex-con self-help group at Overmountain shelter.
A couple of long-abandoned shelters I ran across by taking wrong turns.

Yeah, this weekend I was out and there were 3 or 4 guys at the Pine Knob Shelter that were a little weird. I mean, they were nice overall, showed me a solid campsite and all...but they had a ton of brews back there and there was a Philly Blunts package in the fire pit. They wanted me to watch a movie in the one tent with them.

[Flush2wice]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Beauty Spot. Probly more nastiness there than anywhere else on the trail.

[aficion]

Ottie haunts Punchbowl shelter. Recent suicide reported there. Spooky and very loud at night with the bullfrogs croaking.

[John B]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Beauty Spot. Probly more nastiness there than anywhere else on the trail.

Nastiness in terms of trash? When I hiked through, it looked OK.

I'll agree with M.Smith -- 19E was a trash dump.

[Flush2wice]

Nastiness in terms of trash? When I hiked through, it looked OK.

I'll agree with M.Smith -- 19E was a trash dump.

Nastiness in terms of murders and rapes.

[earlyriser26]

Vandeventer shelter creeped me out when I made the mistake of agreeing to get water during a lunch break. I know there are water sources that are farther away at some shelters, but this one is a half mile straight down hill.

[Doughnut]

What gives me the creeps? Any Privy that is heaped above the seat!

Hey Mouse, I just finished your book,

I sincerely hope you are living on a berry farm now!

Doughnut

[rafe]

Vandeventer shelter creeped me out when I made the mistake of agreeing to get water during a lunch break. I know there are water sources that are farther away at some shelters, but this one is a half mile straight down hill.

You haven't hiked PA yet, I take it...