Hiker Stalks Campers for Weeks Along the Appalachian Trail | National Park Horrors

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From the Missing 411 to a secret evil out there, national parks have beauty and darkness. The Appalachian Trail runs almost the entire eastern coast of America, and it's famous for being tough and exciting. Thousands try it every year. One stretch goes through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, and in this video we will take a look at three terrifying cases that took place there.
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[@ThatChapter]

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[@JenniferKelly6669]

Hi Mike ❤❤❤❤

[@compendiumyo3358]

Is there a. Place ppl can submit cases?

[@elisaseverns2543]

Happy Tuesday Mike!! 😊

[@agrant5697]

J😊​@@JenniferKelly6669

[@MsBLACKSCREEN]

Weird saying, Take the Cake or Easy as Pie . WTF does it mean, I don't know; I only question it when I went to college and people from other countries, would ask me what those saying met . I thought about it and said I have No idea or when they started saying that !??

[@LFROSTVEVO]

"10 months later, she completed the trail".. holy shit. That woman is a bad ass. Hacked by a machete, and still completing her goal the same calendar year.

[@kellietaylor9913]

Right unbelievable that would have took me ten years to try again I'm pretty sure

[@snicker576]

That's wild, happy for her strength. I personally would have never, ever, EVER set foot on that trail again!

[@phaedrapage4217]

That's gotta be one of the best pictures of Katahdin that I've ever seen, knowing the story behind it.

[@ambersmyth2469]

I was thinking the exact same thing. Props to her.

[@shortcake5472]

No joke. Pretty amazing 🌟💯🙌

[@rodneywiggs]

Randall getting parole after serviving 15 years after killing two people is insane.

[@I.See.That.Youre.Mentally.Ill.]

That's nuts. Unacceptable! Taking a single life should automatically be life in jail. 2?! Death penalty

[@MJ-fj9yv]

Welcome to a legal system NOT based on justice.

[@MyScreenNameIsTroubledOne]

Serviving?? 🤔 Surviving? Serving? 🤨

[@Ze_Moose]

I'm NOT going hiking unless I have 24 hour helicopter hovering above me while a SWAT team are in the bushes with night vision googles!

[@globefm]

I found a song of him on sound cloud jj the-boss jordon trail. The name as seen at 7:45

[@jamiethomas5012]

I met Ron and his girlfriend in a hiking club in Oklahoma. They met each other in the group as well. 😉 Appreciate you covering this case. This tragedy hit our little group hard. There is a tree planted in his memory at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City. Ron was an extremely genuine character. When I met him, he’d recently lost a considerable amount of weight. He was optimistic and eager for exploration. He fell in love and was supportive to his partner and also her children. He was a proud veteran. It doesn’t feel fair to lose someone like Ron in a way like this.

[@davidrice3337]

I live in the woods and the last thing I would want to do is hike the App trail - I don't get it - I betcha 90% of these hikers are city slickers - no wonder Biden got elected

[@maryr6237]

Sorry for your loss. 😢

[@whywhywhy9659]

So sad 😉

[@z54964380]

Wtf is a veteran doing in the middle of no where without a gun? You’d imagine that a veteran of all ppl would appreciate the protection offered by a firearm from his years of service especially in a potentially hostile area

[@sunshine3914]

@@z54964380I work for a veteran, & you won’t find any firearms in his possession bc he’s seen enough killings in his lifetime.

[@mikemorr100]

I hiked the whole trail in 2022. You definitely do run into some odd folks. People worry about bears but other humans are easily the most dangerous animal on trail. I had my own share of run ins with people I wasn't comfortable around.

[@gaylebynumcardosa7034]

It sounds like some of you would enjoy watching The Barkley Marathons if you haven't watched it already.

[@charsta2072]

What tips would you give two women hiking we have two huskies and a golden farm mutt he is very gardy though and won't stop barking unless you give him hugs and kisses and tell him you did go boy probably tmi but I know huskies are way to friendly I'm sure if I'm getting murdered he would just cry and watch

[@charsta2072]

​@@gaylebynumcardosa7034what is that

[@maureen8524]

@@charsta2072don’t bring your dogs

[@youdontwanttheboot]

Worry about yer mom

[@MareeCK2409]

Tree stories??! I’m here for tree stories?! Love ya Mike 😁

[@alisong2328]

Yeah - the first guy did "tree tours in Iraq!"

