View Full Version : Hiker pack taken near Jerry Cabin Shelter
Blissful
10-22-2010, 20:17
Reported by a hiker last week (in the trail registers) that while she was at the shelter cooking dinner (she was tenting 200 yards away) her pack with its SPOT, camera, and wallet was taken.
Another reason why I am in favor of Capital Punishment.
IronGutsTommy
10-22-2010, 23:25
oce again the importance of taking your pack everywhere you go, whether it be bathrooms, stores, etc. although you cant compare the two, i treat mine like a infant child. would you leave a newborn in a hotel room with a guy you met a week ago (virginia incident) ? would you feel safe leaving a newborn in a tent 200 feet or even twenty feet away? my condolences to the hiker(s), its a bad time in the economy and sadly the trails and parks are not immune to recession born greed.
Mountain Wildman
10-22-2010, 23:47
Cooking away from your shelter area is not a bad idea if you are tenting alone but I would cook my dinner at the shelter and then set up camp when I was done eating and cleaning up, Or just do it all at my camp away from the tent but within view. I guess it's a common problem where ever you go that an increase in population, ie: more hikers on the A.T. than previously, increases the potential for conflict or crime.
I agree with Iron Guts, My pack and everything it holds is basically my home, my food, my life, my protection. It goes where I go and I sleep with it next to me in my tent, That is one of the main reasons I will probably never switch to using a Hammock, Just can't imagine leaving my pack outside to be stolen or dragged away by a curious animal.
IronGutsTommy
10-22-2010, 23:52
"Hey.. was that raccoon wearing my headlamp and gaiters???"
Slo-go'en
10-23-2010, 10:30
Here's another case where the likely "thief" was four legged and everyone assumes it was some low life human.
If I remember right, Jerry cabin is some distance from any road and if there was anyone else around at that time of day, it would be fellow hikes with thier own gear to lug and unlikely to walk off with someone elses pack. Since her camp was 200 yards away and apparently out of sight of the shelter and trail, it is much more likely a bear dragged the pack away then a person.
TallShark
10-23-2010, 13:39
^
hmmm... never thought of it that way but let’s not discount the possibility of human thievery, I would assume that an animal would leave more of a trace, but there are some crafty four-legged creatures out there.
john gault
10-23-2010, 13:59
Slo-go'en is right, this is away from towns/roads. Can't imagine someone just happen to walk by and steal a pack. However, I still would never leave my stuff 200 yards from where I was eating/socializing.
Turtle Feet
10-23-2010, 14:07
Here's another case where the likely "thief" was four legged and everyone assumes it was some low life human.
If I remember right, Jerry cabin is some distance from any road and if there was anyone else around at that time of day, it would be fellow hikes with thier own gear to lug and unlikely to walk off with someone elses pack. Since her camp was 200 yards away and apparently out of sight of the shelter and trail, it is much more likely a bear dragged the pack away then a person.
A motivated fox could easily drag off a lightweight pack. It sounds like she had her camp set up, so no tent/hammock whatever, no cookpot/stove, ect., even a small animal could very easily make off with it.
The rangers on Isle Royale tell of pulling sunglasses, cameras, food (of course), even boots (if you're ever missing just one, check with the local fox), out of foxes dens.
I'd like to think it's not far from where she left it.... ;)
SassyWindsor
10-24-2010, 00:57
If caught, give'em 30 days in the electric chair.
Gotta bet on an animal here. With camp set up and her off cooking, what's left in the pack to steal? The SPOT would be easier to pocket. And a non-hiker would stick out like a sore thumb at that shelter. Bad luck but hopefully not a deal breaker for her!
A motivated fox could easily drag off a lightweight pack. It sounds like she had her camp set up, so no tent/hammock whatever, no cookpot/stove, ect., even a small animal could very easily make off with it.
No food? Presumably it would be her cooking. Why would an animal bother stealing the pack if it didn't have any food in it?
john gault
10-24-2010, 14:57
No food? Presumably it would be her cooking. Why would an animal bother stealing the pack if it didn't have any food in it?
I don't really have a theory on what or who took this pack, but I think the idea behind the 4-legged theory is that they were attracted to it because of the smell of food (from carrying food) and/or possibly the saltiness.
If that's the case then I'd guess that a good look 360 degrees from the point of pack removal would disclose where the pack now sits.
