Death on the Appalachian Trail

Last night I had some time for reading and went over to the trail journals site to read the journals of those currently hiking the AT. I was reading the ones that had been recently updated when I came across this journal entry by a hiker named Joy:

Destination: Thunder hill shelter
Starting Location: Bryant ridge shelter
Today's Miles: 10.30
Trip Miles: 699.50

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6/4 Bryant ridge shelter to Thunder Hill shelter
10.3 miles

I found a corpse today.

I arrived at Cornelius Creek shelter at a little after noon. I was pleased with my progress and even more pleased by the trail magic I found. Cold cokes in the water source for the shelter. Sweet nectar! I grabbed one to have with lunch, and collected several liters of water to treat as well.

Up at the shelter, I saw a food bag hanging and then saw somebody was in the shelter sleeping. I settled down at the picnic table to eat my lunch quietly.

After a few moments I went to the shelter to get the register. I saw a fly on the guy's outstretched arm and wondered how anybody could sleep with flies on them. Then I went back to my lunch and read the register.

The flies were really loud. I became uneasy and looked at the guy again. His posture was totally normal. Nothing looked out of place but the flies. And his hand was kind of dark.

I started texting DeLee. Should I try to wake him? He might be angry at being awoken. But what if something were wrong?

She suggested making loud noises. No response. Damn. I was starting to become convinced he was dead.

I stared at him some more, then tried calling 911. My weak signal dropped the call. I decided to walk to the nearest road crossing and flag somebody down. I packed up, visited the privy, and returned to find another hiker at the table. He was considerably startled when I told him I thought there was a dead man in the shelter. He tried to call too, with no better luck.

Two dayhikers came up. They had no phones. They said they had seen the man there this morning, assumed he was asleep, and left him alone. They were on their way to their car so they'd get a ranger out.

Good enough. I left.

In minutes I had enough cell signal to get the voicemail from 911 (concerned because my call had dropped) so I called them back and was able to report the corpse. The ranger asked if I had checked for a pulse. No. I didn't say that I was too freaked out to touch the man but I bet he guessed.

So that's done. Now I am hiking again. I am filled with grief for this stranger. All his stories are done. His family will probably be getting a call soon. He will never hike again, never hug his mom, never crack a beer, never watch his kids play. Everything is cut short for him, with no warning. He never got to say goodbye.

Do me a favor. Hug someone you love tonight.

Policemen met me at the one road crossing I had today to get a statement from me. I asked them if the hiker was carrying ID, if he were really dead, and if his family would be contacted soon. Yes on all counts. I quickly filled out the statement and went on my way.

I had hiked the afternoon in silence and with no photos as I had used up my phone's battery calling 911. It left me lots of time to reflect on the brevity of life and how quickly everything could change. It made me glad I don't have anything big left undone. My friends and family know I love them. I finally made out a will not long ago. I feel like if the same thing happened to me, things are relatively in order. Not that I expect it, but today pointed out how you never know.

More prosaically, I found a tick embedded in the back of my leg tonight. I don't think it was there last night when I checked. And I wore long pants tucked into socks today. So it must have gotten on me last night. The ticks are so small that if they are on your gear and not moving you'll never see them. I'm pretty freaked out about the tick, too. It was nice not getting fly bites on my legs today, but maybe I'd rather be able to see my legs all the time so I can do constant tick checks. I don't know.

Also I have extensive heat rash. It has been quite warm and humid. I spend my days soaked in sweat, and some of my nights. I'm trying to treat it with my old standby vagisil, but if it doesn't improve I'll have to get a shuttle to somewhere with lodging so the rash can heal. I have no idea how to prevent this scourge. I can start the day clean and dry and end it with a huge and painful rash. Aggravating.

And last but not least, I'm still having episodes of lightheadedness. I haven't had serious vertigo in days, at least. I need to find a walkin clinic somewhere to get my ears checked out.

That said, tonight I'm thankful just to be alive, and my physical concerns seem quite petty in comparison.

Here's the link: http://www.trailjournals..../entry.cfm?trailname=9781

I checked out her guest book and found additional information:

Name: susan miller
From: owings mills

Message: Mrs. Joy, My son, Gonzo, and three other hikers met Island Boy, the corpse you sadly found. He was, in my son's words, a nice man who was enjoying his trail hike. Prayers are extended to his family and to you...may you each continue on your journey and may we all gain from your insights in the multiple blessings we each are given.

Found a newspaper article with some more detail:

Man found dead at shelter along Appalachian Trail

A 60-year-old Florida man hiking the Appalachian Trail was found dead Friday afternoon, the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office said.

Authorities received a call from another hiker who reported finding a body about 2 p.m. Friday, Maj. Delbert Dudding said. The hiker had stopped at the Cornelius Creek Shelter and noticed a man who appeared to be sleeping but was unresponsive.

A journal was found with the body, and it described plans to hike the trail until September. Entries within the past few days detailed pain and medical issues the writer was having. There were no signs of injury or foul play, Dudding said.

The sheriff's office is not releasing the name of the man until relatives are contacted, Dudding said.

Link: http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/249513