[@user-fo1ow1jq3b]

​@alisong2328 I bet it's a beautiful tour.

[@cko8643]

I hope this comment gets a1000 likes😂!

[@theeclectic2919]

Wait til you get to the turd one!

[@pAusten]

I get a kick outta hearing Mike say "garage". 😁❤👍🏻

[@bazinga9473]

My friend hiked the trail solo from Maine in 2014. He ran into an old man in one of the shelters and hung out with him for that night. The next morning, my friend left solo and was approached by police on the trail several hours later. They were looking for that old man after he killed his wife and fled to the trail. Pretty sure the guy was James Hammes. Another note... a really sweet girl I went to high school with was killed in the Appalachian mountains- not sure how close to the trail she was. She was in the 1st year of her masters program at college and went to study in nature. A man who was on a several state killing spree saw her on the Blue Ridge Parkway, shot her in the head, and stole her car. It was so sad, she was such a nice person and extremely intelligent and driven. No telling the impact she could have made on the world.

[@ForeverMetal_1961]

Yes. The good ones leave us and we're left with the scum. This is such the case.😢

[@richardsanjose3692]

Like Jackson Browne wrote.....go ahead and spread some seed of ur own and between the time u arrive and the time u go may lie a reason u were alive ul never know.

[@dorothytenute2710]

Holy crap about your friend and the old guy. So sad about your high school friend

[@caliboyizhere]

James actually killed his first wife in 2003 in a “fire” at 10:30 pm while he was out jogging. Got away with it, ended up having another family and a big finance job where in 2009 he embezzled $9m and when the Fbi caught on he ran to the trail for 6 years. Then your friend probably saw him the same week he was caught which is crazy!!

[@ThomasVega-et9ce]

Oh yea? Sounds true

[@jrideout2802]

I live in Maine, right by the trail, and worked in a hostel that catered to AT hikers. There are SO many weirdos and a shocking number of people who seemed borderline incompetent (couldn't figure out how to do anything on their own). As the owners of the hostel said "the average person doesn't take off from life for months at a time and hike through the woods day after day after day. There is usually something driving them to do it." It was a mix of cool, interesting people who wanted a challenge, a few who just loved hiking and nature, and then a good amount of oddballs who took up a crazy challenge on a whim.

[@Matilda-y]

That’s sounds interesting. You could write a book

[@baskets8429]

I hike w Stronghold He hiked fast and kept great conversation What a great Man Rip my friend

[@rocketamadeus3730]

As soon as you said his trail name was Sovereign I was like yeah, he named himself that.

[@markcarpenter6020]

I thought he was a sovereign citizen type.

[@Terpy_Toine]

i was thinking the same ish sounds like some sadistic name for a hiking trail name

[@chrimbus3442]

Yeah like hes the sovereign of the trail and gets to decide who lives and dies.

[@Crinkle76]

He really should’ve named himself “douche bag king”

[@pamelaibarra790]

Lol yup!

[@FunFails]

Holy crap, the guy in the house bringing out a picture of the guy who just attempted to murder you is like something out of a horror story plot.

[@robertbeard230]

This is part of the reason I carry. You never know who you’ll run into. There have been three separate incidents in my 37 years when I’d have been a lot safer with that option available, and an estimated 1.64 million citizens annually would agree. (That’s the best estimate for the number of US citizens who protect themselves with their 2A rights every year; most don’t have to fire, most rounds fired don’t hit anyone, and most rounds that do aren’t fatal, but that’s 1.64 million fewer victims, some of which we’d be hearing about from Mike if they hadn’t.)

[@raymondtorres-gy8uj]

Totally agree but if it was a movie plot it would'nt be belieble at all, Even corny but life is just super crazy & better than any movie. 😂😂😂😂

[@sdriza]

​@@robertbeard230better safe than sorry - needs to be 100%

[@414Mufasa]

​​@@raymondtorres-gy8uj​it would be counted as a sin in cinemasins and we'd all think it was cheesy and too on the nose, maybe we are a bit hard on movies

[@denisehagwood4542]

​@@414Mufasawho gives a shit about cinema sins lol.

