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hikerjohnd
11-17-2005, 08:54
Hello All! I am looking for tips about leaving my car at a trailhead. Short of not leaving valuables in the car, what else should I do/not do?

Rock - maybe this topic would make a good addition to the articles section...:-? I looked there first.

Lone Wolf
11-17-2005, 08:56
Depends on which trailhead and for how long.

hikerjohnd
11-17-2005, 09:00
Well, this weekend I'll be leaving my truck at Woody Gap for 3-4 days. But I assume there are some general safety tips for wherever, whenever...

Lone Wolf
11-17-2005, 09:03
Newer SUV type vehicles are more likely to be broken into and/or stolen.

manzana
11-17-2005, 09:38
One good rule to follow: never announce over the internet that you are leaving your car unattended somewhere.

Hikes in Rain
11-17-2005, 09:43
I use my oldest, ratty-est car, and don't wash it for a while prior to leaving it. I think the longest period without washing was something over a year. I called it preparation; the wife called it something else.

Almost There
11-17-2005, 10:05
Woody Gap you should be fine as cops drive by there all the time. Trailheads way out of the way, or ones on major roads are usually pretty good. Keep an eye out here and on trailforums, if there have been problems with parking somewhere people usually chime in with the info!

tlbj6142
11-17-2005, 11:01
I take everything out of my car that is of any value (CD's, books, etc.) and leave it at home. I open all of the storage bins (center console, glove compartment, etc.) to "show" they are empty. I leave a t-shirt, shorts and a pair of underwear (on top) on the driver's seat.

That's it. Never put a sign in/on the car that states when/where you are going. Give that information to someone at home (along with your car's description/plate).

Just Jeff
11-17-2005, 13:01
I was pretty mad - when I hiked the Foothills Trail, the rangers made me put my permit on my dashboard. It identified me as a thru-hiker starting at the other end of the trail.

But I did open all of my storage bins. And left the doors unlocked since I have a Jeep with a soft top.

Seeker
11-17-2005, 13:06
regarding valuables, that's what i do too...open everything up, show that it's empty... regarding cloths, it's nice coming back to the car on a rainy day with dry clothes to change into... plus, the underwear might scare people away! depending on where i am, and how long i'll be gone, i sometimes stash my key in the woods right near the trailhead... i live in mortal fear of losing my key along the way... no, i won't use a key safe on the undercarriage... car thieves know where to look... just like that fake rock in your garden or on your front step...anything that i do leave in the car goes in the trunk... it can't be opened with one of those 'trunk releases' from the drivers seat, nor do my seats fold down to give access to it... you HAVE to have the key... or a crowbar... i also leave a water bottle in the trunk, and a quick snack, so if i happen to be hungry/thirsty when i get back, i can get to it quickly.

Gray Blazer
11-17-2005, 13:24
Do everything these guys said and lock the doors. Older, beat-up cars are better for leaving for a few days.

Burn
11-17-2005, 15:24
contact hiker hostel and ask them if you could get a shuttle and park yer car there...what 9 miles or less away.

when possible, use the hiker community, and maybe those good folks can help more folks. wingfoot pretty much lists places along the whole trail, as well as other books. you can generally get a shuttle and have safe parking for cheaper than you can get even a beater to romp around in.

i stopped in once and let the city know i was hiking for a bit, they said we pass thru there all the time, i'll let the shift guys make a few extra passes. was nice and they knew i was there too.

many hikers live right there or in the area and use the trails quite often...maybe they'll give ya a better idea about how safe that parking area is. i think there is a fee to park there...$3 is it?

Skidsteer
11-17-2005, 20:38
[quote=Burn i think there is a fee to park there...$3 is it?[/quote]
So far as I have been able to ascertain, all parking fee requirements at AT road crossings in GA have been lifted in the past year. The last time I parked at Woody, there was no fee required and the envelopes, bulletin board notices, etc. had all been removed.

Almost There
11-17-2005, 21:24
I concur with Skidsteer, no fees anymore!

Burn
11-18-2005, 13:32
sweet, i thought woody still had it in march 05 when i was thru there again. i didn't investigate it, just assumed the fee of 04 was still in effect. they didn't have it at springer...i did notice that. see what a great place this is, you guys are lifesavers.

