View Full Version : Theft at Dahlgren Campground in Maryland
A group of 10 scouts had their packs rifled through and several items stolen during the night of Wednesday June 22 at Dahlgren Campground. Every pack appeared to have been searched and the following items were taken; 1 pair of trekking poles, 2 Platypus bladders and 1 set of Frogg Toggs rain gear. Interesting that several expensive items such as a Patagonia down sweater and 2 Snow Peak Giga stoves were moved but not taken. The scouts continued their hike to Blackburn TC having learned a life lesson and being grateful more was not taken.
Sounds like a homeless person was shopping for what they needed. Robbing boy scouts is pretty bad.
Gambit McCrae
06-27-2016, 14:19
This reminded me of this...Think he has gotten parole? (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/106175-Maine-Hermit-Theif-Caught-after-27-years-alone?highlight=)
direct link below
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/106175-Maine-Hermit-Theif-Caught-after-27-years-alone?highlight=
Sounds like a homeless person was shopping for what they needed. Robbing boy scouts is pretty bad.
Never seen a homeless person using hiking poles :-?
The scouts took it in stride. They are preparing for a 10 day backpacking trip at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. All good kids who have worked hard to prepare for this trip.
scrabbler
06-27-2016, 14:46
During the night? Every pack? How is that even possible?
Packs are left outside the tents at night. This is the method they must use at Philmont Scout Reservation, which is what they are practicing for. They have lots of policies at Philmont, most to address bear activity. No packs or gear other than sleeping bags and pads are allowed in the tents. They even specify "sleeping clothes" only in tents to avoid food smells picked up during meals.
Slo-go'en
06-27-2016, 16:38
Those boy scouts must be very sound sleepers not to have heard or seen anything. Going through 10 packs has to make a fair amount of noise and a flashlight would also be required. And what an odd assortment of things to go missing. The kinds of things which can get misplaced pretty easily. Sorry, I just don't buy this story.
OkeefenokeeJoe
06-27-2016, 17:18
Boy Scouts are children and children usually sleep very soundly at night, particularly after an active day. Furthermore, Scouts are generally very trustworthy of adults (or those they perceive as adults) and lack the maturity of adult awareness. I can easily see how a group of Scouts would ignore (or discount) sounds of someone rummaging around the camp. Accordingly, I accept the story as most likely an occurrence and would, without further evidence, speculate the perpetrator(s) to be 20-something trail vagrant/vagabond millennials (you've seen them and know to whom I am referring) who have no morals or values and who beg, borrow, and steal every day for their existence.
Hopefully, these scouts have learned a valuable life lesson.
OkeefenokeeJoe
MuddyWaters
06-27-2016, 17:19
Those boy scouts must be very sound sleepers not to have heard or seen anything. Going through 10 packs has to make a fair amount of noise and a flashlight would also be required. And what an odd assortment of things to go missing. The kinds of things which can get misplaced pretty easily. Sorry, I just don't buy this story.
My first thought too. Poles arent in packs either.
Packs would be piled up under rain tarp, basically empty.
Water containers should have been in fire ring.
GlitterHiker
06-27-2016, 17:29
Did any other camper have anything taken? I'm thinking that campground could've been pretty full.
SWODaddy
06-27-2016, 18:02
I hate Maryland.
Dahlgren campground is way too close to the road for my comfort. It was several years ago, but there was a shady, kinda spooky bike-hiker with a nasty dog staying there the night I was there. I wasn't sure who was more likely to bite -- the dog, or its owner. Gave them both a wide berth.
I hate Maryland.
I don't hate any particular state or city in and of themselves. The places are ok.It's the $#%^*& people that make them so bad.;) What kind of human being would steal from a Boy Scout??? OTOH, one nice and oft ignored aspect of hiking for really long distances is that your pack and gear get to stinking so bad that another sane human being wouldn't dream of touching them.:)
Those boy scouts must be very sound sleepers not to have heard or seen anything. Going through 10 packs has to make a fair amount of noise and a flashlight would also be required. And what an odd assortment of things to go missing. The kinds of things which can get misplaced pretty easily. Sorry, I just don't buy this story.
