Trailhead Vandalism

“I parked my car on thursday night at Little Gap on the AT. Pennsy and I were doing an overnighter from Wind Gap and starting friday night. I put it there a day ahead so we wouldnt have to do the car shuttle thing. well at 3am, 6 hrs after I had parked the thing, I get a call from the police asking me why it was there all smashed up. I had to go up and get it. I was able to drive it, but the passenger window was smashed out, both passenger doors smashed in and to top it off, they jumped on the roof and caved it in. They didnt steal anything !! They never even opend the door, it was still locked.
It was just target practice for somebody with nothing to do in the wee hours of a thursday night.
But - I went hiking the next day anyway, because, crap like this is gonna happen no matter what. It took many years for it to happen to me and It wont stop me from parking at trail heads. Because "thats what we do" !!!
PS: The police got some great prints off the car. The idiot put both hands on the hood when he jumped up !! So it aint over yet.”

“I hope the catch the scumbag(s) that did that to your car.”

“that sucks crazy...i hate hearing these stories...it's pathetic how people prey on cars at trailheads...glad it didn't stop your hike though”

“CP, please post this over on WhiteBlaze.
Those peeps will be very interested in this info.”

“That really sucks CP! Hopefully Karma will catch up to them!”

“I e-mailed the ATC and both trail clubs that maintain that area. But your right SS, whiteblaze would be a good one too.”

“That's crazy........Crazy!”

“man that sucks CP. i hope they catch those dirtbags quick.”

“That's horrible!
Some stupid kids with nothing better to do. For punishment, it's too bad that they can't drop the culprit in the middle of a bear-infested woods, while it's raining, wearing cotton clothing, no compass, or cell phone, smear them with peanut butter and make them walk in ill-fitting shoes...

That would teach them to do that again!

I hope they find the little buggers!”

“"....make them walk in ill-fitting shoes..."

Maybe DDX can contribute.”

“I college one time I awoke to hear abunch of drunk students yelling and hollering outside. I went out the front door to see them jumping up and down on cars. One kid got off one car and started making his way towards mine. I yelled out on the top of my lungs not to f@ck with my car. The guy stop instantly and the group started to walk away. I was going to let it go at that untill I could hear a few of them saying some nasty things about me. I called the cops and directed them right to where the group was. Walked over and pointed out the guys jumping up and down on the cars. Well they all got steep tickets needless to say not to mention what they had to play to fix the cars they jumped up and down on.”

“CP Please tell me it wasn't the AVEO!
Really sorry to hear that! People really suck”

“flasher's a nark ;)”

“I always wonder what kind of shape my car will be in when I get back to the trailhead. Sorry to hear about your misfortunes CrazyPace.”

“LOL....when I was working construction one morning we came in to find 7 windshields of our dump trucks kicked in.

As we were standing there one of my buddies from the Narcotics Intel unit walks up and asked to show us a video of the night before. We watched as one little heathen went from hood to hood kicking in the windshields. Then he GETS OFF THE TRUCK and walks to his apartment.

SO we went to the apartment spoke with mommy, showed mommy said tape. It was rather satifying. This kid was accused in a lot of stuff but Momma would always defend him. When she finally saw the proof, she shipped him to the COUNTRY to live with his uncle. Strangely enough the vandalisim rate dropped 70% after he left.”

“TIP: Hitch a ride to the trailhead w/ your friends. Tell 'em you'll buy the gas. They always fall for it.”

“I'm actually surprised they dusted the car. Sounds like they're going out of their way for you.”

“Sorry about your car, Crazy Pace. I hope you have good insurance.

There have been times I have wondered what kind of shape my car will be in when I return after a hike. If it gets trashed, so be it. I sure won't quit hiking because I'm afraid of what might happen at a trailhead.

The only time I've ever had a car broken into was at Newfound Gap (GSMNP) way back in 1974 or '75. My (now ex) husband and I had been on a backpack trip, and when we returned the driver's side window was busted out and car was unlocked. All that was missing was a little container of coins (maybe $20). A ranger left a note for us, and taped some plastic over the window to keep the rain out.”

““CP Please tell me it wasn't the AVEO

Indeed it was the aveo. I'm glad it wasnt the x-terra !!

I tried to upload pics, but they dont show up. I suck at the picture thing.”

“Is this an April Fools joke b/c you were away hiking on the weekend?”

“I dont think from the damage the guy was joking.”

“he means are YOU making an april fools joke?”

“Nope - I'm not that funny. CB check your e-mail.”

“i hope these pieces of sht get caught. a few years ago my car was broken into and 800 dollars of gear was stolen. i was beside myself with hatred for the human race”

“CB check your e-mail so I can tell you it's an April Fool's joke.”

“i got an email from crazypace showing me the damage but i havent got one from u”

“sht like this happens. it happend to me. i have no reason to disbelieve cp”

“He tried to post it on here crash but didn't know how.

Why don't you help a brotha out?”

“im pc-retarded”

“that's what I thought.... April Fools!”

“are you serious sarge? I don't think you, of all people should be making accusations like that. If I remember correctly, you died a few months ago of a severe heart attack.”

“actually, that just makes the argument for s-rge. if he could joke about something as serious as death, then surely someone could pull our legs about vandalism”

“cuz it's no joke.”

“I feel silly EarthNsky.

Oh no, wait ... that was just butterfly tickling my belly.

So crash ... let's see the pictures. I know you know how to post pictures. What gives?”

“i forwarded the pics to you, s-rge.

the only way i know how to post them is to put them on trailjournals, and i dont feel like going thru all that trouble.”

“You can put them in your trailtalk picture album.

You guys should do it. That damage is wicked!

I hope you catch 'em CrazyPace. I doubt the fingerprints will do you much good, but hopefully they have a record.”

“or, i could do the simplest, quickest, easiest thing and forward them to the doubting thomas”

“Fine, but fellow TTers are missing out.”

“

CP sure went to great lengths to play a prank.. I mean throwing a rock through the window of his own car and denting in the roof, funny stuff! sheesh

that's the kind of crap why backpacking hardly gets discussed on TT. Someone posts a legitement thread about backpacking and a matter that affects all backpackers and needs discussion and Sarge calls it a prank.”

“Waaaaaaaaaaa .... stop your whining EarthNcry.”

“quit calling it like it is, ens”

“That's "enc".”

“why are they missing out? are they like those weirdos in that holly hunter movie, "crash", where ppl got off on havng sex in car wrecks? i had no idea you were so kinky, s-rge”

“uh ... yeah ... ok ...”

“That blows (...pardon my Francais)

Makes me feel even less easy about parking my car at highway trailheads (The 9W trailhead at Dunderberg Mtn in Harriman State Park in NY comes to mind...

I realize that statistically, it's about the same, but there's some sort of peace of mind when you leave the car at a more remote trailhead. But then again, sometimes you have to -- because the hike ends at a highway.

I guess you have a relatively equal chance of wrecking on the freeway. At least you didn't get hurt in the case. Anyway, I hope you can recover the damages...”

“Hey, look at the bright side. We had a great hike. Even the "rain that hurt" was fun. Howz the blisters?”

“Pain is temporary - Glory is forever.
Only had one blister.

Think it was that 5 mph pace you were setting.

or the fact I didnt wear rain pants or gaitors and my socks got soaked....

nah, it was the Pennsy pace.”

“I missed a good hike. I bet the rain was fun on the top of superfund mountain.”

“and....... we got to meet the first thru-hiker of the season. Yes, in Pa already. Actually, he's in NJ now. His trailname is Willcall and he started on Springer in January. Wow.”