Stagefright

[Stagefright]

Actually, they don’t think Hilton had anything to do with the killing at Whiteside Mt. But they do think they may have found the missing body of
John Bryant:

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=110633

NC Hunter Finds Body in Forest

FRANKLIN – Mark Waldroop on Saturday thought he would spend a little free time scouting for deer in the Nantahala National Forest a few miles from his parents’ home.

He parked at a gate on a forest service road off Old Murphy Road, a place known locally as the switchbacks, and walked into the woods. He started looking for signs of deer immediately but what he found is not what he expected to see.

“I could see what looked like a skull laying off down in the woods,”

[Stagefright]

To your point TTF, I don’t see hardcore backpackers changing their ways or carrying weapons. Most of us know that these are isolated incidents that get a lot of press coverage. Big cities are way more dangerous and most of us don’t pack weapons while walking around them. I read this article that made an interesting point though. Specifically, they said that the real danger is engaging with someone that seems sketchy:

http://www.nj.com/living/times/index.ssf?/base/living-1/1200978642278300.xml&coll=5

“Trust your instincts,” she says. “This is tough for women who have been conditioned to be nice to people. Avoid engaging with people who make you uneasy; your willingness to engage in polite conversation, even when you’re visibly nervous, signals to a attacker that you’re a potential target.”

In fact, every homicide near or on the Appalachian Trail occurred after communication took place between the murderer and victim. Since the conservancy started keeping records in the 1960s, eight murders in six incidents have occurred.

[Stagefright]

I read that they are suspicious that the same guy (also seen in a yellow jacket) – committed this crime. Kind of freaky cause I hike in Pisgah from time to time:

N.C. Couple’s Son Looks For Missing Father

POSTED: 11:01 am EST December 15, 2007
UPDATED: 8:23 am EST December 16, 2007

HENDERSONVILLE, S.C. — The son of a couple who disappeared while hiking in October is in Western North Carolina searching for his father and hoping to find the person who killed his mother.

Irene Bryant’s body was found in the Pisgah National Forest last month after a week-long search. Her husband, John Bryant, has not been found in the two months since the couple was last seen alive, headed for a day of hiking in the forest.

Bob Bryant, the couple’s son, returned to his parents’ home in Hendersonville from Texas last week and has spent each day searching the forest, trying to find his father’s remains.

John, 79, and Irene Bryant, 84, were avid hikers. After they did not return from a hiking trip, searchers discovered that a 911 call was made from the forest using the couple’s cell phone.

After nearly a week of searching, Irene Bryant’s body was found in the woods in November.

Investigators determined that she died after being hit in the head.

Now, Bob Bryant wants to complete the search.

“We just want to find dad,” he told WYFF News 4’s Mike McCormick. “After that, we want to find who did it, such that they face justice for it and it doesn’t happen to another family. If this happened to us it could happen again.”

Bryant said that until he finds his father, his biggest worry is the unknown.

“It’s kind of scary, because it seems like I’m always looking around, under a bush or over a cliff and thinking ‘this might be the place’ and I’m always preparing myself,” he said.

This week, police found a man’s body outside a home in Brevard and Bob Bryant was immediately notified. [ “I didn’t feel like it was going to be him, because I guess I have a mental image … of who these people are,” Bryant said. “The person they found was in a grave and I just thought the people who killed my mom and dad were too damn lazy to do something like that.”

Transylvania County investigators quickly determined that the remains were not those of John Bryant.

So the son continues his search. Saturday, he will get help from a horseback group who will help him search a part of the Pisgah National Forest.

Bryant said that he plans to continue searching, staying in his parents’ house until Christmas.

He said that he’s aware that his search may be a long-shot.

“The way I look at it, my chance of finding him if I look is pretty slim, but my chance of finding him if I don’t look is zero,” he said.

Bryant said that investigators are looking for a mountain-biker with the Internet username “Cannonball.”

