Posting this for someone on Appalachian Trail Hikers with her permission.
Ugh!! Met an a-hole hiker yesterday. He's headed SOBO and just getting ready to enter the Shenandoahs.
I was in a trailhead parking lot when a guy was dropped off by a taxi. Moments later another hiker came from the trail into the parking lot where he stopped and picked up a wallet. He turned and saw me and asked if it was mine. I said no but let him know about the hiker who had just gotten out of the taxi. (That guy was setting up camp just out of sight of the parking area). Anyway the guy with the found wallet went to ask the other hiker if it was his. He never got too close and kind of flashed
the wallet quickly stating that it was empty. Then came back and told me that it wasn't that hikers wallet.
I took him to the local
Exxon so he could get a soda and cigarettes and according to him, turn in the wallet. He stated that was his intention and after coming out of the store, stated that he had done that.
I take him back to the lot where the other hiker is waiting and pacing. As soon as we stop he approached and says it was his wallet and he'd dropped it getting out of the taxi.
Hiker who found it tells him he turned it into Exxon. Guy who lost it asks me if I can please run him down to claim it...
Well, as you've probably figured out by now, the guy that found the wallet did not actually turn it into the Exxon gas station. The wallet was not empty. It had about $150 and debit card and drivers license.
Police are now involved and were able to look at the tape from the store to determine that the guy did not turn in the wallet as he stated and to get a picture of him. So, guy who lost his wallet is now broke and has no ID or debit cards at all. He's going to have to get off the trail. Guy who stole his wallet, is hightailing it southbound very quickly according to 2 day hikers going NOBO that passed him.
He told me that he had tried to do a through hike last year and stopped and was trying it again this year. He claimed that his trail name last year was Love-Hate.
Just a heads up. I may be gullible but he talked a good game about honesty and doing the right thing, being on the trail to get away from the harshness of people and a hectic world... Blah blah blah.. I'm beyond pissed that I fell for it and that I offered him trail magic.
I hope Karma is reading this.
Description - my son thinks he said his name was Joe. He was about a white guy about 5'7 and fairly lean. Dark brown/black hair. Below the collar but not long. No facial hair other than maybe a little scruff. Definitely not a hiker beard type but I think he said he started in Harpers Ferry. Not certain. Heavy full sized pack with a bedroll. I think his pack was black and he had a yellow bag attached near the bottom. He said he was out of fuel and would be going into Front Royal or Luray to the Outfitters.