[@kandreasworld4374]

Mike, you left out the most important parts: The hikers took pity on Randal because his dog was old and skinny. They gave the dog some fish. The dog, who was in the truck when Randal flipped it, was unhurt and rescued. 😁

[@laurieschneider5278]

Thanks for the good update!

[@dorindadouglas2847]

Thanks! I was wondering what happened to the poor dog.

[@milknhoneyhoney]

VERY PERTINENT INFORMATION thank you!!!!!

[@carinaekstrom1]

Thanks, i was wondering about that. Probably pretty traumatised though, poor dog.

[@cjd5235]

For me whenever people say dogs are a good judge of character, I always think of the famous killers with dogs. Happy dogs and think yeah dogs are great but no you can't use them as a judge for character lol. The guy who killed the hiker in Georgia used his golden as a way to get people's guard down. I always think of him when I meet a random person on a trail. Just because you have a sweet dog doesn't mean I trust you at all. Yup not walking with you. Thanks move along.

[@michellehooper4002]

I love how you said "This was in western, ehh 'regular' Virginia." LOL, I literally laughed out loud.

[@gregwillett2710]

OMG, "woods" killers are MY BIGGEST FEAR. I had a horrific run in with one while camping alone once. Or at least this guy seemed like one. I luckily heard the man way before Insaw him and was able to leave my site and hide in the forrest before he saw my tent. But he had a shotgun - and we were in the middle of nowhere - and he was screaming and singing SO LOUD - trying to find me. HE WHISTLED ALOT. VERY CREEPY. It took 2 hours for him to move on and leave. Packing up and hiking out after he left - was the scariest and darkest hike i ever had to do. Ive never been happier to reach my car. I didnt even pack it normally. I packed messy until i got to a motel finally. I have never been so relieved to find a public hotel IN. MY. LIFE. I called the Police and filed a report. But thats was 12 years ago and i never heard anything ever come of it. I still have nightmaress about the experience - and often find myself stuck thinking about who his next victim was.

[@MJ-fj9yv]

You know they do leave the woods and find victims in urban environment as well.

[@clwcheryl]

yikes!😨

[@Gr8peApe]

​@@Free.zen. 🤡

[@gregwillett2710]

@@Free.zen. LOL

[@gregwillett2710]

@@MJ-fj9yv luckily I've never had to deal with that

[@Wistful77]

"There's no talking with crazy" No truer words have ever been spoken.

[@superhotnerd]

14:21 it’s always so cute when Mike randomly stumbles on his words, I love that he doesn’t edit those small things out😆🖤

[@amiematthews6469]

I have hiked on the Appalachian trail in several different sections on many different occasions. Every time I do, the weird stories and disappearances run through my mind!! Thanks to you Mike I’ll now have more!! I’m going to give it a goo!!

[@JPayne95]

Whats your trail name 😂 I find it hilarious that yall are giving eachother nicknames n shit

[@Treznor331]

Stay safe and carry protection.

[@letmadora28]

The day you disappear, be sure Mike and all of us will be rooting for you 😂😂👍👍

[@bulbafett5001]

For th e first few minutes I thought this Nate hates hiking. And was confused about the voice lol.

[@vladimpaler9274]

Your trail name wouldn't happen to be "Papa Smurf" would it 🤔

[@dakotabarrett8576]

I ran into sovereign “James Jordan” on my thru hike attempt in hot springs. Crazy guy had to call the cops on him on 420 outside of Jerry’s cabin in Tennessee. Rip stronghold

[@angelapyle7301]

Damn😮What did James Jordan do that caused you to call ?

[@dakotabarrett8576]

@@angelapyle7301 he came at us with a big knife like a machete. He threatened to cut us if we didn’t get off of “his” land. Also didn’t like us pushing his dog off us when she jumped on us.

[@user-eh3zv1ex5o]

And what did the Cops do ?.....that's right. NOTHING.

[@charlieangkor8649]

I suggest file another criminal complaint against the cops for dereliction of duty.

