Homeless Camp Near Clarks Ferry

[TD55]

You got no idea what you are talking about Krptonite. Your what we call a racer. You talk so fast that your words get ahead of you. You just judged me and my contributions to the homeless community. You insinuate that I through out the veteran issue as some kind of tool. Your a poor judge and offering and opinion is not preaching. What you do is preach sir. If someone disagrees with you you come back over and over and over with continuous post saying the same thing, over and over and over. BTW, I operated and funded a veterans retreat from 1976 to 1988 in Elkton, MD and operated and funded a veterans guest house in northern VA outside of Washington, DC from 1988 to 1995.

[T.S.Kobzol]

I start smelling like a homeless person the first 2 hours into a hike.
I propose we mandate hot showers for every shelter.


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[Supreme Being]

You got no idea what you are talking about Krptonite. Your what we call a racer. You talk so fast that your words get ahead of you. You just judged me and my contributions to the homeless community. You insinuate that I through out the veteran issue as some kind of tool. Your a poor judge and offering and opinion is not preaching. What you do is preach sir. If someone disagrees with you you come back over and over and over with continuous post saying the same thing, over and over and over. BTW, I operated and funded a veterans retreat from 1976 to 1988 in Elkton, MD and operated and funded a veterans guest house in northern VA outside of Washington, DC from 1988 to 1995.

I have to agree with Kryptonite in many ways. It doesn't make you wrong and I commend you for the work that you have done on the behalf of veterans. But statistics don't lie and I think hikers need to be careful. But you are right. You have probably helped veterans more than she has, but you are both helping and that is what counts. The truth is that no hiker should be made to feel stupid for being cautious.

[Bronk]

I just don't like to be unfairly judged. What does it take for you all to determine that someone's behavior seems odd and worth mentioning? I think that's the issue at hand here.

I think this says it all.

[HikerMomKD]

"I thought this would be a kind gesture to inform people spending the night in this area only to give them awareness, not to spark controversy. Hopefully, the guy hanging at the camp can find a safer place to live before it gets too cold. I hike this area frequently and if I run into him I'll be sure to ask him if he needs anything"


Yup, I knew what your intentions were from the start of this thread and I knew you would be "clubbed" just like I was....

But here's where "knowledge" in a HUGE eye opener. KK is a really awesome guy and a great friend 2 many people on the site. It's on his behalf, I believe, that everyone was speaking out. And rightly so.... what a "family" this site has become! I'm still not saying that I or this OP did anything wrong and we were most definately judged harshly, ourselves. BUT, everything changes when you get understanding or knowledge. I'm really proud of KK for his honesty and in expressing his thoughts and feelings. I have great admiration and respect for him.

I will end my post by agreeing with SB... the truth is that no hiker (or thread poster) should be made to feel stupid for being cautious.
I'm thankful for great friends and all the fun this site brings to so many... I'm honored to be a small part of it.

[Papa D]

Oh wow - another homeless thread - can't wait to jump in - - oh, wait, there is HikerMomKD AGAIN! saying things like, "just a heads up" and "I don't have any problem with homeless people but ........" - - I defended this gal once but I'm about tired of it - - she is on a crusade to make sure that everyone on the trail is "the right kind of person" - - properly outfitted at REI with a cell phone, a Mom and Dad at home waiting, and an SUV waiting to pick them up at the trailhead. This is so depressing - the trail is the perfect place for a homeless person - as long as they travel and play by the established trail customs, it absolutely fine with me with no strings attached. She has been a part of just about every recent homeless thread with an obviously a passive aggressive axe to grind.

[ljcsov]

I didn't know that this was such a touchy topic. I meet all kinds of people hiking, but I thought some people traveling through here would just like to know. I guess what I found strange was that he was camped at one location, about a mile or two from a shelter, but hanging out in the shelter during the day. I supposed he was trying to run into people to find food. Personally, if I were running into a quiet shelter I would have appreciated the notification.

