View Full Version : Food and Water stolen from hiker..
I was reading a journal and came across this entry:
http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=263106
Apparently, someone stole a hiker's food and water while he was napping..He had to call a rescue since he's elderly and diabetic. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing?
Ramble~On
03-12-2009, 11:56
There are all sorts of different levels of LOW.
Having your food and water stolen is one thing..having EVERYTHING stolen is another. There have been hikers who left their packs outside a store to run in for a minute to grab something and came back out to find themselves gearless.
UnkaJesse
03-12-2009, 12:04
Year ago I took my minister and his four year old son on an overnighter in the Cohuttas. It was their first hike ever and they witnessed an incident. Our food bag was pilfered overnight by some folks in a neighboring campsite. I confronted them in the morning and the potheads denied it. They were so stoned, they couldn't untie a knot to get the bag down, they had to cut it. I hope they lost a finger all Jeff Spicoly-fied fumbling with a knife in the dark.
Wonder if this is the same Sarge who I met when was staying at the Blueberry Patch back in 2004. He was a black gentleman, but he certainly didn't look like he was in his 70s. He was short on cash and doing work for stays. Doesn't matter, but I was wondering why he hung up a hammock, then took his nap inside his tent???
stumpknocker
03-12-2009, 13:05
Wonder if this is the same Sarge who I met when was staying at the Blueberry Patch back in 2004. He was a black gentleman, but he certainly didn't look like he was in his 70s. He was short on cash and doing work for stays. Doesn't matter, but I was wondering why he hung up a hammock, then took his nap inside his tent???
He's the same Sarge. Quite a character. We once yogied a bottle of wine from a couple days hikers. :)
Dances with Mice
03-12-2009, 13:10
Mother Nature to the rescue!
SawnieRobertson
03-12-2009, 13:17
Yes, pilfering and outright taking all does happen out there. It is best to keep your gear in view at all times for that reason, but sometimes that's almost impossible--privies, for instance. It happened to me at a campsite while I was supposedly sleeping in my tent. I heard the giggles but was too naive and trusting to realize what was happening. The next day I knew though and was quite aware of exactly who did it. There are a few two-legged jerks on the trail. Anyway, the next day was hard going as hypoglycemia is real for me. I never confronted them but lost all respect for them.--Kinnickinic
Slo-go'en
03-12-2009, 14:47
Apparently, someone stole a hiker's food and water while he was napping..
Or something? Not knowing any details, there are all kinds of speclative reasons a food bag could go missing...
Cannibal
03-12-2009, 14:56
Or something? Not knowing any details, there are all kinds of speclative reasons a food bag could go missing...
Food AND water? I don't think there are too many other reasons besides a dishonest person.
several packs were stolen in '96. when i wanted to slack pack into town, i tied a snake to my pack.
mister krabs
03-12-2009, 15:09
several packs were stolen in '96. when i wanted to slack pack into town, i tied a snake to my pack.
You did what? :eek:
i went out and caught a snake and tied it to the hip belt. somebody suggested it as a joke, but you bet your bottom, it worked.
Please enlighten us. How exactly do you tie a snake to your pack?
any chance of a thread hijack into a "cruelty to cold blooded critters" thread????
Cool idea, Kanga!! Just kidding about the hijack.
ATWillow
03-12-2009, 18:03
On my 97 thruhike someone took all my dinners at Plumorchard shelter, and my new very kind hearted friends shared with me until the next town. I also had fuel stolen from my fuel bottle and knew who did it- two losers. Everyone is right- watch your stuff in town and on the trail!!!
Willow
Desert Reprobate
03-12-2009, 18:23
Please enlighten us. How exactly do you tie a snake to your pack?
Clove Hitch
Skidsteer
03-12-2009, 18:32
several packs were stolen in '96. when i wanted to slack pack into town, i tied a snake to my pack.
i went out and caught a snake and tied it to the hip belt. somebody suggested it as a joke, but you bet your bottom, it worked.
with string.
Will you promise not to teach that skill to other women? [shudder]
Someone once stole my heart..... :D (Awwww!)
Nicksaari
03-12-2009, 19:10
i would punch someone in the trachea if i caught someone stealing from me or my brethren. i would love every second of the experience!
what we must realize is that thieves in the normal, real world sense receive ten fold the wrong they've afflicted, but thieving on the trail is the the lowest you can go, like whale poop in the Marianas Trench low.
all are punished
warraghiyagey
03-12-2009, 19:13
Will you promise not to teach that skill to other women? [shudder]
Or at least use silk. . .
Desert Reprobate
03-12-2009, 19:14
They should be treated like the horse rustlers in the old west. Long step with a short rope.
