An ounce of prevention...

Strange to start the day off today reading the Nepali missing and murdered hiker stories. Scary stuff.

I had my very own scary experience yesterday pm while hiking at a state park in central MA with Molly. I arrived at the trailhead at ~2pm and observed a car with a man sitting behind the wheel. He has backed the car up near the gated road so it was facing out. A truck pulled in and a man jumped out with 2 dogs, so I followed him up the trail. The creep in the car smiled at me as I passed so I guess the newspaper he was pretending to read wasn't all that interesting. I wanted to get a good look at him. I made note of of the make and model of his car. Mol and I had a nice long hike along the very icy dirt roads. The dog walker turned back and passed us on his way out. We continued on our way. Turn around time came and we hiked out. A distance from the gate, I could not believe my eyes. The car was still there and I had to assume that the creepy man was in it. Stopped dead in my tracks, and called the police. NO WAY was I going anywhere near that vehicle alone. Dialed the local police who after taking all the vital info, had me call 911 and get connected back to them so they could pinpoint my exact position off my cell phone. I was told to stay put and NOT TO APPROACH THE VEHICLE. The dispatcher stayed on the line with me. Officer #1 arrived. Sure enough the man was still in the car and he and the officer were having a chat. It had now been at least 3hrs and who knows how long he had been sitting there prior to my arrival. I started walking toward the gate. Officer #2 arrived and parked closer to my car. In comes Officer #3. He parks so that now the suspects car is hemmed in by cruisers. I spoke to the officer closest to me and explained the situation, telling him that I always take note of vehicles parked at trail heads, most especially if there is a lone male just sitting in one. Normally if I am solo, I will leave the area and go hike in another location when I encounter something that makes me very uncomfortable. This time I opted to do my hike because I was in the company of a man and his dogs and thought it would be safe.

I have to give credit to all the officers and dispatcher. From the get go, I got the sense that they did not like this scene any more than I did, and thought that I had used good common sense calling for assistance. I thought one officer would come and escort me to my car. I never expected the "swat" team, but was very happy and grateful to see them.

Molly is very big and I know she would help me out but if someone has a weapon you are defenseless.

I packed up fast and left in a big hurry. Not sure what the end result was, but once again I am reminded that "an ounce of prevention" can very often be your very best friend.

Anyway to find out what happen with the guy and police after you drove off?

I've sat in my car alone at a trailhead for almost an hour waiting for my wife to pop out of the woods, but three hours during the day is a whole different ballpark. That would creep me out, too. Makes one wonder if this guy was selling, using the seclusion of the trailhead for his handoffs...

I hope that the dispatcher ran the plate and there was a warrant out, otherwise sending 3 officers to investigate someone who was accused of smiling sounds like an overreaction.

In NH you are not likely to find that many officers nearby, unless you want to wait half an hour your option might be to walk to your car while still on the line with 911 which might limit what a perp would try.

I still don't understand what this person did to warrant your actions.

I have spent time sitting in my car and or van at trailheads for all manner of legitimate reasons, and would hope nobody calls the police on me for no other reason than their own escalating fears.

Wow.

I lucked out from the get go. They were close by and took it seriously. They were still at it when I left which make me suspicious that something about him concerned them. Why keep 3 officers there if everything is A- OK.

I have met my share of males at trailheads when hiking solo. There was something about this that just didn't set right.

I can honestly say that even if I had to wait much longer for an officer, I would have rather taken my chances on that, and perhaps put even more distance between us, rather than getting any closer to him. The good news is dispatch keeps you on the line so they know exactly how things are evolving.

I will never know the outcome but I don't think I really want to. It could have been completely innocent, but why take that risk. I'm sure the police back each other up as well. They never know what they are walking into. There was and officer shot and killed in Spencer several years back at a routine traffic stop.

Tim Seaver said:

I still don't understand what this person did to warrant your actions.
I have spent time sitting in my car and or van at trailheads for all manner of legitimate reasons, and would hope nobody calls the police on me for no other reason than their own escalating paranoia.

Wow.

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Thanks Tim!
You are certainly entitled to your POV. Perhaps many others feel the same.

This was not a fun experience my friend. It didn't exactly make my day and if you want to think of it as an episode of "escalating paranoia" go for it. Nothing further that I could possibly say would ever help you to see things differently.

It was my judgement call and the police agreed that I made the right decision. End of story!


I shared this because I thought hikers might understand and perhaps even offer support. If this turns into a paranoia discussion, I will ask that the thread be closed.

