Do trails without shelters/hostels attract fewer creeps?

[ki0eh]

All the recent creep/weirdo alert threads make me wonder:

Would a long distance footpath that lacks shelters and hostels attract fewer creeps, or would the creep percentage be the same and there are just fewer of them because there are fewer hikers in general on it?

Let's hear your thoughts.

[M1 Thumb]

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Let's hear your thoughts.

Well that's just like whacking a big ole hornets nest with stick.

[trailangelbronco]

Yes, they do. Also, trails which begin in remote areas also attract less weirdo's.

If, by creeps you mean people without Backpacking equipment, food, shelter, sleeping gear, or cars.

Gotta love hiking in Idaho....

[Rocket Jones]

Gotta love hiking in Idaho....

And here I thought it was all the militias thinning the herd.

[A-Train]

The AT is always gonna attract the most shifty weirdos. It's the most well-known, easily accesible, close to roads/towns/civilization, features the most hikers, has tons of shelters to set up in, etc.

I've never met a strange person on the PCT, LT, NPT or any other trail, but there have been a few people who gave me the willies on the AT

[kanga]

Yes


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[max patch]

As do the forums.

[Sierra Echo]

I am a weirdo!

[rickb]

Seems like most of the murders discovered on the AT have been at or around shelters.

Of course that could just be because those places are checked on a regular basis.

I got to think fewer shelters, fewer miscreants.

[Ranc0r]

Seems like most of the murders discovered on the AT have been at or around shelters.
Of course that could just be because those places are checked on a regular basis.
I got to think fewer shelters, fewer miscreants.

Agreed.
I would think that shelters near road crossings/access would be your highest percentage of creepiness quotient. The further from town, road, population, the less the likelihood of looming lechery. Don't camp in town.

Ranc0r
.

[emerald]

How much violent crime was there on the A.T., say, before about 1970 when the publicity and user levels increased?

[BigFoot2002]

Would violence be less likely to happen at a shared campsite?

[emerald]

Might depend upon what you mean by a shared campsite and less likely than where?

[stranger]

Having shelters on trails attract hikers/people who might not otherwise be there, there is no question about that. Does anyone actually think there is no correlation between hundreds of shelters along the AT and the amount of use the trail gets??

Sure, it's along the east coast...but so is the Benton MacKaye Trail, the Tuscarora Trail, the Allegheny Trail, etc...and those trails see very few hikers in comparison.

Everytime you hear about something negative, whether it be a bear problem, partying hikers, a shifty hiker, homeless person, etc...it's almost always at a shelter...why? Because shelters attract people.

Take away the shelters and you would certainly have less of this, however, because the AT is now so popular, it probably wouldn't make a huge dent, but it certainly would help in my opinion.

Shelters are great for good tent sites, reliable water and privy's...but as far as sleeping inside them, no thanks.

[emerald]

Shelters are supposed to attract people!

[BigFoot2002]

I f shelters are removed, should popular campsites be provided with picnic tables and/or privys?

[Sierra Echo]

Look at Gary Hilton. (The guy who killed Meredith Emerson). He drove to trailheads in his van.
One thing that always puzzeled me about that case was he said a lot of times they heard rescuers calling her name. But she didn't answer. THAT is the time to speak up. I knew Meredith. She lived on my old mail route. She was a wonderful person.

[kayak karl]

Seems like most of the murders discovered on the AT have been at or around shelters.

Of course that could just be because those places are checked on a regular basis.

I got to think fewer shelters, fewer miscreants.

i might be wrong, but i thought the problems were at the trail heads??? not the shelters????

[emerald]

If shelters are removed, should popular campsites be provided with picnic tables and/or privys?

Picnic tables belong in picnic areas, not in the backcountry. Privys are a resource management tool, not an amenity, and they attract people too.

[emerald]

I might be wrong, but I thought the problems were at the trail heads, not the shelters?

Problems occur wherever people congregate. Privies built to accomodate more than one person at a time are just asking for trouble.