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JJB
10-22-2006, 08:14
This weekend there was an obviously mentaly ill man that has taken over the Spruce Peak in Vt. on the LT/AT. To the point that a budy and I split to the Dougless shelter a couple of clicks south in the rain. Should the cops be called? GMC notifiied?

mdionne
10-22-2006, 08:18
This weekend there was an obviously mentaly ill man that has taken over the Spruce Peak in Vt. on the LT/AT. To the point that a budy and I split to the Dougless shelter a couple of clicks south in the rain. Should the cops be called? GMC notifiied?

naw, that's just MinnesotaSmith.:D

StarLyte
10-22-2006, 08:25
Some of my best friends are mentally ill so I don't know how to analyze this.

I suppose the safest thing to do is report his actions to the local authorities.

I've never encountered this on the Trail in all the years I've hiked the AT. I hope I never do.

Wanderingson
10-22-2006, 08:31
I'd be interested in hearing the details of your analysis of his mental illness. Heck, many folks think I'm a little mentally ill from time to time. I wonder if he thinks he may have squatter rights.

MOWGLI
10-22-2006, 08:33
This weekend there was an obviously mentaly ill man that has taken over the Spruce Peak in Vt. on the LT/AT. To the point that a budy and I split to the Dougless shelter a couple of clicks south in the rain. Should the cops be called? GMC notifiied?

If the guy was a danger to other hikers or himself, you should report his behavior to the local authorities. That would be my threshold.

Peaks
10-22-2006, 08:52
If you feel that uncomfortable, then notify someone. GMC is the maintainer for that section of the AT

MOWGLI
10-22-2006, 09:18
If you feel that uncomfortable, then notify someone. GMC is the maintainer for that section of the AT

Peaks, I'm not trying to single you out, but, "feeling uncomfortable" IMO isn't cause to contact anyone. Several folks made me "feel uncomfortable" during my thru-hike. Is that person dangerous, or committing a crime? That should be the standard. Not how someone perceived as "mentally ill" makes us feel.

TIDE-HSV
10-22-2006, 09:18
the shelter is on private property, then he can be evicted. If it's on public property, then the problem becomes a bit dicier. First, it's a law enforcement matter, and that's who should be notified. Next, in order to take him into custody, he will have had to do something overt - harassment or the like. Or demonstrate that he's a danger to himself or others. If someone is just unkempt and talking to himself, you can't even move him off a street corner - constitutionally...

Johnny Swank
10-22-2006, 09:22
His name wasn't Ward was it?

mrc237
10-22-2006, 09:35
I see people talking to themselves all the time 'till I realize they're chatting on their cell.:)

Nean
10-22-2006, 10:15
First time I met Jack (I believe thats his name) was on the LT. Everyone thought he was mentally ill. He has been around for years. Scares people, but harmless.

If someone is living at the shelter for the winter, I'd notify the GMC.

dirtnap
10-22-2006, 10:41
I seem to meet a few crazies every year.

Like the guy living in the shelter 34 miles south of Damascus in '03. Goof confronted him for throwing trash everywhere. There was an arguement - almost a fight - but the guy backed down. He wrote a nasty note in the register and left early the next morning.

Or the nice, disorganized guy living at the Port Clinton pavillion in '03. Or the wierd, googly-eyed older gentleman just south of Damascus in '06. He had a child's school backpack, little equipment, and he was a very awkward conversationalist.

Then, of course, there's me. I think I give some people the impression that I'm crazy, but I prefer to think of myself as eccentric.

-dirtnap

Peaks
10-22-2006, 17:05
Peaks, I'm not trying to single you out, but, "feeling uncomfortable" IMO isn't cause to contact anyone. Several folks made me "feel uncomfortable" during my thru-hike. Is that person dangerous, or committing a crime? That should be the standard. Not how someone perceived as "mentally ill" makes us feel.