That person blogged about seeing someone in the area near where Irene Bryant’s body was found, attempting to break into a car around the time of the Bryants’ disappearance.

[Stagefright]

Man, the rain can be a real drag. I agree with you on this one. Once in Tennessee, I got caught in a major storm that poured on me for hours. It was so wet, I didn’t want to pitch my tent and get everything soaked in the process. I ended up racing toward an A.T. shelter and was never so happy to see such a simple structure in my life. But once I was warm and dry, it was actually pretty cool laying in my bag with a cup of hot soup and watch the carnage outside.

[Stagefright]

I’ve been to Clingman’s Dome in January and the road was closed. You can drive to Newfound Gap though. I believe that GSMNP usually posts road closings on their website:

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm

And after checking it out, you are right that the road to Clingman’s Dome is closed after Thanksgiving….

Seasonal road opening and closing dates are listed below. Click for information about temporary weather and construction related road closures.

Balsam Mountain
Closed for the winter. Will reopen May 9, 2008.
Buses, RVs and motorhomes prohibited on the road.

Cades Cove Loop Road
Open all year from sunrise until sunset
This road will be closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00 a.m. from May 9 through September 26, 2007 to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy the cove.

Clingmans Dome
Open April 1 – November 30, 2007

Heintooga Ridge Road
Closed for the winter. Will reopen May 9, 2008.
Buses, RVs and motorhomes are prohibited on this road.

Little Greenbrier
Open March 9 – December 31, 2007

Parson Branch
Closed for the winter. Will reopen March 7, 2008.
Buses, RVs and motorhomes are prohibited on this road.

Rich Mountain
Closed for the winter. Will reopen March 7, 2008.
Buses, RVs and motorhomes are prohibited on this road.

Roaring Fork
Open March 9 – November 30, 2007
Buses, RVs and motorhomes are prohibited on this road.

Roundbottom/Straight Fork
Closed for the winter. Will reopen March 7, 2008.

[Stagefright]

If you haven’t tried some of the products from GoLite they are worth a look. I have a GoLite pack and one of their sleeping bags. It cut my base weight down significantly although I haven’t been able to pull the trigger on any of their tents. They look too hot, too uncomfortable, etc. for me. Regardless, I recommend their gear for those who wish to travel light: http://www.golite.com

[Stagefright]

Yeah, what happened to Linville Gorge? That used to be a nice place.

[Stagefright]

How about that gas tax, there’s another one for ya.

[Stagefright]

With all the buzz on here re: Into The Wild, better add starvation.

[Stagefright]

20/20 had a thirty minute show on this topic last night. What is troubling is that there are apparently hundreds of McCandless wanna bees out there that are racing off into the wilderness completely unprepared. They interviewed this guy that basically duplicated McCandless’s equipment and food supplies (which consisted of 10 pounds of rice) and hiked out to the bus and “Into The Wild”. The genius has headed out at the beginning of winter when foraging for food gets more difficult and game starts to hibernate. At least McCandless had the sense to go in the summer.

[Stagefright]

Both Cheoah and Rabun Bald are solid, but I’d do Cheoah first – it’s more challenging, but the mountains are higher and more dramatic.

[Stagefright]

You should also check out the Bartram Trail – especially the Cheoah Bald section:

http://www.ncbartramtrail.org/index.htm

[Stagefright]

I say Wolf. Never seen one before and it’s the only thing on the list that’s eluded me. I prefer to see a lone wolf over a pack. That would scare the shit out of me – especially at close range.

[Stagefright]

I’m still using a Sierra Clip Flashlight that I’ve had a few years. It’s about 4 lbs and does well in rain but is not a free standing tent. That can be a problem in rocky areas, although there are few in the South where I do most of my hiking. Golite also makes a number of ultralight tents/tarps that are interesting but I’ve never tried them: http://www.golite.com

[Stagefright]

I’ll take an internal frame pack all day long.

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