[@JustKelso1993]

​@@user-eh3zv1ex5oHow do you know that? He had clearly been arrested before you jackass.

[@duvessa2003]

Ron sounds like an awesome and deserving guy. I’m so disappointed that killer got him. RIP Ron 🕊

[@mollyh9356]

"She went full Canadian." Man, this is so true. I'm not from Canada, but I'm from very northern ND and I've met plenty of Canadians. I can vouch for their extremely nice personalities. If you know, you know. They're the nicest people ever.

[@Im_on_couch_arrest]

We sure are eh! 🇨🇦💕

[@mollyh9356]

@@Im_on_couch_arrest I was hoping someone from Canada would say "eh!"

[@rustyhowe3907]

I've only really met ones from Quebec...they make up the difference.

[@broccolirob5085]

I ran in to the first guy at a shelter long story. He was crazy as hell. He should have never bin let out of jail

[@lynnehuff7059]

This is very sad. People enjoying themselves, hiking, getting out. Really awful. Great story telling, Mike!

[@robertbeard230]

My ex girlfriend and I were camping at a lake way back; we’d been dropped off by my parents since neither of us had a car at the time. We were the only people camping there, except for one campsite we were told was abandoned; the tent was blown over in and was set up in a puddle, so everything was soaked. Women’s clothes on a clothes line. Looked like someone just left it there for weeks. The second night, a dude showed up in the middle of the night while we were enjoying a campfire. He approached us with a rifle slung under his arm and demanded to know why we were out there, our names, etc… very odd, and he was very angry. He was absolutely pissed that anyone besides him was in the area, and identified that tattered campsite as his. Nobody else was with him. At one point he insisted we “go talk to the camp host” then tried to lead us across the road… where there was nothing at all but open grassland and some railroad tracks. I convinced him my parents would be picking us up around 8am, and he told us if we left our tent “there would be trouble”. Had no clue what all that was about. My parents didn’t believe us and assumed we deserved the verbal threats after pissing someone off, somehow. Nine days later, fishermen found a decaying woman’s body a quarter mile down the road from where we’d camped. She’d been dumped there during our stay, and while no arrest was ever made, I’m absolutely sure I know who the culprit was. After hearing f*ckall about it for years, I called to follow up over a decade later. The sheriff’s department insists that their only suspect has since died, and the case is closed, and so refuses to look into it any further.

[@pandamandimax]

That's what you get with "tree" stories 😕

[@funpheonix9752]

I watched Scott’s and Sean’s story on “I Survived”! It’s truly incredible how they both got out of there. Scott is the one that invited over the dude that attacked them. I truly hope Scott doesn’t blame himself 😕 And Scott didn’t even know he was shot in the back when it happened, he only thought he was shot in the neck. And amazingly, Scott was the one most in danger. I think being overweight actually helped Sean.

[@Gunzbaldwin]

I live in Western regular Virginia 😂, the Appalachian trail is a couple hundred yards from my house. We see hikers all the time around our area but im glad none of these people have come through. But i always carry a firearm in the woods, just in case. Because its better to have it and not meed it than need it and not have it.

[@TheLochs]

15 years for murdering 2 people? thats ridiculous.

[@fredcloud9668]

You elected the law makers.

[@jayfalcon-rw3qc]

​@@fredcloud9668 so did you

[@noreenmcgovern1023]

Australia...go figure. England and now the US is doing the same.

[@noreenmcgovern1023]

​@@fredcloud9668The new lawmaker AK 15

[@alonedownthere47]

i was wondering what the max sentence would've been for attempted murder after they knew he already killed people... probably not high enough

[@ChefdeVT]

Poor dog was with that jerk and hope it was able to find a good home, so sorry to the victims and the families.

[@pixiehopper8]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@eugeniaskelley5194]

@@pixiehopper8 Me too.

[@lisahinton9682]

@ChefdeVT I always wonder about the dog, too, in these kind of stories! Glad others are thinking of the dog, too.

[@dorindadouglas2847]

Me too. Someone in the comments said it was rescued after the wreck.