[JohnWayne]

Oh wow - another homeless thread - can't wait to jump in - - oh, wait, there is HikerMomKD AGAIN! saying things like, "just a heads up" and "I don't have any problem with homeless people but ........" - - I defended this gal once but I'm about tired of it - - she is on a crusade to make sure that everyone on the trail is "the right kind of person" - - properly outfitted at REI with a cell phone, a Mom and Dad at home waiting, and an SUV waiting to pick them up at the trailhead. This is so depressing - the trail is the perfect place for a homeless person - as long as they travel and play by the established trail customs, it absolutely fine with me with no strings attached. She has been a part of just about every recent homeless thread with an obviously a passive aggressive axe to grind.

Whoa. Where do you get off bashing HikerMom? She is just as much of this community as you. So what if she has a different opinion on the homeless? I took notice of those statistics too. She has obviously proven to the hiking community by her selfless acts of helping other hikers that she is a caring woman. Get off your high horse. Who CARES if she is outfitted at REI, has a cell phone, parents, or an SUV? I don't care if she has a damn Mercedes in her driveway. Just because she don't agree with you don't make her passive aggressive. There are many on this site who believe that the homeless don't need to stake a claim on the AT. They should hike it like the rest of us who look just look homeless. Getting mighty tires of folks going off on this woman. She has another view. Deal with it.

[Tinker]

Don't worry about what other people think.... they don't do it very often.

Wonderful statement! I'll try to remember that one.

[Papa D]

Whoa. Where do you get off bashing HikerMom? She is just as much of this community as you. So what if she has a different opinion on the homeless? I took notice of those statistics too. She has obviously proven to the hiking community by her selfless acts of helping other hikers that she is a caring woman. Get off your high horse. Who CARES if she is outfitted at REI, has a cell phone, parents, or an SUV? I don't care if she has a damn Mercedes in her driveway. Just because she don't agree with you don't make her passive aggressive. There are many on this site who believe that the homeless don't need to stake a claim on the AT. They should hike it like the rest of us who look just look homeless. Getting mighty tires of folks going off on this woman. She has another view. Deal with it.

I'm ok with her opinion but she veils it with phrases like, "Just a heads up ...." I have no problem (which means she does) with homeless people but ..." etc. She has been a part of EVERY SINGLE homeless person on the trail thread I can find and her comments are all negative toward homeless people. The trail has a long HOBO history. The trail was invented for people who travel by foot not people who can pay for shuttles, we should remember that. HikerMomKD should just say, "I'm uncomfortable with homeless people on the trail and I worry that they might be criminals and they might be out to harm me and people that I know and I want the AT to be a safe place that is protected from any bad sorts of people." That would be honest. FYI This won't be the first time I've "gone off on someone" - sorry if it was a little strong - I suppose that I'll survive.

[Supreme Being]

The AT may have a long HOBO history, but the AT was in fact invented for HIKERS - not campers to make their seasonal homes there. And no where did I personally see where HikermomKD said anything about shuttles, etc. It sounds to me like you have an axe to grind with anyone who isn't poor.

[shelb]

I saw the large tent a few days ago with the clothes line full of towels and jeans. There were other camping items around the tent as well. My thought was that someone was just camping in the area....not hiking. The idea of it being a "homeless camp" didn't enter my mind at that time as everything appeared to be kept up and in order... I stopped for water at Clarks Ferry, but I did not see anyone there or near the tent.

[ljcsov]

I saw the large tent a few days ago with the clothes line full of towels and jeans. There were other camping items around the tent as well. My thought was that someone was just camping in the area....not hiking. The idea of it being a "homeless camp" didn't enter my mind at that time as everything appeared to be kept up and in order... I stopped for water at Clarks Ferry, but I did not see anyone there or near the tent.

Yup. That is about how I remember it. I'll probably get up there in the near future. I can always tote along some extra supplies on my day hike, and if I run into this guy, I can offer him some of the stuff. Is this poor etiquette?

[Donde]

he got a pack at kincora thanks to bob peoples

The buckets is used for detergent at kincora. Bob telling me about Screamer is one of my favorite memories of my hike.