Sorry you don't buy the story. What would be the point of making something like this up?
My first thought too. Poles arent in packs either.
Packs would be piled up under rain tarp, basically empty.
Water containers should have been in fire ring.
The group was following Philmont policy which is that all packs are under a tarp at night which is located near the cooking area away from the tents. (I've been to Philmont twice). Also all the packs would have been in a pack line, one neat line with each leaning against the next. The packs were all moved and some were left open. I'm assuming the poles that were not being used to pitch tents were also under the tarp as well.
It wouldn't be hard for someone to slip under the tarp hidden from view, away from the boys sleeping in their tents, and quietly search the packs.
I told the boys that the AT is a microcosm of the world we live in and sometimes these things happen.
Slo-go'en
06-28-2016, 09:23
Sorry you don't buy the story. What would be the point of making something like this up?
I don't know, but it just doesn't make a lot of sense. The missing items are things which are easily misplaced by inattentive kids and the packs could have been disturbed by an animal. I find that scenario much more likely then someone sneaking under a tarp in the middle of the night to rummage through packs and steal a couple of water bladders and a set of frog togs.
Were you part of this group and witnessed it personally or are you relating something which was told to you?
JumpMaster Blaster
06-28-2016, 09:34
Packs are left outside the tents at night. This is the method they must use at Philmont Scout Reservation, which is what they are practicing for. They have lots of policies at Philmont, most to address bear activity. No packs or gear other than sleeping bags and pads are allowed in the tents. They even specify "sleeping clothes" only in tents to avoid food smells picked up during meals.
Why wouldn't/didn't they hang the packs. Wouldn't that be a more feasible method of animal-proofing your pack. Not to criticize them or the leaders, just curious.
Sucks that someone would do this, but I bet they definitely saw a golden opportunity-hikers separated from their gear with no one near.
I'm sorry that this happened to the scouts. I camped at Dahlgren just last month with no issues.
I was not with the group. I'm the Scoutmaster, my three Assistant Scoutmaster were with the group and are going to Philmont with them. The Lead Adult was the first to relate the story to me. I met the group upon their return at our meeting hall where they told me what happened.
The Frogg Toggs were in a pouch clipped with a carabiner to the outside of the pack, not something likely to be undone by an animal. Other packs were opened with nothing taken.
I could see an animal knocking over packs if there was food in them but all the food was hung.
Seems to me someone saw an opportunity and took only what they needed. What's odd is they didn't take anything of real value except the poles, and left may valuable items including the packs, stoves other sets of poles, etc., most of it relatively new gear.
I'm sorry that this happened to the scouts. I camped at Dahlgren just last month with no issues.
Thanks mikec. I've camped at Dahlgren many times and never had a problem either. I think it's an isolated incident but as anyone who hikes the AT knows there are occasional incidents of theft. This was relatively minor, the few items taken will be replaced.
JumpMaster Blaster
06-28-2016, 12:36
Thanks mikec. I've camped at Dahlgren many times and never had a problem either. I think it's an isolated incident but as anyone who hikes the AT knows there are occasional incidents of theft. This was relatively minor, the few items taken will be replaced.
Don, would you accept a donated Platypus bladder to replace the one that got stolen? I can have it sent today.
MuddyWaters
06-28-2016, 13:13
The group was following Philmont policy which is that all packs are under a tarp at night which is located near the cooking area away from the tents. (I've been to Philmont twice). Also all the packs would have been in a pack line, one neat line with each leaning against the next. The packs were all moved and some were left open. I'm assuming the poles that were not being used to pitch tents were also under the tarp as well.
It wouldn't be hard for someone to slip under the tarp hidden from view, away from the boys sleeping in their tents, and quietly search the packs.
I told the boys that the AT is a microcosm of the world we live in and sometimes these things happen.
When it came to empty packs, our packline was a pile. Empty packs dont stand up unless external frame.