[@retard_activated]

Susan and Robert's story hit me hard. Last year June 30, 2023, my best friend and his fiancé were murdered much the same way, by someone they barely knew. The man is in jail and from everything I've heard, he's crazier than a Bed Bug. The pain he left the rest of us with is unreal. My best friend's name is Jordan and his girl's name was Ranae. Both very kindhearted, sweet people. My heart goes out to all of these victims and their loved ones. Senselesly murdering other people, especially sleeping people, is unbelievably cruel - they never had a chance to defend themselves. Something about that just feels more wrong than wrong can describe... 😢

[@spa-peggymeatballs4861]

I’m so sorry for your loss. I imagine the world can feel cold and cruel after such a violent and senseless crime. I can’t even imagine the shock and pain that would leave you with… That said, I hope you have the resources and time you need to grieve. And I hope some lightness/brightness/kindness can still seep in, hopefully more and more over time. ❤❤

[@allysonoconnell1457]

So sorry for your loss I am sending love compassion and support from Australia xx

[@jennametalsome2445]

thank you for sharing

[@deborahhenderson149]

That is a tragic story. Maybe Mike could cover it to make people aware of this evil character who sadly did that to your friends.

[@JackieBlue65]

I'm sorry for your devastating loss, Prayers ❣️🌹

[@Tia.0721]

And each and every one of these stories make me feel that much better with my decisions on why I’d never go camping and pretty much hate any and everything that has to do with the outdoors! Thanks Mike!

[@ascendantindigo271]

Unfortunately these kinds of aggressive degenerates are quite common within the villages also...Ma'lady. Constant Vigilance and Situational Awareness are mandatory these days....Actually, These "Weak Daze" lead to "Weakened" states of being. If you agree the Spell is broken. I agree also. You shall from this moment forth have only "Strong Days". The Week End is now the "Strength,ened".

[@MichaelMikeTheRussianBot]

It's not that bad. Let me show you around. I DON'T have a dog . ( & my cats will vouch for me.) ;) Really though, endless wonder & entertainment out there. Don't let the 1-in-a-million thing stop you. Go with somebody , but just go . :)

[@Tia.0721]

@@MichaelMikeTheRussianBot 😊😊😊

[@margiewinslow872]

My friend and I, both women from NY encountered a weird guy on the AT in Shenandoah national park in the mid nineties. He asked a question about direction to a waterfall that made no sense. Followed us. Couldn't shake him. We talked loudly about our husbands meeting us around the next bend, then the next. When he finally lost interest. He turned to go down the trail to a parking lot. As soon as he was out of dight we ran off trail and hid in the woods. Sure enough, he came back. We could see him running back and forth along the trail we'd left. Kept it up for over an hour in the dark. We stayed put all night. Never even setting up camp. Next day we intersected the trail and pretty much sprinted to the nearest road. Whew! Just recently found out that I used to hike the section of the AT near Dismal Creek at the same time that randall lee white was living nearby! Yikes. So lucky. Edit: our mates were 500 miles away during that encounter.

[@bee-woods]

If you guys like the hiking/wilderness side of these the channel Kyle Hates Hiking is a hiker who exclusively talks about stuff like this and he deserves a follow imo!

[@Ozziecatsmom]

Thanks for the info!

[@cpeace3172]

Great channel

[@just_cayte]

Yeah I follow him cuz I hate hiking too. But for real.

[@aprilstaal4359]

Love his channel to

[@VickyRyan2018]

Thank you ❤

[@STdoubleDs]

“She’s Canadian” *shows picture of moose*

[@Lorjarca]

🇨🇦

[@markcarpenter6020]

Naa that's just your average Canadian woman

[@MJ-fj9yv]

So out of all the misery you found this to gripe about.

[@haplessasshole9615]

Should have showed a picture of Charlotte Dobre, eh?

[@STdoubleDs]

@@MJ-fj9yv Gripe? My dads side of the family is Canadian. I thought it was funny.

[@godlessrecovery8880]

I've done hunting, hiking and backpacking with my dad since I was about 5 years old. I genuinely don't understand why so many hikers don't carry a pistol on the trail... it's not just the wildlife you need to be wary of.