Point taken. But if someone has taken up semi permanent residence in a shelter, then let the maintaining club know. The shelters are there for hikers, not a substitute home for someone.

orangebug
10-22-2006, 17:28
I tend to listen to someone's comfort level and appreciation of their street smarts. We haven't heard what seemed "mentally ill" about the person, but that two hikers were intimidated from sharing a public shelter. Alerting the local maintaining group seems appropriate, and police or other authorities if there is more indication of dangerousness to self, others and property.

Gaiter
10-22-2006, 18:58
This weekend there was an obviously mentaly ill man that has taken over the Spruce Peak in Vt. on the LT/AT. To the point that a budy and I split to the Dougless shelter a couple of clicks south in the rain. Should the cops be called? GMC notifiied?

contact the maintainers to see what they say. if he seemed to be a danger to himself or anyone else, contact the cops.

Rain Man
10-22-2006, 19:01
Might I suggest, also, taking some photos of the guy? In case he does do something he shouldn't and needs to be identified later.

I believe that helped or could have helped in one of the AT murders in PA.

As far as how "uncomfortable" you have to be, I think a hiker just has to listen to his or her instincts on that one.

Rain:sunMan

.

ed bell
10-22-2006, 20:31
I know that in US National Forests one can keep a camp for two weeks until one is required to move at least one mile. I would think that if a shelter on the AT was in the NF then the same rule would apply.

twosticks
10-22-2006, 20:43
Call chuck norris to deliver a round house.

Programbo
10-22-2006, 21:41
Peaks, I'm not trying to single you out, but, "feeling uncomfortable" IMO isn't cause to contact anyone. Several folks made me "feel uncomfortable" during my thru-hike. Is that person dangerous, or committing a crime?

I agree...Way back when I was a long haired radical I used to hang out in the Pine Knob shelter in Maryland for days at a time..Of course back then (Mid-70`s) if it was during the work week when school was in you might not see anyone come thru for days since it was out of the way to get to the shelter....Anyway one day this father and his 2 kids come along and the dad seemed disturbed by the fact I was just hanging out there..He left and a few hours later up drives this Park Ranger looking guy in a Jeep which I had never recalled seeing happen before..He comes over and asks where I`m hiking to and all and finally says.."You know it ain`t far to the road and it would be easy for someone to call the cops if there was trouble up here."..Then he left..I`m thinking..***?..I`m not bothering anybody..Sure I might look like Charlie Manson and be a bit anti-social but I`m harmless.....I guess my point is..Why do you say this guy seemed mentally ill?

Newb
10-23-2006, 15:38
Was he wearing a "John Kerry" for President button and handing out Al Gore global warming pamphlets? That would be a sure sign of mental illness. Best to just move along in that case.

oruoja
10-23-2006, 16:36
Was he wearing a "John Kerry" for President button and handing out Al Gore global warming pamphlets? That would be a sure sign of mental illness. Best to just move along in that case.

Actually it could have been Bernie Sanders who is running for the US senate this year, especially if he brought old copies of Pravda up to the shelter. Not wanting to get into a clinical debate of what constitutes mental illness the original poster did the smart thing by moving on if something didn't feel right about the person at the shelter. It would be a good idea to report his observations to the local and/or troopers and let them decide if it merits followup. Over the last year here in VT we have seen an increase in serious crimes not normally witnessed up here and it's quite possible suspects could use the trail and shelters to keep out of sight. Enjoy your hikes, stay alert, be safe.

Jack Tarlin
10-23-2006, 16:45
Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if this guy was the same pour soul I saw there when I did that section this past July (late fifties, heavyset, enormous pack, tons of plastic bags of food, clothes, etc.)

He was obviously something of a nutter, but quite harmless.

In any case, it's simply one further good reason to not stay in shelters anyway!

STEVEM
10-23-2006, 16:56
Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if this guy was the same pour soul I saw there when I did that section this past July (late fifties, heavyset, enormous pack, tons of plastic bags of food, clothes, etc.)

He was obviously something of a nutter, but quite harmless.

In any case, it's simply one further good reason to not stay in shelters anyway!

