AT Roadside Resident with bad taste for AT

[Gambit McCrae]

So I went to MD and as I crossed foxville rd/md 77 I needed water, so I walked up to the closest house and knocked on the door, no answer, very thirsty, saw a hose, turned it on and started to fill up my bottle...soap, coming out of a hose? Anyways, I dumped out my bottle and didnt really feel right getting water I hadnt gotten permission for anyways so i turn it off and walk around front of house. The next door neighbor is standing at his door 50 yards away. I put a smile on my face and walk over, " hey sir, really thirsty here mind if i fill up my bottles?" He said sure and i proceeded to do so. He thanked me for knocking and asking before I got water, and he concurred that he owned the house next door as a rental. He then went into his speech about how he is sour that the gov. took his land to reroute the AT and that if he sees people get water fromt he rental house he walks over and tells them to dump the water out and move along. I thanked him and moved along.

Anyone hear of this guy? on nb side of the street and on the left when heading nobo
and i guess lesson learned is dont get water you havent asked for

[The Old Boot]

Personally, I wouldn't even have gotten that far. Going on someone's private property is trespassing. Doesn't matter if you need water and were about to fall over in a faint from lack of water, it's still private property.

It never ceases to amaze me here, the amount on entitlement that I see!!

[Gambit McCrae]

Personally, I wouldn't even have gotten that far. Going on someone's private property is trespassing. Doesn't matter if you need water and were about to fall over in a faint from lack of water, it's still private property.

It never ceases to amaze me here, the amount on entitlement that I see!!

rofling, because I walked past a house with a spicket? Might be private property but there was no tresspassing signs and I was respectful, do you yell at girlscouts trying to sell cookies if they knocked on your door cause their troop meets down the street? I didnt think so and beside your answer is off course from the direction of this thread.

And what do you mean entitlement? I knocked, and asked politely. If I felt entitled I would have walked up and got it without asking.

[Starchild]

Personally, I wouldn't even have gotten that far. Going on someone's private property is trespassing. Doesn't matter if you need water and were about to fall over in a faint from lack of water, it's still private property.

It never ceases to amaze me here, the amount on entitlement that I see!!

Some places you are legally allowed to do this if it is needed for survival, even break in a house but you would be responsible for any damage, but no criminal charges.

[Gambit McCrae]

Starchild, Thanks for your response but I am looking for feedback on any experiences with this person, mentality toward hikers, or the fact that he filled the hose with soap lol

I am not asking if what I did was right or wrong, I know I did nothing wrong

[QHShowoman]

Are you sure he filled the hose with soap intentionally? I rarely use my garden hose and whenever I do, I get about 30 seconds of foamy crap until the water clears which I just assumed was due to bacteria build up in the hose because it sat in the sun and heat all summer.

It sounds like the guy was perfectly reasonable, regardless of his feelings about the AT: You asked for water, he obliged.
It's all the hikers that just took without asking that are giving the courteous ones a bad rap.

Was there no water at Cowall shelter, if you were headed NOBO? (I ask mainly because I am hiking through there tomorrow.)

[88BlueGT]

I am not asking if what I did was right or wrong, I know I did nothing wrong

I have a feeling ^^^ is exactly what the rest of this thread will be about.

[imscotty]

I have to say Gambit, I would never help myself to a spigot on the side of a house without permission short of a true life or death emergency. If this is what this homeowner typically has to put up with no wonder he has a 'bad taste' for the AT

[winger]

I see you're from tennessee also, but am curious as to whether you have the habit of wandering onto private property very often? Cause In these here hills of tennessee that can get you into trouble real quick. And your perspective of "no trespassing signs" is totally incorrect. So lesson learned?

[Another Kevin]

I have to say Gambit, I would never help myself to a spigot on the side of a house without permission short of a true life or death emergency. If this is what this homeowner typically has to put up with no wonder he has a 'bad taste' for the AT

I wouldn't either. But I also wouldn't hesitate to use a front gate and knock on a front door, unless there's an obvious NO SOLICITORS sign or some such. Normally, knocking on a front door is considered to be within the bounds of civilized behaviour.

[Lone Wolf]

Some places you are legally allowed to do this if it is needed for survival, even break in a house but you would be responsible for any damage, but no criminal charges.

but not on the AT while on vacation

[BobTheBuilder]

And what do you mean entitlement? I knocked, and asked politely. If I felt entitled I would have walked up and got it without asking.

Original post - "I walked up to the closest house and knocked on the door, no answer, very thirsty, saw a hose, turned it on and started to fill up my bottle"

Hmmmmmmm.....I guess I can see where the confusion came from.

[Old Hiker]

OP, care to post your address so I can come to your house and help myself without permission to whatever you've paid for? While you weren't there?

Would you be happy with that?

No permission, no water. Period.

[hikerboy57]

Personally, I wouldn't even have gotten that far. Going on someone's private property is trespassing. Doesn't matter if you need water and were about to fall over in a faint from lack of water, it's still private property.

It never ceases to amaze me here, the amount on entitlement that I see!!

Some places you are legally allowed to do this if it is needed for survival, even break in a house but you would be responsible for any damage, but no criminal charges.

and in turn if the homeowner is home and arms you can be shot legally

[Starchild]

and in turn if the homeowner is home and arms you can be shot legally

Actually not legally, but it would be pretty hard to prove.

[Starchild]

but not on the AT while on vacation

I don't see how being on vacation (as opposed to a AT thru hike???), has any bearing on being in a survival situation.

[hikerboy57]

A homeowner has a right to protect his property

[Lone Wolf]

I don't see how being on vacation (as opposed to a AT thru hike???), has any bearing on being in a survival situation.

an AT thru-hike is a vacation

[Starchild]

A homeowner has a right to protect his property

I believe a survival situation in some jurisdictions trumps this.

[hikerboy57]

I don't see how being on vacation (as opposed to a AT thru hike???), has any bearing on being in a survival situation.

a thru hike isnt any different than a vacation.extremely doubtful someone would be literally dying of thirst to justify breaking into someones home/trespass for water.