View Full Version : Scariest Moment on Trail
Just curious, but what was the scariest situation you were put into on the trail? Whether thru hiking or just section hiking.
El Toro '94
06-15-2009, 16:22
Partly exposed ridge between Chestnut Knob and Jenkins shelter and that night in the shelter as well as the section just north of Mt. Rogers NRA HQ (about where Partnership shelter is today I think) and in John's Hollow shelter. Huge thunderstorms with big lightning striking close by (hair standing on end when soaking wet is never a good omen), with branches coffee can thickness and bigger dropping all around. That's about as hairy as it got during my thru. Think I might have lost some hearing those nights from the thunder. It was a spectacular fireworks display though.
MattBuck30
06-15-2009, 16:46
I had a number of close calls on my thru hike, but a few stick out to me. Just past Max Patch Mountain in NC (Lemon Gap) we had a black bear invade our camp in the middle of the night. A thunderstorm rolled in at about the same time and the temp dropped to below freezing. The bear climbed a tree to get our food bags and ripped them apart right outside of our tents. I can still remember the ripping sounds if i close my eyes! ha. Woke up to ice covering everything the next morning and had to hike 15 miles (on no sleep) to Hot Springs, NC without any food. To say the least, it was not a good day.
Also, as we were climbing Saddleback Mountain in Maine, a storm rolled in on us. Winds were 60+ mph so the rain was pretty much coming in sideways once we went above treeline. It was so cold that our fingers and toes were going numb while we were hiking. This was the closest that we came to hypothermia.
Mighty Mouse
06-15-2009, 22:14
I was a few days south of Marian, VA. Usually, I'd tent near a shelter, but it was late in the thru-hiking season, and I came across a creepy dude at the last shelter I came by. I hiked as fast as I could until dusk. I had eaten dinner earlier, so all I had to do was throw my bear line and set up my tent. I set up camp on a ridge. I was sound asleep, when I woke around midnight. I thought someone was shining a flashlight into my tent. I lay there for a moment, freaking out. I'm a 5'5", 125 lb. female who carries a small pocket knife (1" blade). So I was trying to figure out what the *ell I was going to do. I opened my pocket knife and jumped out of my tent as FAST as I possibly could. Turns out, the moon was coming up over the ridge :D. I was glad it wasn't the creepy dude, but felt like an idiot!
Jim Adams
06-15-2009, 22:18
lightening striking all around me as I was going over the lion's head. probably the closest I've been to death.
geek
Wise Old Owl
06-15-2009, 23:38
My dad said if you don't stop complaining - You can take my pack!
Lemni Skate
06-16-2009, 00:51
Scariest was a day hike in SNP. It was about 55 degrees when I left home. I got on the trail in an area without much underbrush and before I knew it I was in 4 inches of fresh snow. There was no way to find the trail as it was covered. I had a hard time locating any blazes and then a nice freezing rain started to fall. I was out with a day pack containing about 1 liter of water and an Orange and no additional clothes or shelter of any kind.
I really made it out without any trouble, but I was SCARED.
The Mechanical Man
06-16-2009, 01:42
In 1987 during a thunderstorm in PA, my wife and I were 3 miles North of Port Clinton, hiking South on the AT.
After a week long stretch of 95 degree days, a cold front came through Pennsylvania, bringing with it severe thunderstorms.
Lightning struck a tree only 10 yards away from us, I saw the bark peel down in a 1 inch wide strip just after it struck, we felt the electricity shock us, and the dog was on the ground in convulsions. We RAN the last 3 miles downhill into Port Clinton, I had to carry the dog the entire way as she was unable to walk on her own.
Eventually "Lady" the dog recovered and was able to walk into town, we were all quite shaken, and very lucky to be alive.
After returning from a short section hike most of the ice in the cooler had melted...but the beer was still cold!
earlyriser26
06-16-2009, 10:03
Hitching fromKatahdin to Millonocket. The car was full and we sat on the hood.