[Wise Old Owl]

It's sad really, being homeless, We all have been thru difficult times. For me its been about five years. No I am not homeless. I work with folks that are section 8 or living on govt.* I see the worst of it. I go into the govt high rises and see folks walking down the hall and I try not to brush past them because I can see the bed bugs on the shoulders. I see the roaches crawling down the halls and falling off the drop ceiling. Sometimes there isn't a clean spot in the kitchen and the lights above are full of insects. I clean up the fleas hopping across the beds and the floors. I have seen rats as big as cats and American roaches up to two inches in schools. I share the bites as apply the insecticides sometimes. I see the windows that are screwed shut above the 3rd floor to prevent jumpers. Only to hear about the custodian who unlocked the exit on the roof and decide to end it. I get invited to meet the Horders you see on television. There is no describing the smell, the waste, the excrement when I inspect a fouled bed.

I feel I am trying to make a difference in their lives.



So if someone decides its better for them to squat in a tent in the woods. Take a moment to think before you post. Check your point of view. Ponder this - There are tent towns up and down the coast of America right now. In their socks I would do the same.


* Detail - that's Camden, Philadephia, Chester, Wilmington.

[fiddlehead]

Some people have a really hard time with people or things that are different than they are used to.
And when the internet is "in the mix" things can easily get blown out of proportion.
I believe the OP was simply giving a "heads up" to others who might not feel right about seeing someone camping in the woods, possibly long term.

Let's take it for what it was and HYOH folks.
Move on, nothing much to see here. Just a camper who wears jeans near a hiking trail.

[fins1838]

I like turtles!

[Papa D]

The AT may have a long HOBO history, but the AT was in fact invented for HIKERS - not campers to make their seasonal homes there. And no where did I personally see where HikermomKD said anything about shuttles, etc. It sounds to me like you have an axe to grind with anyone who isn't poor.

FWIW, I have no problem with wealth - I'm not even remotely close to being poor personally. Most of the people that I hike with (probably like you) have some money. It's a different subject but I do have big problems with big houses and big cars, burning lots of gas, and lots of toys - I could have plenty but I don't, by choice. You are right in saying that the AT was invented for hikers but hikers come in all forms and over the years that has included hikers and wandering people without permanent homes and I celebrate all sorts of people on the trail including Hobos and Platinum-Blazers but I do have a little more respect for the Hobo, because his / her life is much harder.
I also DO have a problem with shelter mis-use. Shelters are for one or two nights and moving on - - creating a home in a shelter and keeping a giant unwieldy campsite anywhere in the forest is inappropriate in my book but being homeless and living on the trail most of the time (appropriately) is fine with me.
I also think that H.M. has a history of trying to get everybody rattled-up about dangerous people on the trail - she is part of nearly EVERY thread like this.

[Blissful]

My concern as a ridgerunner is for the health and safety of the hikers. I have a possible hiker living out of Rocky Run. I can see he had health issues and may be depressed. I alerted authorities to go talk to him. The shelters are meant for hikers hiking the AT and are to be used for a nights stay. If there are people living at them, it needs to be looked into and the person helped out.

[Sampson]

FWIW, I have no problem with wealth - I'm not even remotely close to being poor personally. Most of the people that I hike with (probably like you) have some money. It's a different subject but I do have big problems with big houses and big cars, burning lots of gas, and lots of toys - I could have plenty but I don't, by choice. You are right in saying that the AT was invented for hikers but hikers come in all forms and over the years that has included hikers and wandering people without permanent homes and I celebrate all sorts of people on the trail including Hobos and Platinum-Blazers but I do have a little more respect for the Hobo, because his / her life is much harder.
I also DO have a problem with shelter mis-use. Shelters are for one or two nights and moving on - - creating a home in a shelter and keeping a giant unwieldy campsite anywhere in the forest is inappropriate in my book but being homeless and living on the trail most of the time (appropriately) is fine with me.
I also think that H.M. has a history of trying to get everybody rattled-up about dangerous people on the trail - she is part of nearly EVERY thread like this.

She is also a bit of a narcissist. In her first homeless "heads up" thread, she vowed to not post again on the topic. She took on this uber-victimized persona and bounced back and forth from a passive to aggressive poster. Yet, when this thread appeared, she was one of the first to jump back in and rekindle what she claimed to be so painful for her. I really don't mean to insult her, but it's pretty clear to the casual observer that she is very fond of attention, whether it is positive or negative.