Bjorkin
11-18-2005, 15:03
i have a 1990 S-10 blazer 4 x 4 i bought specifically for my camping trips and leaving at trailheads. interior is fairly nice but the outside could use a paint job and new grill. cost about $1,800 and runs like a champ. If i ever need the money back out of it i can sell it for probably what I paid for it since 4x4's don't really get any cheaper than that which is kinda like a motorcycle; you can always get you money back out of one of them if you don't go overboard.

Anyway, i consider my 4x a piece of camping equipment that gives me piece of mind on the trail. Reminds me of that SNL skit a dozen or so years ago about a car called the Chameleon. A total primer grey POS on the outside complete with bullet holes but nothing but the finest on the inside.

Ramble~On
11-19-2005, 04:16
I like this post.

I actually have a bag of stuff I keep in my basement and each time I go out
I take it along and scatter it around the inside of the car or truck to make it look "ratty" . Dirty rags, Coffee cups, crushed soda cans nasty looking white socks etc etc.
Also I never leave any food in the car or anything with a food smell.
I once returned to my car after a few days in the Cohutta Wilderness and found big muddy bear paw prints all over it...luckily it didn't break in.
Several times I have opened the trunk and found mice had moved in and shredded everything.
I don't know if making the inside of the car look ratty works or not but so far I have been lucky

MedicineMan
11-19-2005, 05:16
on the hood helps too :(
an add-on would be a plastering of NRA stickers,
and if you put about 20 empty beer cans in the back seat and pull out the ashtray and overflow it with butts can only help....oh some of those fake bullet holes along the side might be even more insurance.

justusryans
11-19-2005, 08:46
All you need is a Dale Jr. hat on the front seat. You'll be fine...

cascader
11-27-2005, 10:19
in addition to a lot of good advice above--

I'd say don't have any sticker on your car that could piss locals off and encourage vandalism. In NH, that includes AMC stickers!

Plus, don't spend a lot of time at the trailhead fussing with your pack etc but get into the woods as soon as you've changed into your boots. If you wanted to rip off a hiker, it would be alot easier to do it at the trailhead than 5 miles up the trail.

justusryans
11-27-2005, 10:30
True!! Wouldn't do you any good to have a Dale Jr. hat on the front seat is you had a P.E.T.A. sticker on your bumper. Jr. fans don't like P.E.T.A.!! :D

DLFrost
11-28-2005, 09:49
I actually have a bag of stuff I keep in my basement and each time I go out
I take it along and scatter it around the inside of the car or truck to make it look "ratty" . Dirty rags, Coffee cups, crushed soda cans nasty looking white socks etc etc.
This is sad. Whitetrash sad. But funny. :D

My favorite Car Break-in Deterrent post is from the now-defunct GEnie network back in '95...
Driving an old car is a much more effective deterrent to theft than any Club. Like, who's going to steal my 8-year-old Escort for a joy ride?

If you want to protect your car, get a little window sticker that certifies your membership in the American Poisonous Reptile Society, and leave a small, open cage in the back seat.
Doug Frost

jlb2012
11-28-2005, 13:26
This is sad. Whitetrash sad. But funny. :D

My favorite Car Break-in Deterrent post is from the now-defunct GEnie network back in '95...
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Harris (on GEnie)
Driving an old car is a much more effective deterrent to theft than any Club. Like, who's going to steal my 8-year-old Escort for a joy ride?

If you want to protect your car, get a little window sticker that certifies your membership in the American Poisonous Reptile Society, and leave a small, open cage in the back seat.


expanding on that idea a little - fixup a car alarm that sounds like a rattle snake under the front seat

Jack Tarlin
11-28-2005, 19:08
I've also seen people leave their trip itineraries taped to their windshield as an "emergency" plan, which is pretty stupid.

NEVER advertise how long your vehicle will be there or how long you'll be away from it.

If you want to leave an itinerary, leave it with family or reliable friends, not on your car for the world to see.

flyfisher
11-29-2005, 10:42
Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can leave information with the folks at the headquarters near Peaks of Otter. Headquarters telephone number is 828 271 4779.

The park law enforcement rangers seemed to appreciate knowing that I would be parking my truck at pull-outs for the several days I was hiking through the area. They had no problem with it. They were just glad to know they did not need to worry about some dayhiker dead in the woods. They also advised against leaving any note in the car about hiking or when I would be back.

In the Shenendoah NP, the hiking permit system also allows the law enforcement folks to know what vehicles are for hikers. I went through there with my truck and motorcycle combination. The system recorded both license plates. The same is true in the Smokies if parking at Fontanna, Newfound Gap or Clingman's Dome is in your plan.