Last Minute Hike Horror Story
Friday night I got the offer, Saturday morning I was packing. Sundown, I got dropped off. Hiker support brother had made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, A drop-off and a pick-up along the Appalachian Trail.
At dusk, I arrived at the Blackburn trail center, and I noticed something going on inside. There were pumpkins on display, so I assumed a Halloween party. I wasn’t invited, so I ascended the trail to the camping area.
There I found a few tents set up, but everything was quiet. I assumed the other hikers were down at the party. I had a heck of a time setting up, because my lines were all tangled, but I got it eventually. I lashed my pack to the tree and changed into some polypro thermals to sleep in.
In chilly weather, It’s always a good idea to top up the fuel tanks before sleeping, but I surprised myself by downing an entire package of Pepperidge Farm oatmeal raisin cookies. This is despite just being fed a steak dinner by hiker support brother. I crawled into bed, got comfy and toasty warm, and spent a good thirty minutes drifting off into a nice snooze.
All of a sudden someone started screaming shear terror, “Help, Help, Help! There’s a guy outside and he’s waving a flashlight around! Help! Is anyone going to take a look? Help!”
I had my flaps open so I could star gaze, so I was pretty sure no one was out there. It took a moment to realize I was the the guilty party. At this point other voices chimed in, trying to calm the scared guy. I added my voice saying I was sorry I woke him up, but I have no interest whatsoever in getting out of my sleeping bag to kill anyone, unless they didn’t shut the heck up.
I met the lot of them in the morning. They were the quietest bunch of boy sprouts that I had ever run across. I’ve never seen a bunch of scouts all go to bed at dusk, but I guess they all had a tough day hiking. The Scoutmaster said the group was swapping ghost stories the night before. I can only imagine one of the guys saw my flashlight as I was setting up, and then drifted off into REM sleep and a nightmare.
Beautiful weather and Fall foliage for the remainder of the uneventful trip.
