AT Article in May '09 Mens Journal

**Aesculus** · 04-11-2009, 06:36

Anybody happen to catch the article about the AT? It has a nice two page map with highlights for the trail, but then gets a little dark on the the third page, which is an article about the dark/light side of trail magic and the trail openess. In addition there is a mention of people carrying weapons on the trail now that it is legal. It is a balanced article but the "dark side" stuff gave me chills.

I was particularily concerned when they start to mention traps that people have set up on the trail. I have been section-hiking for a little over a year on the AT and have not experienced anything that has necessitated the need for a weapon.

Anybody else see the article or have any insight?

**Lone Wolf** · 04-11-2009, 06:45

what kind of traps?

**Aesculus** · 04-11-2009, 14:07

The article said "wire strung across trails" and "In 1990 hikers were warned not to camp along a stretch in TN where fishhooks were hung at eye level." It is on page 54 of the issue.

**max patch** · 04-11-2009, 15:02

Originally Posted by Aesculus

I was particularily concerned when they start to mention traps that people have set up on the trail.

I haven't seen the article but the "traps" are ancient (20 years-ish) history.

**Lugnut** · 04-11-2009, 15:06

Heard those were mainly for use against 'Revenuers'.

**Lone Wolf** · 04-11-2009, 17:11

Originally Posted by Aesculus

The article said "wire strung across trails" and "In 1990 hikers were warned not to camp along a stretch in TN where fishhooks were hung at eye level." It is on page 54 of the issue.

Originally Posted by Lugnut

Heard those were mainly for use against 'Revenuers'.

it was in 89 when the land north of 19E was taken from the locals. they burned down a shelter and hung fish hooks at eye level

**Cabin Fever** · 04-11-2009, 19:25

Originally Posted by Lone Wolf

it was in 89 when the land north of 19E was taken from the locals. they burned down a shelter and hung fish hooks at eye level

Hasn't been a problem there is some time. Mainly in that area just don't dally around the roads or park at the roads.

**MintakaCat** · 04-11-2009, 20:03

Originally Posted by Lone Wolf

what kind of traps?

Tourist traps! Did they mention Gatlinburg?

**Lone Wolf** · 04-11-2009, 20:39

gatlinburg is a great trail town

**Lugnut** · 04-11-2009, 22:43

A great tourist trap yuppieville.

**TJ aka Teej** · 04-11-2009, 22:59

The 19 year old 'news' says more about that magazine than about the A.T.

**Aesculus** · 04-12-2009, 20:09

Good to hear that this mosty random, old, and ancient news. I have been thinking over the past few days that most likely it was a series of events happening over a long period of time grouped together and made to sound as if it was all happening now.

I can say with 100% faith that I still feel the same way about the trail than I did before i read the article, and that is that it i feel safer on the trail than practically anywhere else. Bill Bryson even said in his book that you have a greater chance of being attacked in your home than you do on the AT.

My only other thoughts now is that I hope that somebody who was interested in the AT would read the article and now be afraid to hike the trail or would tell others the same horror stories. At least here, I was able to hear from multiple hikers that the article is based in fact, but with dated information.

**Toolshed** · 04-12-2009, 21:30

Men's Health ??
Isn't that for those metrosexual dudes? Woudln't know a hiking pole form a hayseed... and prlobably wouldn't know hay from straw....

**Aesculus** · 04-12-2009, 22:32

Originally Posted by Toolshed

Men's Health ??
Isn't that for those metrosexual dudes? Woudln't know a hiking pole form a hayseed... and prlobably wouldn't know hay from straw....

It was Men's Journal which tends to run more Outside / Backpacker Magazine type articles.

**Mags** · 04-12-2009, 22:42

Originally Posted by Aesculus

It was Men's Journal which tends to run more Outside / Backpacker Magazine type articles.

....which tends to run more metrosexual type articles today anyway.

**Sleepy the Arab** · 04-12-2009, 23:16

Originally Posted by max patch

I haven't seen the article but the "traps" are ancient (20 years-ish) history.

Maybe they misspelled 'tarps'.

**Aesculus** · 04-13-2009, 20:37

Originally Posted by Mags

....which tends to run more metrosexual type articles today anyway.

I do agree. Some more than others.

**Awol2003** · 04-13-2009, 20:53

There is a plug for WHITBLAZE.NET in the article.

The article is 3 pages long. Two of the pages have a map of the trail annotated with notes like; "Roan Highlands is the most scenic stretch of trail." (paraphrasing) The third page is titled something like "Should I Carry a Gun," and contains snippets about crimes on or near the AT, including the fish-hook traps. The journalist did state that it happened in 1990. It is imbalanced to fill one of three pages with that stuff while providing so little insight about the overall experience.

**Aesculus** · 04-14-2009, 22:47

Originally Posted by Awol2003

It is imbalanced to fill one of three pages with that stuff while providing so little insight about the overall experience.

I agree 100%.

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