WILLIAM HAYES
10-24-2010, 20:22
I never leave my pack out of sight just a good rule to follow
Tennessee Viking
10-24-2010, 22:07
Its start of hunting season, and there are probably some locals coming up the Horse Creek forest road or the Shelton Backcountry trails to go hunt.
Chaco Taco
10-24-2010, 23:15
Too bad she left. If it was an animal she could have probably found it if she went around the perimeter. Most animals I have seen drag stuff, then rummage through it and then leave it if nothing suitable is in it. When I bear took my food bag, it was found within 20 yards of our camp spot. Either way, its too bad that this happened. Keep your stuff within sight. Hard lesson to learn in this case!
IronGutsTommy
10-24-2010, 23:33
yeah critter coulda grabbed it. just cause she was cooking doesnt mean all her foods in the pot shes cooking with. im sure she had a few days worth of grub in the pack. due to the low foot traffic in the area lets hope it was an animal.. scary to think of someone following a person and waiting for an opportunity to make a move.
Rain Man
10-25-2010, 08:21
I've seen a mouse come out to investigate my pack, with me sitting beside it and having JUST arrived at the shelter. So, I never leave my pack at a shelter alone, where critters are drawn to start with. Or never unless I hang it first.
Rain:sunMan
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mweinstone
10-25-2010, 09:56
a bear could have stalked her. a human could have been waiting. the economy is one reason for first time criminals to be out in such a place. selling gear on ebay and stealing it from hikers may be a cottage industry. a woman is a better target for a beginner criminal. when we take our food to cook away from our pack we sometimes leave some food in the pack. not circleing and remaining to search was a safe decision for anyone alone or otherwise in such a situation both due to bear and huiman. a bear rummeging a pack is a dangerous bear to interupt as is a criminal in a place far from help. annalasys:the hiker acted appropriatly and took no great risk that caused the incedent.if no police or ranger report was made that would be a mistake. warnings of pack stealing bears and or theives in such a place can only be generated by source information given in a timely manner. it must never be concidered after such an ordeal to be futile or taxing to report all facts to the proper authoritys that could prevent danger to travelers in the far places. their is no greater responsibility once one has escaped the situation safely.
Is it possible to remotely activate a SPOT?
[a bear could have stalked her. a human could have been waiting. the economy is one reason for first time criminals to be out in such a place. selling gear on ebay and stealing it from hikers may be a cottage industry. a woman is a better target for a beginner criminal. when we take our food to cook away from our pack we sometimes leave some food in the pack. not circleing and remaining to search was a safe decision for anyone alone or otherwise in such a situation both due to bear and huiman. a bear rummeging a pack is a dangerous bear to interupt as is a criminal in a place far from help. annalasys:the hiker acted appropriatly and took no great risk that caused the incedent.if no police or ranger report was made that would be a mistake. warnings of pack stealing bears and or theives in such a place can only be generated by source information given in a timely manner. it must never be concidered after such an ordeal to be futile or taxing to report all facts to the proper authoritys that could prevent danger to travelers in the far places. their is no greater responsibility once one has escaped the situation safely.]
This is the most coherent post I have ever seen from you.
tndrfoot
10-25-2010, 19:00
I was there at jerry cabin shelter sat nite and was woke by a bear right in front of the shelter prob 6 feet from my head! my guess it was a bear but i also seen 4 guys hunting bear with prob 12 dogs. I hung my pack just to get water just to be safe smelt bear all in the area sat and sun still say a bear got it!
Shutterbug
10-25-2010, 19:13
Is it possible to remotely activate a SPOT?
It isn't possible to remotely activate it, but it is worthless to anyone other than the registered owner. There is a way that the owner can authorize someone else to use it, but a thief can't get into the web site that manages the spot.
HikerMomKD
11-02-2010, 21:02
I think the "hunters" in the area took the pack....... My daughter and I were hiking in that area the end of August/early Sept. this year. A man on an ATV came driving up the fire road looking for his dog. (We called him from the # on the dog's collar that was following us) He told us that he only lived a mile and 1/2 from the Flint Mtn Shelter. I didn't sleep easy that night knowing that, he and who knows how many others, lived so close to that shelter. About 5 AM, the next morning, he comes driving by, with his head lights on, really close to the shelter. That's too close to the AT shelter IMHO. I'm not at all surprised that a pack was stolen in that area.....