[@imadogsass6717]

Absolutely agree, I would not be out there without carrying and to Hell with anti-constitutional “laws”.

[@leahhanderson3737]

I live near the Appalachain trail. A lot of homeless and drug addicted youth take advantage of 'trail magic', the food and resource sharing as well as friendship that hikers give one another on the hike from Georgia to Maine. Unfortunately many of these homeless 'kids' who show up to get free stuff are also mentally ill and drug addicted. They have a philosophy that romanticizes living in nature and they prefer freedom to hospitalization, medication and supervision. This situation is a sad truth and it's worst possible outcome.

[@fleetwoodmacncheese4159]

These men were grown adults. I mean, if you consider a 30-year-old a youth, thanks bc I'm 31 and have never felt older. 😂 It's not always "homeless addicted youths" that do these things. Homeless people aren't usually violent and especially not homicidal. Homicide doesn't discriminate against age and class or whether or not someone is an addict. Anybody could be a murderer or a criminal of any kind. Well, except for babies... Babies can't wield machetes. Or can they and they don't want us to know?! 🤔 🥝💚🖤

[@fleetwoodmacncheese4159]

Also, young people are willing to take meds and get mental treatment but a lot can't even afford to go to a therapist or psychiatrist. Hospitals are even more expensive. 🥝💚🖤

[@oharriet4666]

Suddenly, hotels and museums sound ok for vacation....😂

[@MJ-fj9yv]

“10 Grisly Hotel Homicides That Are Still Unsolved” on listverse.

[@catdooley4616]

Plenty of stories about vacationers in hotels, that didn't turn out so good either. The fact is it can happen anywhere even in 5 star hotels costing hundreds of dollars a night.

[@user-mm4rz8mk3e]

Or staying home! Lol

[@ursodermatt8809]

yes, do not go to the USA at all costs. remain in civilized countries

[@stewpitteejit]

@@user-mm4rz8mk3e I live on a fault line known for sinkholes.

[@deew1215]

Can’t sleep, 4.12am here in Western Australia & up pops ‘Our Mike’. What a treat! Cheers mate.👍🏻😉

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

Good morning from Queensland. Wednesdays are the best days of the week cos of Mike, amirite?

[@sylviekins]

@@bilindalaw-morley161Good morning from Sydney- I used to do a night shift on Tuesday and had the joy of listening to Mike on the way home. Now I have Wednesday as a day off- even better! Cheers to my fellow Australians❤❤❤

[@LiquidShivaz]

Goodmorning to you from the tiny Netherlands

[@catherinewilliams3850]

Hello, it's8.55 pm Tuesday in Wales anytime is a good time for a Mike story😊

[@MotionlesslyFading]

I hear that every day you have to fight at least 5 kangaroos for survival just to check your mail. Is this true

[@artiefufkin88]

I've been to Jefferson National Forest many times as I live pretty close. Rumor has it, that if you go out on a certain ledge where the cliff splits in two and you can actually see down through the mountain, and look closely down through the gap, you can still see the joint I dropped down there 16 years ago, still preserved in the plastic cigar tube I had it in :)

[@gimpsuitsnipper]

Booking a flight, just to see a preserved doobie 😂

[@user-mk2ge1lb7j]

My favorite “hackers can take a hike like the people in this story are doing “… best ad plug ever !!!

[@tarynscott155]

The first story is very surprising to me. James doesn't look familiar, but we are around the same age and I lived on Cape Cod for a number of years in my childhood. I could have known this man. That's wild.

[@mosesbrown4126]

IKR? I was at a few festivals and Phish concerts around that time in the Northeast generally, and he looks like a thousand other lot-rat douchebags I saw.

[@steveescher1554]

I found it hilarious when he made it sound like he was from this rough poor part of Cap Cod lol I don't think there is one. That's almost like saying the poor part of Martha's Vineyard.

