View Full Version : Is it often than problem people/hikers get removed from the Shenandoah National Park?
turtle fast
10-21-2010, 16:44
I had run into a hiker who had told me that the Shenandoah National Park rangers remove problem people/hikers off the trails often. On my 08' hike, I had heard of a hiker being removed for threats to others, and later on a transient "hiker" who was caught sleeping in the barn by Skyland I believe. Does this occur often or is it just that the park rangers are more visible and more proactive?
Sugarfoot
10-21-2010, 16:57
It is unlikely that you will even see a ranger while hiking Shenandoah. In three hikes through SNP, the only ranger I ever saw was during a dry year when I went down to the ranger station in Simmons Gap for water. I knocked on the cabin door and asked if a ranger could come out and play. The park naturalist came out and we compared bear notes. Like all national parks, SNP is understaffed. The rangers are pretty much limited to traffic duty on the Skyline Drive. Come to think of it, I did see a ranger this past spring. She drove into a shelter around dusk, to ask if anyone had seen a young couple reported to have run away from a nearby town. No one had.
Majortrauma
10-21-2010, 17:35
I section hiked the entire SNP part of the AT and only saw a Ranger once on the AT and that was to ask me if I saw a man and woman who were missing after trying to climb straight up one of the higher peaks at dusk with no gear, food or water.
You'd have to be causing quite a disturbance to get a Ranger to chase you down and remove you from the trail.
Jack Tarlin
10-21-2010, 18:31
No, this doesn't happen often, but Park Rangers and other officials reserve the right to remove people from the Park who are grossly violating Park rules or breaking Park laws, which in most cases, means violation of Federal statutes.
And in most cases, I'm inclined to think they don't take this step without good cause.
Cookerhiker
10-21-2010, 19:34
I've hiked in Shenandoah for nearly 35 years and maintained an AT section for 5 years until recently. I've never heard of anyone expelled from the Park.
Johnny Thunder
10-21-2010, 19:56
the guy who was removed from the park in 08 was only in a position to be removed from the park because local waynesboro law enforcement passed the buck.
so i don't think that one incident should count for/against this poll.
Wise Old Owl
10-21-2010, 20:17
If the result behavior is worthy of removal it happens. It happens a lot. Unless you have access to the paperwork, one would never know... It's happening all over the place, not just Shannandoah.
Lone Wolf
10-25-2010, 16:20
i was removed from the front lawn of big meadows lodge back in 86 after trying to set up my tent. i'd spent too much time in the pub that memorial day. the ranger helped me pack up and then drove me to a fire road near the closest shelter. very nice fellow
johnnybgood
10-25-2010, 19:07
the ranger helped me pack up and then drove me to a fire road near the closest shelter. very nice fellow
Alcohol was involved ... ranger could've been a jerk.
The only time I've seen someone escorted away was some years ago at Big Meadows Campground . I don't know the particulars so I'd be speculating if I had a guess.
Lone Wolf
10-25-2010, 19:30
Alcohol was involved ... ranger could've been a jerk.
correct. but i wasn't so he wasn't. i was just tired and wanted to lay down :)
Chaco Taco
10-25-2010, 22:26
the guy who was removed from the park in 08 was only in a position to be removed from the park because local waynesboro law enforcement passed the buck.
so i don't think that one incident should count for/against this poll.
Actually he was removed because the rangers were called in by hikers. Remember, he came running out of the woods telling people to get away from him. The hiker couple then called the rangers. The waynesboro cops had warned the rangers he was in the park, but the rangers had been called and he was taken away. I just specifically remember that a phone call had been made.
Johnny Thunder
10-25-2010, 22:49
yeah. i remember.
what i meant was that waynesboro police had an opportunity and obligation to make an arrest in their jurisdiction...even had the offender in their custody (with statements made by hikers and locals) but still decided that the best course of action was to drop him off on the trail knowing that he'd shortly become someone else's problem.
Chaco Taco
10-25-2010, 22:51
yeah. i remember.
what i meant was that waynesboro police had an opportunity and obligation to make an arrest in their jurisdiction...even had the offender in their custody (with statements made by hikers and locals) but still decided that the best course of action was to drop him off on the trail knowing that he'd shortly become someone else's problem.
Ahhhhh ok I got ya now. Wow cant believe thats over 2 years ago. Dang. :sun
mweinstone
10-25-2010, 22:53
me and banjo made the call. after he jumped out at the couple he jumped out at us. and chaco, he was able to be arrested cause i signed a complaint stateing that he threatened many hikers and others in my peresence over a period of weeks and that day several times and another hiker friend of mine signed a similar complaint. member?
Johnny Thunder
10-25-2010, 22:56
oh now it's on.
remember when matty almost got punched by a guy because he fake yogi'd water off of him even though he had a full 2 liters in his pack?
oh now it's on.
remember when matty almost got punched by a guy because he fake yogi'd water off of him even though he had a full 2 liters in his pack?
I remember that!!!!!!!!! :D that was hilarious!!!