At the risk of turning this thread on its head, Ill add my 2cents. I know alot of people in general look at the world in terms of its not that dangerous. Myself Ive spent alot of time in remote places and urban cities and believe there are quite alot of people with malicious intent lurking about. Im a strong advocate of carrying some form of personal protection, ie. firearm, pepper spray, knife, whatever suits your fancy. While some find this to be paranoid and an overreaction, the day someone with malicious intent corners you and all you have to protect yourself and those with you is your barehands, you will see the light, albiet to late. Yes the odds are low, but you never know. I was approached by two thugs in CO, 5 miles in camping by myself, this was outside Buena Vista, which has one cop I think. They wanted money, they said they would leave for a "little". I said hang on and retrieved my firearm and told them I dont want any trouble but your not getting my money, they left. Then I left. Without that weapon who know what would have happened.

I apologize. "Paranoia" was probably a bit over the top as a word choice. I changed it to "fear".

Tim Seaver said:

I apologize. "Paranoia" was probably a bit over the top as a word choice. I changed it to "fear".

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Fear can be a usefull tool in many situations. Besides I think its different for woman ( that by no means is meant to be sexist) who are alone verses men.

Maybe its a female thing but I would have done the same thing. I'd rather a cop come and check out the situation then I get raped or worse. Anymore when I go trail running or hiking by myself I let a friend know when I am going in the woods and text them when I get out. If I don't contact them by a certain time, they know to call the police.

Maddy said:

It was my judgement call and the police agreed that I made the right decision. End of story!

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I agree with Maddy. No one innocent need take offense by being reported sincerely as a prospective stalker or for suspicious activity. It is this kind of intuitive concern that, on occasion, provides leads for solving or preventing crimes. A long shot perhaps but there are some unsolved murders out in Central Mass.

My perspective comes from someone who grew up in a city full of crooked, corrupt police - Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I have spent a night in jail on the whim of these type of police based on nothing but having people of the "wrong" skin color in my car, so I get a little nervous when I think about the possibility of 3 cruisers full of amped NH cops screech to a stop in front of my "creepy" white VW camper van at some trailhead because some "concerned citizen" doesn't like how long I have been there and has called them in a panic.

All I ask is that people use a little discretion when calling the Calvary - it's really no fun being on the receiving end of hopped up authoritarianism when you have done nothing wrong.

I trust your intuition on this one.

From male point of view: I think your dog is the best deterrent to an attacker as well as an opportunity to buy some precious seconds to get into the car.

Also an idea is to also dial 911, tell them the situation and then keep them on the line while you go to your car. In general I also think us hikers are often in better shape than the lowlife assailants. You could probably wear him out just running around cars until police or another car arrived.

These predators usually seek the weakest and easiest prey. Your dog just complicates the plan. I think a would be troublemaker is going to choose another victim.

Hindsight ... though ... there is alway a chance that an attack with a person pulling out a gun and shooting a dog and victim is possible but those attacks too work more in our minds than in reality. It is pretty hard to shoot a moving target at 20 feet or more. If I was an attacker I would move on to an easier pick.

That's an amazing (in an awful way) story. I'm glad you "listened" to the "little voice within" that set the hair on the back of your neck on end, even if you didn't feel it.

As was stated above by EDIT Sierra (not Chip as I wrote earlier), it is different for women. I've been followed three times in the past 20 years when I felt inner alarm. The first time was in Hartford, CT after working at a craft fair with two friends. We went out for dinner afterwards and on the way back a man followed us. We split up and walked our route nearby each other but not as a trio. That seemed to set him up to leave us alone. (We were carrying a lot of cash.) The next time was after another craft fair. Similar story but in a parking lot in Danvers, MA. The third time was in NYC. Brian was walking faster than I (I guess I was dawdling) and a guy stepped out from a storefront that was recessed. The faster I walked, the faster he walked and before long Brian turned right and I did too, breaking into a run, and the guy stopped in his tracks.

You had good presence of mind, Maddy.

RoySwkr said:

sending 3 officers to investigate someone who was accused of smiling sounds like an overreaction.

In NH you are not likely to find that many officers nearby,.

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That's what makes me think there is more to this than we know.

erugs said:

As was stated above by Chip, it is different for women.

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That was Sierra, but I agree. Parking lots and trailheads are used by all manner of scum, present company excepted, even the guy in the white VW van .

Ooops. Right, Chip. Sierra. I've gone back and made an edit.

I'm confused.

The way the thread has drifted the guy is a drug dealing, warrant out for his arrest, crazy. Could all be true....but......we don't know. But I guess its easier to guess.

I applaud the OP for doing what she thought appropriate. And do not second guess that.

However, it could have beeen something else.

(BTW....3 cruisers pulling up can indicate a slow day in Central MASS or anywhere else)

Just saying.

Peace

Nothing wrong with trusting your gut Maddy. Better than learning the hard way.