Hiking on the PCT...hit snow for the first time climbing San Jacinto. Keep in mind no blazes on the trails out west and far fewer hikers so no footprints to follow. Got lost several times, while recalling the death of John Donovan in the exact same area.
AT, tented out on top of Cheoah Bald. Thunderstorms rolled in during the night. Got woken at 2AM because lightning was flashing from cloud to cloud less than 200' above. Some lightning was flashing off to the sides and below the mountaintop. I thought for sure that night I was going to get hit by lightning. Was very scary.
Morning Glory
06-16-2009, 11:04
A weekend hike SOBO from 19E, over Roan Mtn. to Iron Mtn. Gap. Hiking with a buddy and my 10 year old son, out on his first real trip. Well, before we left, we heard about some guy wanted for murder in Florida possibly being on the AT in Unicoi County. Well, we decided to go anyway. I didn't watch the tv and didn't know what this guy looked like. Well, our last nigh, staying at Clyde Smith Shelter, this guy walks in about 7:30 wearing blue jeans and a flannel shirt (in early July), carrying a canvas duffle bag with not much more than a sleeping bag in it. This fellow was very suspicious. He had no food and he stated that he had been eating nothing but crab apples. He laid next to a campfire all night and kept getting up every hour to add wood to it. My buddy and I didn't want to alarm my son, but we just knew that this HAD to be the guy they were looking for. We barely slept all night. We were very nervous. As soon as the sun was up....we were outta there. Come to find out though, we told Ms. Janet about this character and she let us know that the guy we ran into wasn't who we thought he was. Finally, we told my son about our suspicions and he then let us know that he had seen the real criminals picture on t.v. and he had known all along that it wasn't the same guy!!
A weekend hike SOBO from 19E, over Roan Mtn. to Iron Mtn. Gap. Hiking with a buddy and my 10 year old son, out on his first real trip. Well, before we left, we heard about some guy wanted for murder in Florida possibly being on the AT in Unicoi County. Well, we decided to go anyway. I didn't watch the tv and didn't know what this guy looked like. Well, our last nigh, staying at Clyde Smith Shelter, this guy walks in about 7:30 wearing blue jeans and a flannel shirt (in early July), carrying a canvas duffle bag with not much more than a sleeping bag in it. This fellow was very suspicious. He had no food and he stated that he had been eating nothing but crab apples. He laid next to a campfire all night and kept getting up every hour to add wood to it. My buddy and I didn't want to alarm my son, but we just knew that this HAD to be the guy they were looking for. We barely slept all night. We were very nervous. As soon as the sun was up....we were outta there. Come to find out though, we told Ms. Janet about this character and she let us know that the guy we ran into wasn't who we thought he was. Finally, we told my son about our suspicions and he then let us know that he had seen the real criminals picture on t.v. and he had known all along that it wasn't the same guy!!
Kids always know the truth :)
Alaskanhkr23
06-16-2009, 13:40
Mine,was hiking in Trapper's creek alaska,when i and another came around a blowdown/brush and meet face to face with a grizzly sow and three cub's, I literaly almost **** myself. I started backing away which aggravated it even more. My friend who grew up there said to stay still,every bone in my body wanted to run. But in the end the bear walked off.Very scarey Very lucky.
jersey joe
06-16-2009, 13:41
Lightning was what scared me most on the trail during my thru hike. I ran into a wicked storm on the Stone Mtn. ridge line just north of Mt. Rogers with absolutely no tree cover nearby.
garlic08
06-16-2009, 17:51
Hiking on the PCT...hit snow for the first time climbing San Jacinto. Keep in mind no blazes on the trails out west and far fewer hikers so no footprints to follow. Got lost several times, while recalling the death of John Donovan in the exact same area.
Since you mention the PCT, my scariest moment ever was night hiking the Pines-to-Palms Highway just before San Jacinto, coming back from the restaurant a mile off trail. I was walking on the white lane facing oncoming traffic, and a car passing another car from behind me came within inches going probably 70 mph.
