Theft on the AT in the GSMNP – 10/26 – Campsite 113

So sorry that happened too you! 113 is a popular spot. A vagabond pseudo homeless could raid it easily via Lost Cove Trail which goes down into some low use areas north of Lakeshore Tr. Backcountry rangers would be notified to scout the area. Those guys are rarely seen but they see a lot. GSMNP doesn’t tell the public of their presence. A bud of mine got the crap scared out by a ranger while he was camping via a rare backcountry permit. The ranger of course thought my bud was illegaly camping, but was friendly after seeing the permit.

Oi, Lost Cove is dang steep.  And so is the trail up from Fontana.  It takes a bit of gumption just to get to 113.  But even hiking in from Twentymile or Parsons Branch are long and circuitous.  It just seems so odd.  I guess I would expect this kind of thing to happen more often closer to a road.

Stealing from the bear lines at a very remote campsite quietly in the middle of the night at one of the few backcountry campsites where the lines aren’t right next to the tenting areas….  it seems to indicate somebody who is familiar with the GSMNP as opposed to someone who was meandering along the trail and stumbled into some food.  A trail savvy homeless/vagabond seems to be the culprit to me.

Ah well, hopefully this information helps the park find the culprit and keep others from having their food bag stolen on day 1 of their trips.

Great morning view from Shuckstack. Thanks for sharing. I’ve watched the sun go down on Rocky Top too; it is a wonderful view.

It happens for food (bags, even bear canisters) …  but also a heads up that small towns along major highways may have thieving meth-heads.   A forestry worker told me, while discussing a PCT attempt, to watch gear in these smaller towns like they’ve got to watch tools.  Seen it happen while a couple hikers were recharging from a public bathroom or heard about it, to the point where a nogoodnik slit a tent open to steal a camera while the hikers were enjoying a public swimming hole w/vehicle access (Deep Creek in CA fwiw).

Nice sunrise shots.    I’m sorry that you experianced theft – I certainly hate a theif, but am surprised you had problems in that area (that wasn’t a bear – CS#113 is famous for them).  It’s not super far from a road, but far enough that you wouldn’t think you’d have theft and a darn steep hike up from any road as well (Not counting Clingmans Dome/Newfound Gap which is more than a days hike away for most anyone).

Corn don’t grow to well on Rocky Top;

soils too rocky by far!

That’s why all the folks on Rocky Top

get their corn from a jar.

Good Ol’ rocky top!

Rocky Top Tennessee!

Rocky Top Where?

You go OBX!

The song’s writers never exactly identified what they were referring to.  But the lyrics seem to refer to a region, not a specific peak.

There is a town called Rocky Top in Tennessee, but it was named after the song.

And I’m an expert because I read a wikipedia article on it last year….  ;-)

View from Rocky Top (looking SE I believe)

We had some nice views of NC to the South on Rocky Top last week, but the Tennessee side of the Stateline Ridge was impenetrable mist and clouds.  This was our view looking South.

Brad, you can really see the difference in the season between your picture and mine.  Mine has a bit browner tone to the flora, and a bit clearer of a day.

Mine was taken in June.  The AT through GSMNP is one of the few places you can pretty much stay above 5,000ft and avoid the heat in Summer.

In all my time in the park, I’ve never stayed at #113 though.   It seems like it’s closed about half the time.

You go OBX!

Russell don’t feed the trolls! ;)

Heck we gave ’em the whole state. Now they want Rocky Top too?   ;)

Tennessee and the folks in Tennessee are the best! Great people who can take a little ribbing in good stride and pretty uniformly helpful and friendly. But it’s fun to tease them about wearing orange! It’s like teasing your little brother who has somehow or other gotten close to being your BIG brother.

Mike it’s hard to believe anyone would climb up to your campsite from the Fontana area or south to make that theft. I’m guessing a scavenger working the AT; A reverse Granny Gatewood. Instead of relying to a degree on the kindness of strangers they are lifting what they need as they go? Eventually you would get a pretty well fine-tuned kit as long as you didn’t get caught. I’ve had stuff pinched that appeared to be that sort of activity. Look out Stecoah and Cheoah or depending on when this occurred they might be further along nearer Wayah? US 64? but I’d guess headed south. Well at least there was no violence involved  :(

Stealing from the bear lines at a very remote campsite quietly in the middle of the night at one of the few backcountry campsites where the lines aren’t right next to the tenting areas….  it seems to indicate somebody who is familiar with the GSMNP as opposed to someone who was meandering along the trail and stumbled into some food.

I’m guessing more just seeing and taking advantage of an opportunity; though they might have recognised it and lain in wait and along came your group. Or maybe it was Eric Rudolph

What an amazing stretch of trail.  I too had reservations for 113 on a section hike in 2015 but it got closed two days prior after a bear tore into two girls’ tent.  They ended hiking back out to Fontana in the middle of the night.  I’ve never had an issue like you describe anywhere in the park though it seems there are reports every year of such thievery.  Squaters are an issue along much of the AT but I can’t imagine that being a problem in the park.  A wayward opportunist no doubt.  Hope you get your stuff back.

Shuckstack

View from Shuckstack

Up near Rocky Top

Wish I could take pictures like ya all!

An update.  A ranger contacted me today to ask further details of the incident described in the original post.  Apparently they have had further reports of problems in the area.  If you are in/around the Smokies, please keep your eyes peeled and a close watch on your stuff.

To be fair the girls were touching their hair whist smiling at the bear. He thought it was the signal

A post over at whiteblaze.net from “No Match” indicates that he saw somebody that was obviously a “homeless/vagrant” at the entrance to campsite 113 with a dog.  Said person was handing out mushrooms from a bag, and had no gear with them.

strange times. If the last couple nights didn’t run him out he’s got a good shelter and a warm bag.

I’d guess he has a stealth camp somewhere in the area.

Somewhere in here I’d guess and near water. Got to have water, some sort of not too distant trail access, and not too distant access to the outer world; as well as not too far from or too much of a climb to 113. A ranger with a dog could cover this in a couple of days. Could also set some ‘game’ cameras. Won’t take long.

I understand that you didn’t enjoy your encounter with this individual and the whole thing is creepy but otoh I almost feel sorry for the person. Pretty much ALL these people have drug/addiction issues; often alcohol, and usually on top of other psychological disorders (which they are self-medicating). Obviously they do not also have the supporting family structure. There used to be institutions for these people but now they are pretty much on their own. BTW I guess I should clarify that an AT troll is one thing; sort of a version of a con artist/parasite/scavenger and a type I don’t have a lot of sympathy for; but someone who is actually hanging out in that area would seem to me to be pretty desperate on some level.