Theft on the AT

[MtnRider1981]

I recently bought a Eureka bivy-style tent. Until it was delivered to my home did I regard the possibility of my pack or other valuables being stolen during the night. Tent size is my concern, hence I cannot sleep with my pack inside with me. This is a growing concern of mine.

What is the likelihood of property being jacked on the trail? Does it happen often? I think I want a bigger tent.

[boarstone]

I bought a nice solo tent, 3lbs at Overstock.com....Alps...room for person and pack, at least check it out. Go to site, click on sports, then enter tent in search bar. Good luck...

[bigcranky]

I wouldn't worry about your pack being stolen while you camp along the trail. It's common to have your pack(s) outside the tent, or hanging in the shelter, or whatever. Nobody will mess with your stuff.

In town is another matter. Keep an eye on it. Not a huge big deal -- i.e., very few packs ever get stolen -- but it would suck to be one of the few.

[SGT Rock]

I recently bought a Eureka bivy-style tent. Until it was delivered to my home did I regard the possibility of my pack or other valuables being stolen during the night. Tent size is my concern, hence I cannot sleep with my pack inside with me. This is a growing concern of mine.

What is the likelihood of property being jacked on the trail? Does it happen often? I think I want a bigger tent.

If you camp away from roads you are probably fine. Everyone has their own stuff to carry, they probably don't want yours too.

Hopefully that tent has a vestibule to put your pack in.

[Spokes]

Theft on the AT is rare. Common advice is to avoid camping near roadways where it's easier for undesirables to venture on with mischief in mind.

As far as your tent goes, it's a matter of preference. A one person tent is nice especially when you need to sort through stuff in the middle of a downpour.

Good luck!

[Toolshed]

I understand your concern, but it like some others that folks might have (robbery, rape, murder...) are usually unfounded. As Rock said - Stay away from camping at roads and if a shelter is close to a road, assume it'd full of partiers on weekends and move on.

Once you get out on the trail, or "a trail", I beleive your concerns will be lessened greatly.

[mweinstone]

ive walked this trail since birth and pride myself in being still able to leave valubles unattended. my pack sits for hours at all manner of trail places in and out of town. my pack has thousands of dollars cash in it in between the foam pad and the pocket for it. were someone to steal my pack, with all my gear being patagonia and black diamond, and with the cash i keep, they would get 6 thousand dollars worth. my food bag alone with knob creek and all the health foods i eat, is worth 200 dollars to me. hell, just the theft of my sun clorella and spirulina would set me back 50. i trust everyone and cling to no money. take my pack if you need it. i can get as many as i need from my god. and i never keep id and credit cards in my shorts, their in there too. so have my identity too. i got lots. no theif will ever make me change my ways. i was taught to trust my world and not care when my stuff is taken. i grew up sleeping in salvation army shelters where i had to shower with my pack. surrounded by 99% theives. now im older and have climbed out of that hole. im proud to live up here on the surface with the rest of you. and we have less than a small percent of theives up here so its like the safest place ive ever been. plus beating a freash caught and skinned theifs carcass is fun if you catch on.

[fiddlehead]

Had my pack stolen once.
In NC (near Watauga dam).
Partially, it was my fault. I hid the pack in the woods to hitchike to town and it was gone when i came back. Cops eventually found who did it (kids) and I got most of my stuff back.
But it sucks when it happens.

I don't leave my pack anymore but keep it with me.

I wish I could agree with Matty (above) but morals have changed a bit IMO.

[mweinstone]

we all have witnesed what outfitters and individuals and groups do when their is a pack theft of a thru hiker. ive seen mt rodgers give free equipment to victoms. ive seen ab barracuss and others do it too. after a certin amount of miles, we as a community will help someone in this situation. its an unwritten rule of the trail.we"ll get ya ta me.

[peakbagger]

You have a better chance of a bear hauling away your pack into the woods than having it stolen by a person if you are on the trail. If you stay at organized campsites, the bears and other critters get used to humans and regard their stuff as a food source. If you dont hang your food and leave it in your pack, the average bear will prefer picking it up and hauling it away to pick through it with privacy. If you stay away from campsites and civilization, this doesnt really apply. The one place to worry as previously mentioned is road crossings, if you leave you pack in the woods while you go to town, you have a much higher chance of someone stealing it. Even though you think you did a good job hiding it, the local sleezebags are pretty good at finding it as they have practice.

