Appalachian Trail Carry

The AT is notorious for being dangerous. I have hiked portions of it in VA.

Hikers be wary: Crime strikes on AT | Lynchburg News Advance

Violence near the Appalachian Trail recently has raised trail-safety issues, especially in light of warming weather that is enthusing outdoors lovers.

On May 8, two fishermen were shot while camping a couple miles from a shelter where the suspected gunman killed two Appalachian Trail hikers in 1981.

On May 3, a female Appalachian Trail hiker told authorities she was abducted and sexually assaulted when a man offered her a ride to the post office in Troutville.

The U.S. Forest Service has 11 law enforcement officers for 1.8 million acres for the George Washington and Jefferson National forests. The service also has a cooperative agreement with local sheriff’s departments to patrol heavily populated areas, said Eric Smith, a forest service law enforcement officer stationed at Natural Bridge.

Smith said the forest areas are relatively safe. The bulk of violations right now are off-road vehicle violations, alcohol and drugs, as well as sanitation violations.

But the officers mainly patrol in their vehicles, not on the hiking trails.

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GVA - Thousands 'Take Back the Trails' on anniversary of campsite murders

Thousands 'Take Back the Trails' on anniversary of campsite murders

STONY MAN MOUNTAIN, Va. (AP) -- Julie Williams and Lollie Winans were devoted, experienced hikers in their mid 20s and they knew the Shenandoah National Park is a splendid place to hit the trail this time of year.
...Their hands were bound and their throats were slashed. Their bodies were found on June 1, but the killer or killers disappeared without a trace.

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There are certainly many portions of the trail that are no gun zones such as the national park system pockets along the trail. However, more than half of the AT goes through hunting lands, whick means there is a legal way to carry. Depending on how much of it you plan to hike, you may be able to choose your hike for a section that is gun-friendly.

I won't advocate that you break any laws, but personally I would carry if I were hiking the AT.

As you're planning your trip, you may want to watch Deliverance. :gah:

Gun on the AT from the prospective of a long time long distant hiker

I'm likely to upset some folk here but here goes.

As I have maintained the AT off and on (whenever I was stationed/living near it or during vacations as a member of a seasonal crew) since '57 and have hiked it, I will jump in.

First however, let me say that I wish it were legal (anybody, anytime, anywhere) to carry the whole trail. However, it is NOT.

Although the AT is administrate by the USPS it is not a national park. See the ATC web site on hunting which is relevant to the issue: Hunting and the A.T. - Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

So, carry consistent with local laws is allowed along 1,250 miles of the Appalachian Trail through national forest lands, national recreation areas, and on state forests and game lands.

OTOH, carry is PROHIBITED by federal regulation along approximately 900 miles of the Trail through national parks (like Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains), most state parks, and on lands acquired by the National Park Service exclusively for the Appalachian Trail—indicated by A.T. corridor boundary signs -- albeit that will change next February.

Also see Personal Safety & Awareness Tips for A.T. Hikers - Appalachian Trail Conservancy [WWIIW firearms are discussed about half way down]

Then we get to the States with no or limited reciprocity. I my case that makes carry prohibited in MD and every state north of PA -- save VT.

The media's hype of the isolated violence notwithstanding, the trail is a relatively safe place. If you were to take a length of string that represents 2,178 miles and drop it on a map of the east coast states and then research the violent crime along that line, I would bet it would far exceed the violent crime recorded along the AT. The media always projects its own fears on those things that they are unfamiliar with -- both guns and the AT.

IMHO, it is a very safe place any distance away from the trailheads where nearly all the limited crime takes place. Most criminals are to lazy to work hard enough to hike very far.

Most of the highly published crimes happens off the trail. For example two fishermen were shot while camping were a couple miles from the trail. (BTW the shelter where the killed two Appalachian Trail hikers in 1981 was moved away from the trailhead for more safety). The media hype should have focused on why he was out of jail after killing two people, not paining a picture of danger along the trail that was two miles away.

Note that the female Appalachian Trail hiker told authorities she was abducted and sexually assaulted when a man offered her a ride to the post office in Troutville. -- i.e., off the trail hitching a ride into town.

Julie Williams and Lollie Winans were not hiking the AT. They were not killed on the AT. In 1996, they were killed in the SNP at a campsite one-tenth of a mile from the Skyline Drive and about half a mile from Skyland Lodge, which draws hikers and tourists to its bar, restaurant, and cabins -- after partying at the lodge. Again the media used it to hype DANGER on the AT. Why not danger of being in the National Parks to justify carry by lawful citizens???

They were only the eighth and ninth murders that have occurred any where along the Appalachian Trail for 12 years --1974-1996. Given the millions of users ever year that's not a high rate.

BTW -- another one of those seven highly publicized murders was a thru-hiker who was killed at while sleeping it off on a picnic table in the middle of a trail town.

As far a danger is concerned, you are far more likely to suffer injury from a fall, hypothermia, lightning, hantavirus, giardia lamblia, Lyme's disease, etc than from violent crime. See:Health and Safety - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Another consideration is the trail grape vine. There are crowds of hikers. Worst in the thru-hiker bulge than at other time, but still heavy in popular segments all the time. At points you will have very little privacy. Keeping a gun concealed and still available when very hot, when wet, etc will be very difficult. One that is not available is just extra weight. You will be hiking with many anti-RKBA shelter-mates. When an anti makes you, the word will spread. I would expect some anti to report you to the authorities, as the NPS & ATC hype reporting all incidents on the AT. "Suspicious or illegal activity that does not require emergency response should be reported as soon as possible to local rangers or local law-enforcement." See: Reporting an Incident on the A.T. - Appalachian Trail Conservancy


So, IMHO we have a risk analysis to run.

Low incident of needing a firearm vs. the very bad repercussions, if caught with one.

To me, it is not unlike carrying in a post office. Sure I could be attacked going in, or while in one. But the risk of never being able to carry for the rest of my life (even at my age) in more dangerous places outweighs the risk while in a PO. As always, YMMV.

BTW -- Planning on mail drops? At POs? What's your plan to secure the gun while in a PO?

BTW2 -- Do I carry on the AT? Yes, where legal and logistically workable. No, where prohibited.