Jack, Sounds like a well know 2006 thruhiker we all know. Should make for an interesting fireside chat.

Sly
10-23-2006, 17:03
I see the right wingNUTS are at it again, adding political insults out of no where. Good job, but you're going down boyz.

Frolicking Dinosaurs
10-23-2006, 18:30
I see the right wingNUTS are at it again, adding political insults out of no where. Good job, but you're going down boyz.Photo removed due to photoshop malfunction
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/Ringwinginjured.jpg)

neo
10-23-2006, 18:44
This weekend there was an obviously mentaly ill man that has taken over the Spruce Peak in Vt. on the LT/AT. To the point that a budy and I split to the Dougless shelter a couple of clicks south in the rain. Should the cops be called? GMC notifiied?

what exactly is the guy doing that made you feel you had to leave:cool: neo

Newb
10-24-2006, 10:13
I see the right wingNUTS are at it again, adding political insults out of no where. Good job, but you're going down boyz.

It's so much fun to bait you guys. I'm the guilty party on this thread :D
I'm not a nut, though. I'm actually fairly situated in the middle. I just like to poke a stick through the fence at both sides.

Sly
10-24-2006, 10:36
It's so much fun to bait you guys. I'm the guilty party on this thread :D


Oh, a troll. Duly noted.

JJB
10-24-2006, 11:31
Like the federal judge that said "I know pornography when I see it", I knew this guy was :banana when we saw him. There was two LT thu's, a buddy and myself in the Spruse Peak shelter and it was pouring rain outside. This man in his late fifties, early sixties came up to the shelter with a dimestore bookbag and two sack of stuff. He stood outside for while and then came in. He first eyed everyone in the shelter with this "hey I'm real nutbag" look and then eyeballs everyones gear. He then proceeds to just about sitdown on one guys gear. Which was moved in a cordial mannor. He then takes his clothes off and then gets into long johns and curls into a fetal position on one of the racks. This is all without saying not a word.
We came back through the area the next day and there were day hiker saying that there was a grumpy/crazy old man in the shelter. So we all might be nutty for walking aimlessly in the woods, but this guy was crazy.
Peace. JJB.

MOWGLI
10-24-2006, 11:46
Gives crazy looks, followed by awkward silence, nearly sits on someone's backpack, disrobes, lies down. Sounds pretty harmless to me. Or maybe he was hypothermic. After all, it was "pouring rain outside."

mweinstone
10-27-2006, 18:03
attention jack! you have described scary gary to the tee. to prove i will finnish the description. six foot five, 280 lbs, long dirty blond hair in a single pony tail. cookware for six.shopping bags contain 55 lbs of various flours and meals and groats. no sleeping bag. sleeps in two green ponchos.weird, bible reading, timberland boots not tied. laptop,cell,gps,digital camera.ring bell? rangers were looking for him in ga in connection with scareing thruhikers and living months in shelters. minnisota smith and me walked with, or were followed by , gary for two weeks.he flipped out alot. ms reports him near maine.

mweinstone
10-27-2006, 18:04
oh and yes, i also do belive he is harmless in the end.

JoeHiker
10-30-2006, 13:16
No 280 pound crazy person is harmless

Gaiter
10-30-2006, 13:19
JJB, what did you end up doing? let us know what you found out from the maintainers

Jaybird
10-30-2006, 13:35
This weekend there was an obviously mentaly ill man that has taken over the Spruce Peak in Vt. on the LT/AT. To the point that a budy and I split to the Dougless shelter a couple of clicks south in the rain. Should the cops be called? GMC notifiied?


arent ALL hikers a bit crazy?.....


seriously, doesnt anyone read the DATA BOOK anymore???????
procedures to follow for these situations are covered in the Data Book...

saimyoji
10-31-2006, 12:25
Everyone in my family thinks I'm nuts for sleeping alone in the woods, in the rain, on purpose.

I just tell them they're nuts for paying $40 a month for cable when they only watch one or two channels.