Nicksaari
03-12-2009, 19:16
ALAS! i remember reading the journal to Pocosin Cabin in SNP, and a previous renter had an account of having pricy consumables and libation stolen from the spring box, presumably by a thru. it was a funny entry, as my brother had pointed it out, i stated that it was next to a spring on a hot summer day in june, the guy/gal just opened it and thought, oh what wonderful trail magic here, unmarked and unassuming.
shelterbuilder
03-12-2009, 19:45
I wonder if the culprit knows that "what goes around, comes around"?
No excuse for that kind of behavior. :mad:
If he's seventy, maybe he forgot where he put it.
several packs were stolen in '96. when i wanted to slack pack into town, i tied a snake to my pack.
i went out and caught a snake and tied it to the hip belt. somebody suggested it as a joke, but you bet your bottom, it worked.
with string.
now I know what was squirming around in your pack last weekend :D
Someone once stole my heart..... :D (Awwww!)
shoulda tied a snake around it ;)
Wise Old Owl
03-12-2009, 20:10
Hey Kanga, Was it a rubber snake?
i went out and caught a snake and tied it to the hip belt. somebody suggested it as a joke, but you bet your bottom, it worked.
i see the next activity at the hiker bash.....:D
SGT Rock
03-12-2009, 20:55
Geez - someone needs food can always ask me. Wouldn't be the first time this lightweight guy helped out one of those "prepared" hikers with the large loads.
If he's seventy, maybe he forgot where he put it.
what i was thinking, hell i ain't close to 70 and i forget where i put stuff all the time
Hey Kanga, Was it a rubber snake?
no, a real one. the fun comes when it's crawled up in your pack and you don't know where.
in other words, don't mess with kanga :eek:
oh, hush. you already knew that.
several packs were stolen in '96. when i wanted to slack pack into town, i tied a snake to my pack.
I wanna see your photo album.:eek:
which one? the one i can show my parents or the one i can't
which one? the one i can show my parents or the one i can't
silly question, but you already knew that
Which one is the snake in?
And don't answer, "Which snake?"
that's in the one with the birthday bonfire on the island in d-town and the coed nekkid bridge jumping in hot springs. you know. the good one.
Lug it along on our next hike, okay? For fireside entertainment.
Blissful
03-12-2009, 21:57
In '07 some hiker had his food stolen off the bear line in the Smokies. It was the talk of the trail for a while.
gregugadawg
03-12-2009, 22:05
I think I am going to start bringing a combination lock to lock my food on the bear line.
I think I am going to start bringing a combination lock to lock my food on the bear line.
i'm going with the snake method
take-a-knee
03-12-2009, 22:08
They should be treated like the horse rustlers in the old west. Long step with a short rope.
My thoughts exactly, the rationale for hanging a horse thief was that stealing a man's horse and kit could cost him his life. Sounds a lot like stealing someone's food or sleeping bag.
My thoughts exactly, the rationale for hanging a horse thief was that stealing a man's horse and kit could cost him his life. Sounds a lot like stealing someone's food or sleeping bag.
easy there... no need to get excited on the AT, it ain't life and death out there
blackbird04217
03-12-2009, 22:48
Could be depending on the situation, person and other such...
But, what do people do while they go into a store with their pack, do they have a bike lock type thing to lock the pack to a pole, or just sit it outside. I know most stores these don't allow you to take the pack in, but the only idea I have had was to use a bike chain like thing. It will at least keep the "honest thief" away. (Honest thief being the one that steals only because of a prime opportunity) However its not that protective - a knife to slash any cloth loops or just undo the shoulder straps and voila... So, I ask what do you do?
Pokey2006
03-13-2009, 00:40
I always thought the smell of the pack would be enough to keep theives away.
I always thought the smell of the pack would be enough to keep theives away.
but who would want a pack but a smelly hiker? just saying
Pokey2006
03-13-2009, 01:05
I figured a smelly hiker wouldn't want to carry the extra weight.
Early on in my hike, when stores were crowded and I was hit town with other hikers, we took turns watching the packs. Later on in my hike, when I was usually alone, and the stores were pretty much empty, I took my pack with me into stores. If appropriate, I would ask the cashier to watch it. Otherwise I wore it on my back.
Chalk up one more benefit of traveling light, with a small pack that doesn't have a lot of stuff dangling from it.
I figured a smelly hiker wouldn't want to carry the extra weight.
regular smelly hikers wouldn't steel a pack, only those who really reek from poor character and in need of funds/new gear would steal
Please enlighten us. How exactly do you tie a snake to your pack?
