6/12/13 Armed drunk at Rocky Mountain shelters in PA

**Blue Mountain Edward** · 07-03-2013, 08:41

There was bad weather forecast for the night, thunderstorms and chance for a tornado. I set my tent up between the shelters in case the weather got to windy. This guy Justin and his stepson were in the one shelter. His wife came up later and spent the night. Well Justin was well armed with a machete, sheath knife, pocket knife, BB rifle and a .45 pistol. Justin was sharing his food and drinks with us real backpackers. After drinking 3 40 ounce beers at around 1 am he starts shooting the pistol out of the shelter. Well all 4 of us backpackers were scared, nobody walked over to the shelter that family was in to see what was going on. Justin was planning on staying in the shelter 4 days. I heard the next day police and a park ranger removed them from the trail. Anyone know if he was arrested and charged with any crimes?

**Pedaling Fool** · 07-03-2013, 09:30

Charles Krauthammer has talked about mental illness and he makes some good points http://www.pressherald.com/news/nati...012-12-21.html

However, I'd like to pick his brain about mental illness in comparison to the effects of testosterone and alcohol; seems like there are a lot of parallels.

**atmilkman** · 07-03-2013, 09:34

Originally Posted by Pedaling Fool

Charles Krauthammer has talked about mental illness and he makes some good points

However, I'd like to pick his brain about mental illness in comparison to the effects of testosterone and alcohol; seems like there are a lot of parallels.

Aren't those called beer balls.

**Drybones** · 07-03-2013, 09:43

Interesting how booze effects people differently, some become fighters, some become lovers. A scientist was trying to determine how alcohol affected people and was using arctic terns to experiment on, he'd get them drunk and make observations. He started with 1000 terns, went thru 999 with no success, got to 1000 and discovered the answer...moral to the story...never give up until the last tern is stoned.

**sloger** · 07-03-2013, 09:51

This sounds like the same fellow who was causing serious problems elsewhere on the trail a week or so ago.

**Pathfinder1** · 07-03-2013, 10:25

Hi...

There's never a hand grenade around when you need one, is there...??

**MyName1sMud** · 07-03-2013, 11:49

I normally stand on the side of the guns... but this guy doesn't sound like he knows how to operate one in a safe manner.

Bad shoot.

**illabelle** · 07-03-2013, 12:09

Originally Posted by Drybones

Interesting how booze effects people differently, some become fighters, some become lovers. A scientist was trying to determine how alcohol affected people and was using arctic terns to experiment on, he'd get them drunk and make observations. He started with 1000 terns, went thru 999 with no success, got to 1000 and discovered the answer...moral to the story...never give up until the last tern is stoned.

oh bones, that was just awful (just kidding). i thought it was going to be serious. you fooled me almost to the end.

one question:
so he observed 999 terms with "no success"? really? what happened to them? did they go poof or something? what is success?

**tiptoe** · 07-03-2013, 12:43

I had a bad experience at Rocky Mountain shelter several years ago. I was the only one there during the evening, with some scouts and other hikers camped above near the AT. At about 10:30 pm a guy, quite drunk, came down the trail with two kids in tow and proceeded to set up camp in the other shelter (it's a dual shelter, like some others in Pennsylvania) and cook far into the night. There was lots of swearing and banging of pots and pans. I left in the morning at first light. I felt sorry for the kids, but there was nothing I could do.

**Drybones** · 07-03-2013, 15:14

Originally Posted by illabelle

oh bones, that was just awful (just kidding). i thought it was going to be serious. you fooled me almost to the end.

one question:
so he observed 999 terms with "no success"? really? what happened to them? did they go poof or something? what is success?

The fighters are in jail....the lovers are paying child support.

**Drybones** · 07-03-2013, 15:16

Originally Posted by tiptoe

I had a bad experience at Rocky Mountain shelter several years ago. I was the only one there during the evening, with some scouts and other hikers camped above near the AT. At about 10:30 pm a guy, quite drunk, came down the trail with two kids in tow and proceeded to set up camp in the other shelter (it's a dual shelter, like some others in Pennsylvania) and cook far into the night. There was lots of swearing and banging of pots and pans. I left in the morning at first light. I felt sorry for the kids, but there was nothing I could do.

There's nothing worse than being around a drunk when you're sober.

**rickb** · 07-03-2013, 15:28

Originally Posted by Drybones

There's nothing worse than being around a drunk when you're sober.

Sure there is. Being around a drunk who is messing around with loaded weapons-- whether you are sober yourself or not.Anyone surprised that story took place in PA?

**Gray Blazer** · 07-03-2013, 16:49

Wouldn't it be ironical if he shot himself? Prolly would just make trouble for everyone else.

**TNhiker** · 07-03-2013, 17:28

Interesting how booze effects people differently, some become fighters, some become lovers. A scientist was trying to determine how alcohol affected people and was using arctic terns to experiment on, he'd get them drunk and make observations. He started with 1000 terns, went thru 999 with no success, got to 1000 and discovered the answer...moral to the story...never give up until the last tern is stoned.

(i get the joke)

but, really, if they were stoned instead of being drunk----there would have been a different outcome......

**MyName1sMud** · 07-03-2013, 17:57

Originally Posted by TNhiker

(i get the joke)

but, really, if they were stoned instead of being drunk----there would have been a different outcome......

Yeah... he wouldn't have many cheetos left.

**fiddlehead** · 07-03-2013, 18:56