Other moments that tend to stop my heart are flushing turkeys and quail on a quiet morning, or kicking ptarmigans out of powder snow on X-C skis.
neighbor dave
06-16-2009, 18:14
:-?i found a human skull :eek: while bushwhackin' mt.kancamagus in nh
not on the trail but scary just the same:-?
garlic08
06-16-2009, 18:17
:-?i found a human skull :eek: while bushwhackin' mt.kancamagus in nh
not on the trail but scary just the same:-?
Oh man, you win.
Since you mention the PCT, my scariest moment ever was night hiking the Pines-to-Palms Highway just before San Jacinto, coming back from the restaurant a mile off trail. I was walking on the white lane facing oncoming traffic, and a car passing another car from behind me came within inches going probably 70 mph.
Loved that restaurant....and the Jose Burger!!!
vonfrick
06-16-2009, 20:13
:-?i found a human skull :eek: while bushwhackin' mt.kancamagus in nh
not on the trail but scary just the same:-?
Loved that restaurant....and the Jose Burger!!!
anyone but me find these two posts kinda funny when taken together? :eek:
:-?i found a human skull :eek: while bushwhackin' mt.kancamagus in nh
not on the trail but scary just the same:-?
Yikes.
What followed?
Survivor Dave
06-16-2009, 20:30
Scariest moment? Had to be when I met Jack.:D
Scariest moment? Had to be when I met Jack.:D
I'll bet it was for him too.........................:p
Prelude: mild hypothermia just north of NOC.
Scarry event: real (moderate to serious) HYPOTHERMIA North of Hot Springs, Disorented, slurred speach, unable to set up a tent I had set up literally thousands of times, etc.
As it happened I wasn't scared, I did NOT know better. But after I warmed up I started to shake, & not from the cold.
Edit: Therse were seperate incidents, a few years apart.
neighbor dave
06-17-2009, 17:41
Yikes.
What followed?
after gaining my composure, i flagged the spot with a red stuffsack, and went and notified the authorities. took 'em up there the next day to retrieve all the bones.
Hiking on the PCT...hit snow for the first time climbing San Jacinto. Keep in mind no blazes on the trails out west and far fewer hikers so no footprints to follow. Got lost several times, while recalling the death of John Donovan in the exact same area.
I'll be thinking the exact same thing when I pass through there (next year).
I just did some major reading about John Joseph Donovan because his death was mentioned on a TV show a couple of nights ago as a background story. The story itself was about the (also lost) couple who stumbled across his death camp exactly one year after he had last made a journal entry there.
From what I gather, though, his death was due to several avoidable mistakes.
He was under equipped for the weather....... said witnesses.
He proceeded into the storm weather despite warnings by other hikers.
He was known to be a poor navigator & carried no gps/no compass
The really unfortunate part was that he wasn't all that far (as the crow flies) from help. But he was stuck just the same & apparently injured in some way from a "fall."
Johnny Appleseed
01-25-2010, 01:11
running out of water. Passed a bunch in georgia for a few days so I carried little. Then came justice creek thank god. Then I learned NEVER, NEVER drink ALL the water. Always leave 1 full swallow, and sip it over several hours just to keep mouth moist. When the tongue gets dry it HURTS.
I was walking and I heard some real noise on the other side of this thick bush. Leaves kicking up and thumping. It was slowly getting closer I could tell from the noise. I couldn't move. I could raise my poles and point them to the noise though. Then a momma bird escorted her babies away pretty fast. Quite a relief and a joke at the same time.
AUhiker90
01-25-2010, 01:22
Well at the time i was 9 years old and Me and my dad were about twent miles from NOC when his shoes just fell apart so he said he was getting a hitch and if I cant find my way to the NOC in two days that I might as well not come home. He gave me enough food and set me off which now i think is cool but at the time I not so sure. The hikers that had been on the trail just a couple weeks were shocked as i walked into the shelter all alone.