MuddyWaters
06-28-2016, 13:18
The group was following Philmont policy which is that all packs are under a tarp at night which is located near the cooking area away from the tents. (I've been to Philmont twice). Also all the packs would have been in a pack line, one neat line with each leaning against the next. The packs were all moved and some were left open. I'm assuming the poles that were not being used to pitch tents were also under the tarp as well.
It wouldn't be hard for someone to slip under the tarp hidden from view, away from the boys sleeping in their tents, and quietly search the packs.
I told the boys that the AT is a microcosm of the world we live in and sometimes these things happen.
When it came to empty packs, our packline was a pile. Empty packs dont stand up unless external frame.
Not saying it didnt happen, but i saw scouts lose a lot of stuff, even at philmont. One pair of tent partners lost their tent poles, phimont had to bring them a tent. Another kid had to buy $45 worth of platypus bottles to replace the ones he kept losing. Anf of course, poles were left behind too. Something clipped on outside is just asking to be lost.
Our guys are taught to always form a pack line. They would have still had spare clothing in their packs and possibly the cooking gear. All cooking gear should have been in the cooking area but since they hadn't yet cooked since this was their first night apparently (they parked at South Mountain Inn a quarter mile form the campground) the cooking gear was still in the packs, thus the stoves moved but not taken.
I've been on two Philmont treks and we never lost even a tent peg between both trips. The scouts do fundraising so they can buy quality equipment so I think they are a bit more responsible.
Jumpmaster, thank you for the offer but I'm sure the parents will replace the items. At least all the items were not from one scout.
Pringles
06-28-2016, 14:15
It's been a while since I hiked the Maryland section, but I believe the guides at the time said to keep your gear close to you, that because the campground was close to the road, sometimes things were taken. I realize you're practicing for a trip to Philmont, but the Philmont way might not always be the best way, for a given area. It might be the perfect time to say, "Here's what we're going to do at Philmont." Then do it. Then say, "Because this is different than Philmont, here's what we're going to do here, because it's safer/more appropriate." Then do that. I'm glad your kids are active and excited and learning.
scrabbler
06-28-2016, 14:40
Are you guys also practicing carrying out your waste? That's also the Philmont way I hear.
Are you guys also practicing carrying out your waste? That's also the Philmont way I hear.
Waste as in human waste? No, crews do not, nor have they ever packed out human waste. There are pit latrines located at campsites and high use locations.
vamelungeon
06-28-2016, 18:43
I'm sorry you've related this crime to this group and have had it picked apart and basically been called a liar.
I'm sorry you've related this crime to this group and have had it picked apart and basically been called a liar.
Thanks!
I've been here quite awhile and have a thick skin so it doesn't bother me one bit. I just posted it as an FYI for others hiking in the area.
By the way I'm posting a $1,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of a bear on the trail in Maryland wearing Frogg Toggs and using hiking sticks : )
MuddyWaters
06-28-2016, 22:21
I'm sorry you've related this crime to this group and have had it picked apart and basically been called a liar.
No one insinuated any such thing. They simply wondered if there might be another explanation, because the evidence sounded a bit unusual. Big difference.
No one insinuated any such thing. They simply wondered if there might be another explanation, because the evidence sounded a bit unusual. Big difference.
Yeah, its a pretty specific list of things taken.
rocketsocks
06-29-2016, 10:28
Thanks!
I've been here quite awhile and have a thick skin so it doesn't bother me one bit. I just posted it as an FYI for others hiking in the area.
By the way I'm posting a $1,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of a bear on the trail in Maryland wearing Frogg Toggs and using hiking sticks : )
...and playing a hydration bladder under his arm like a bag pipe. :D
Trekking poles would be easy to steal. I always felt uneasy leaving them at places since I relied on them. The poles were probably not in the pack. The same goes for the bladders and frog toggs, which likely could have been on the outside of the pack (where raingear should be). Lots of water bladders are sitting around at camp and not in the pack too. That sucks, but when you go to a destination such as this, where the road overflow has access, you keep all your stuff close to you (even your food bag).