Chaco Taco
10-25-2010, 22:57
oh now it's on.
remember when matty almost got punched by a guy because he fake yogi'd water off of him even though he had a full 2 liters in his pack?
That was classic. Ooohhh bike guy
Chaco Taco
10-25-2010, 22:58
me and banjo made the call. after he jumped out at the couple he jumped out at us. and chaco, he was able to be arrested cause i signed a complaint stateing that he threatened many hikers and others in my peresence over a period of weeks and that day several times and another hiker friend of mine signed a similar complaint. member?
Plus they asked me if I wanted to press charges and I did but they didnt "arrest" him. Wow that day was insane!
Johnny Thunder
10-25-2010, 23:01
and then we got picked up by bojangles and partied and some bear crashed onto his car. and a ranger pulled us over with 12 people in the bed of the truck and it was no problem as long as he agreed to drive with a reasonable 6 in there and make two runs...so he left us with beers at a pull-off and then we played donkey kong with a heini keg can.
how about that?
and then we got picked up by bojangles and partied and some bear crashed onto his car. and a ranger pulled us over with 12 people in the bed of the truck and it was no problem as long as he agreed to drive with a reasonable 6 in there and make two runs...so he left us with beers at a pull-off and then we played donkey kong with a heini keg can.
how about that?
and that was all in only one afternoon in the Shennies! So yeah, the Shennies can be pretty damn fun!!
Johnny Thunder
10-25-2010, 23:05
later i heard animal noises that weren't animal noises. weird.
4eyedbuzzard
10-25-2010, 23:06
And there was this guy (http://hamptonroads.com/2009/03/fbi-investigates-death-soldier-stabbing-fort-eustis) - who left feet first :eek:
later i heard animal noises that weren't animal noises. weird.
haha, yeah i heard those same noises....odd things happen in the Shennies...
mweinstone
10-25-2010, 23:18
i only fake yogied water from the angry biker guy as a dare. i said" this guy will give me his water,...anyone who doubts me lay down your money" and he had a gallon jug on his bike rack he rode all the way up. when i told him no thanks i was just kidding, and after he fell off his unballanced overloaded with water bike, he flipped out and almost ended matthewskis carrer as a dummy.
Gator 65
10-29-2010, 23:15
I only heard of one hiker when on my thru hike that got removed and that was for hitch hiking. They asked him to go back into the trees and get his pack then removed him and his park permit that you are required to display.
johnnybgood
10-30-2010, 10:39
I only heard of one hiker when on my thru hike that got removed and that was for hitch hiking. They asked him to go back into the trees and get his pack then removed him and his park permit that you are required to display.
Interesting ! I do know that the park authorities don't condone hitch hiking , but I personally have never encountered any problems .
Indiscreet hitching in Shenandoah is the smart way to go about catching a ride without incident.
* Only try hitching when there is a long view of straight road.
* I show a downward thumb in advance and give them time to see you.
* Turn around and flash a smile as they approach .
* Obviously you need to be cautious of dangerous places on the road ,ie ; no shoulder , curves , near overlooks where cars are exiting.
I know a Park Ranger in SNP that is a longtime friend that might be able to clarify the park regulations on hitching and why was this hiker simply not giving a stern warning .
Patrickjd9
10-31-2010, 19:37
It is unlikely that you will even see a ranger while hiking Shenandoah. In three hikes through SNP, the only ranger I ever saw was during a dry year when I went down to the ranger station in Simmons Gap for water. .
Hiked down to Rapidan (Hoover) Camp on a Friday a couple of weeks ago and saw two rangers on the trail shortly after we started down from the Skyline Drive. It hasn't been that uncommon to see rangers on the trail there over the years, perhaps one day hike in five or ten.
Chaco Taco
10-31-2010, 20:30
later i heard animal noises that weren't animal noises. Weird.
it was a lion, a mountain lion
Johnny Thunder
10-31-2010, 20:42
it was a lion, a mountain lion
what a goober.
Chaco Taco
10-31-2010, 20:45
what a goober.
So at 1130 last night we had to pack up and hike off of Little hump. We were almost into Bradley gap and Wak jumped. Looked over and the darkness was staring back at us. Made me think of that guy!! ITS A LION
Johnny Thunder
10-31-2010, 20:51
what was wrong with where you camped?
Chaco Taco
10-31-2010, 21:03
what was wrong with where you camped?
sustained 40 mph winds that ensued as soon as the sun went down and the 60 mph gust. We were on the top of the first hump. Sunset was nice and totally worth it. The night hike was equally as awesome. Havent seen the milky way like that since glencliffe
Chaco Taco
10-31-2010, 21:05
Saw you and Freefalls post in the Stan Murray reg that ended up at Overmountain
Chaco Taco
10-31-2010, 21:07
saw some horse dookie
tickspit
11-01-2010, 05:04
A ranger this summer made me move my tent because I wasn't 1/4 mile from the road, but no mention of evection. :mad: I had set up quickly to avoid a storm.