[Rockhound]

we all have witnesed what outfitters and individuals and groups do when their is a pack theft of a thru hiker. ive seen mt rodgers give free equipment to victoms. ive seen ab barracuss and others do it too. after a certin amount of miles, we as a community will help someone in this situation. its an unwritten rule of the trail.we"ll get ya ta me.

ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MATTY! IT'S TIME TO GET SPELL CHECK!!!!!!!!!!!......witnessed, I've, Rogers, certain, and I hope Ab Barracuss is a person otherwise,?????????????????????????

[JustaTouron]

I understand your concern, but it like some others that folks might have (robbery, rape, murder...) are usually unfounded. As Rock said - Stay away from camping at roads and if a shelter is close to a road, assume it'd full of partiers on weekends and move on.

Once you get out on the trail, or "a trail", I beleive your concerns will be lessened greatly.

Bit of thread drift. But I have notice to recurring themes of advice:

1. Never camp or use a shelter that is near a road for safety reasons.

2. Take neros by camping near town, hiking in, then hiking out to a campsite or shelter near town.



Hmm...sounds like if you want to avoid the expense of staying overnight in a town you have to risk getting robbed, murdered or raped.....Am I missing something?

[DawnTreader]

I've seen hikers "stash" their pack in the woods, sometimes near roadways.. this is a bad idea imo, and where some thefts have occured... My pack never leaves my site... literally.. I can see it right now..

[reddenbacher]

i had 700 bucks taken out of my pack at standing bear.i hurt bad.my food quality went down after that.they didnt take anything else.just the cash stash that was duck taped to the inside.

[Rockhound]

I recently bought a Eureka bivy-style tent. Until it was delivered to my home did I regard the possibility of my pack or other valuables being stolen during the night. Tent size is my concern, hence I cannot sleep with my pack inside with me. This is a growing concern of mine.

What is the likelihood of property being jacked on the trail? Does it happen often? I think I want a bigger tent.

That growing concern is a cancer eating away at your soul. Trust your fellow man, let go of that attachment to material possessions and you will find all you will ever need will flow like a river to you. Likewise you will be able to let go of what you may have thought you needed but is really just a burden, and let it flow downstream to another soul who might need it. Don't cling to things. Don't cling to the present. Embrace impermanence and you will find true happiness. Oh... and if anyone jacks your stuff, kick their flargin azz.

[Yahtzee]

Are you sure your pack won't fit? After your tent, pad, and sleeping bag are out and your clothes bag is being used as a pillow, there is very little left of your pack. Mainly food and cooking gear. Try a night with your near empty pack at your feet. I like having something to prop my sore swollen feet on after a long day. Give it a shot and you may not have to worry about having your gear jacked.

[Slo-go'en]

I've seen hikers "stash" their pack in the woods, sometimes near roadways.. this is a bad idea imo, and where some thefts have occured... My pack never leaves my site... literally.. I can see it right now..

I often "stash" my pack in the woods if I need to road walk a mile or so to a store and back. However, leaving it very near the road crossing and in the open isn't a good idea.

I go at least 100 yards up the trail, then far enough off the trail it can't be seen from the trail, then put it behind a big log and cover with brush. The main trick is remembering where it was stashed!

[Rocket Jones]

I go at least 100 yards up the trail, then far enough off the trail it can't be seen from the trail, then put it behind a big log and cover with brush. The main trick is remembering where it was stashed!

That's when you carry two of the lightest, cheapest disposable phones you can find. Take one with you when you stash the pack, turn the other one on inside the pack.

Can't remember exactly where you left the pack? Call yourself.

[rambunny]

Maybe try my system of using just the rainfly from a tent and some Tyveck as ground cloth. Mine weighs 1 1/2 lbs. And i've had 4 people playing cards in it.If you want to go into a resturant that won't let your pack in set it in front of a window with your sticks on top pointing up, sit by the door-see sticks move run.For the most part follow your gut and nothing will be taken.Hang filthy socks on the front-oderifious deterant.

[Blissful]

You need to keep an eye on your stuff around shelters. and of course in towns and hostels. But at night, most of your stuff has been unloaded for your camp at night except your smelly and dirty pack. Just put it near your tent and don't worry about it.