..I made it by the way
Jester2000
01-25-2010, 01:44
1)hypothermia in the 100 Mile Wilderness -- thanks, Jack! (as Doctari mentioned, not scary at the time)
2)almost falling off of Mather Pass
3)accidentally treeing two cubs at dusk, with no idea where mom was
4)running out of Jim Beam in the Sierra
It always gets my heart pounding anytime I startle hogs, bear, & birds causing them to make a panic stricken exit from underfoot. Rattlers get my attention too.
section hiking june 2004 on the Nantahala streach. RAIN all day, Standing Indian shelter there is a sign posted inside in red ink warning of bear harassing shelter area. Too wet to move on and getting late I did extreme back country precautions/sis was hiking with me/ we were the only two at the shelter. Decided to pitch tents as opposed to shelter in case there might be stray food left there by someone we hadn't disposed of. Sure enough in the middle of the night the bear came by and with a loud sniff investigated under both our rain flies, It seemed like it was inches from my head one sniff. First bear encounter so far. In hind sight it is one of my most exhilerating trail memories.:eek:
papa john
01-25-2010, 10:52
April 2000. Hawk Mountain Shelter. An innocent can of spam was sitting on the shelter floor when Baltimore Jack trudged into the area. He took one look at the can and asked who it belonged to. Nobody spoke up quickly enough and before we all knew it Jack whipped out this 12" blade, and in one swift movement cut the top off the can and wolfed down that spam. He hoisted his pack back on his back and strode off. I've never been able to look at a can of spam in the same way since.
Well at the time i was 9 years old and Me and my dad were about twent miles from NOC when his shoes just fell apart so he said he was getting a hitch and if I cant find my way to the NOC in two days that I might as well not come home. He gave me enough food and set me off which now i think is cool but at the time I not so sure. The hikers that had been on the trail just a couple weeks were shocked as i walked into the shelter all alone.
..I made it by the way
Still talkin' to dad?
SawnieRobertson
01-25-2010, 14:12
In hind sight it is one of my most exhilerating trail memories.:eek:
Yep, isn't that just the way it is. I think the knowledge that we are not living in the protective cocoon of society (as though society is ever safe) keeps us slightly on edge. We are more aware. We are more alive.
BTW, in 1998 south of Wesser was when I first met Jack. He wanted to scare me, but he didn't. In fact, I shared some jerky with him as we sat on a log. He gave me some tips even then about being on the trail.--Kinnickinic
Buzz_Lightfoot
01-25-2010, 14:18
Trout pond shelter, Central Adirondacks, 5 pond wilderness area. Early 1980's.
Unlike some areas of the park, this area sees light usage. In fact, I only saw one other person and he was hiking out as I walked in. I nearly lost the trail once on the way back in as it became vague around a marshy area with a few blow-downs. Eventually I arrived at the shelter tired (but GOOD tired) and a little scratched but otherwise OK.
I gathered wood for a campfire and then cooked dinner. After eating I read the shelter register and realized I just didn't feel like dealing with a campfire and just set up my bag and went to sleep. Sometime later that night it started.
Thump thuump thump thump. "Uh oh, bear" I thought. I shined my feeble flashlight out of the shelter and made some noise. (Remember these were the days before hyper-powerful mini flashlights.) I didn't see anything but the footsteps stopped.
Next night, same thing. By now I was starting to get seriously spooked. I did not light a fire again as I was just not in the mood and was enjoying the silence. It was so quiet I could hear the wings of bats as they fluttered overhead. "WHY didn't I light that fire!"
3rd night. Still no fire. Awoken AGAIN by heavy footsteps. This time I ws ready. I was going to run this "bear" off! I put on my boots, got out my pot and a stick to bang against it and shined my flastlight at the "monster".
And nearly died.
Laughing.
For three nights this "experienced backpacker" was terrorized by the footsteps of a rather large snowshoe hare as it wandered about looking for food.
BL
AUhiker90
01-25-2010, 16:43
He is the only one in my Family that want me to go to Katahdin..I not sure if he just want me out or he really wants me to attempt a Thru