Clove Hitch
LOL
Good choice. :welcome
regular smelly hikers wouldn't steel a pack, only those who really reek from poor character and in need of funds/new gear would steal
well, that there is the clutch, i mean crutch... ..um, crux of the matter. that's right, crux.
well, that there is the clutch, i mean crutch... ..um, crux of the matter. that's right, crux.
crux needs to cold clocked into the butt munch crunch clutch
seriously, what would you do if you actually caught somebody stealing your stuff? i think i would flip my ****.
take-a-knee
03-13-2009, 10:36
easy there... no need to get excited on the AT, it ain't life and death out there
Yeah, I guess no one has ever died on the AT from hypothermia, have they?
Desert Reprobate
03-13-2009, 11:14
seriously, what would you do if you actually caught somebody stealing your stuff? i think i would flip my ****.
Bury them deep, off the trail, away from the water supply
Yeah, I guess no one has ever died on the AT from hypothermia, have they?
from thievery, i doubt it
seriously, what would you do if you actually caught somebody stealing your stuff? i think i would flip my ****.
'hey dude, what's up? short of some stuff or just stoopid, probably both, i'm guessing. well, here's how i can help - option a - put everything back now and walk away -or- option b - i shove my hiking sticks up your ass, one at a time'
yeah, but think about it this way tm: you're on a 5-day stretch, 2 days in. someone steals you food. not alot of others around. cold and rainy. with no fuel, you're alot more susceptible to hypothermia, aren't you? if they've stolen your whole pack and you don't have layers, whatcha do then? you can hike during the day until you run out of steam, but then what are you going to do to stay warm at night? exhausted, wet.
yeah, but think about it this way tm: you're on a 5-day stretch, 2 days in. someone steals you food. not alot of others around. cold and rainy. with no fuel, you're alot more susceptible to hypothermia, aren't you? if they've stolen your whole pack and you don't have layers, whatcha do then? you can hike during the day until you run out of steam, but then what are you going to do to stay warm at night? exhausted, wet.
make a shelter with leave and sticks and stuff and wait 10 minutes for someone to come along...
...but mainly we were discussing thievery in town
Desert Reprobate
03-13-2009, 11:35
The thread started with a theft on the trail while the hiker was napping. If someone in town steals from you, you don't have to bury em so deep.
yeah, well on the AT in most places, you can hike out very quickly, 10 miles max, big deal
saimyoji
03-13-2009, 11:50
seriously, what would you do if you actually caught somebody stealing your stuff? i think i would flip my ****.
hiking pole cattle-prod their ass.
hiking pole cattle-prod their ass.
that's my boy
hey, that's what i said :bse
you forgot the cattle-prod part. dear to my heart.
Mother Nature
03-13-2009, 14:33
He's the same Sarge. Quite a character. We once yogied a bottle of wine from a couple days hikers. :)
Ummmmm. Stumpy... I heard a lot more about that story...just saying. :p
you forgot the cattle-prod part. dear to my heart.
Ahh... now, where do you say you wanted it?
up the butt of the person that stole my stuff! quit smokin that ****.
cowboy nichols
03-13-2009, 18:18
I just Tie my sheperd to my pack and tell her to guard, no one has ever touched my pack. You need to teach this before leaving to hike.
Trail Trooper
03-13-2009, 19:56
Keep Some Ex-lax Bronnies In You Pack. When You See Someone With A Bad Case Of The Ass You Will Have Your Man
Mal the Elder
03-15-2009, 00:18
seriously, what would you do if you actually caught somebody stealing your stuff? i think i would flip my ****.
I'd first be checking if the liver was edible fresh or needed cooking . . . maybe I'd offer to share a bite with the donor, depending.
I don't care where it happens, theft of food and water are unacceptable. If someone's really in need, folks will share. If someone's just scum, treat accordingly. . . .
photomankc
03-15-2009, 01:29
I have heard of other people getting their entire pack taken and I will just say that I consider taking food, water, maps, and navigational gear to be a serious and potentially threatening situation to my well-being and would act accordingly. If the party in question put up a fight if I caught them to keep my stuff well then, I'd act accordingly to that as well.
There are places here where you may be lucky to see another person and even if you get to a road they are very infrequently traveled and it's a good long way to any houses.
Thieves are scum.
SawnieRobertson
03-15-2009, 15:14
yeah, but think about it this way tm: you're on a 5-day stretch, 2 days in. someone steals you food. not alot of others around. cold and rainy. with no fuel, you're alot more susceptible to hypothermia, aren't you? if they've stolen your whole pack and you don't have layers, whatcha do then? you can hike during the day until you run out of steam, but then what are you going to do to stay warm at night? exhausted, wet.
This so reminds me of the situation slackpackers put themselves in. Yeah, sure. Someone is going to be at the trailhead, waiting for them. Hopefully.--
Kinnickinic