[@tarynscott155]

​@@steveescher1554you are so right! 😂 watch out for big, bad Falmouth

[@ameliarhodes5000]

I hiked most of the AT in Georgia. It could be very spookie. Hiked to the start, Springer Mountain for lunch and then further on after a break. Weird guy who seemed manic started talking to us. He wasn't carrying a pack or even any water. so we finished and took off when he went down a blue trail to find water or some other spot to go relieve himself. Another hike I was alone and along the trail was a 4ft tall cross, good wood grain. wood burning used for details, some artsy with a special wood router saw. Someone put a lot of work into that. Someone might still be around. And I DO NOT WANT to find out what drove such passion to drag that thing so deep into the woods. Around that time Blaire Witch came out and was in limited release. No one knew it was a fake yet or what it was. I never hiked alone again. lol

[@Unfluencer]

correction: everybody but you knew blair witch was fake! lol!!!

[@rationallyruby]

Yeah it’s every man for themselves in places like that…

[@ameliarhodes5000]

@@Unfluencer That is where you are wrong Mr. Childish Troll. There was a lot of controversy when it was in limited release. And there were new stories about searches for the actors. The actors who were kept in hiding to maintain the controversy. So fck off.

[@DroneStrike1776]

@@rationallyruby it's why you bring the equalizer, the Second Amendment. Every American should be able to protect themselves against threats. Criminals don't care about the law.

[@Communistsarentpeople]

Someone put that cross where a dead body was found

[@user-gu1jk4qn6b]

You used to give us, 3 or 4 per week. Sovereign is why you carry a side arm, when camping. That the first thing I made sure of, when my husband bought us a small RV, and told me he wanted to camp for at least 6 months, in Edinburg, Virginia. We met wonderful people, while out there. Just the best.

[@jimlahey3919]

I hike the Pennsylvania portion of the Appalachian almost monthly, and there are some very shady people on it. All the time. I always carry a handgun and never let anyone get behind me.

[@shanak5560]

As I was deep cleaning my house as I do every Tuesday, I realized I was missing something! I said “wait a minute, Mike should be posting today.” 45 minutes late but here I am! Now back to cleaning ❤ much love

[@reyah8934]

Plugging a bullet hole with your finger is thee most horrific thing I’ve EVER heard!

[@EX7RUD1CON]

Appalachian trail is equally spooky as it is fascinating, something about it is always so interesting

[@tylerm4709]

born n raised in East TN, a bit of advice for hikers, always go in pairs, and keep that smoke pole ready at all times with some spare mags

[@stacynapier26]

Lying Randall looks so much like a man I used to know but he was so kind and generous. I live in the Appalachian mountains and love these hills and hollers.

[@SSheezCrafty]

Or so he WANTS you to think 🤔

[@Matilda-y]

Woah you live there! That must be wonderful.

[@vladimpaler9274]

A lot of creepy stuff happens on the Appalachian trail 😬

[@markcarpenter6020]

Even creepier stuff happens not far off the trail in the woods. When I was a kid it was hillbillies growing weed and making shine but I've heard it's meth labs these days. And these are folks who do not like strangers.

[@graedot]

​@@markcarpenter6020 ( INSERT DUELING banjos music here!)

[@noreenmcgovern1023]

Thank you for telling them. Place us the Devil's playground. Stop going there

[@jenniferrosebruce6385]

That wink at the end.... gets me everytime. ❤

[@jus10lewissr]

I hate that Ron had finally found a passion after his long bout of depression and PTSD and was ultimately murdered while doing the one damn thing that gave him peace.

[@user-gj1me4mf5c]

Lots of military fake the PTSD because they get a HUGE paycheck every month for it. It's shameful the ones who lie about it. Also, he had a support role in the military. As 90% of military are.

[@efnissien]

The number of murders on the Appalachian trail is actually surprizingly low given it's length. And you might be interested to know that at 21;23 - is Dr. Bill Bass, Creator of the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility (AKA 'The Body Farm')

[@Quin_86]

I miss watching Mike with my husband...and when he says "Cause I love ya" I tear up cause my husband would always say "We love ya too Mike"

[@SpecialBlanket]

Is he deceased?

[@folkloreofbeing]

​@@SpecialBlanketdude.

[@LeLiuOfficial]

15 years for brutally killing two people for no reason. Meanwhile, others are serving multiple decades for drug possession and other nonviolent offenses. American prison system for ya.

[@nfamus540]

I don't live far from there, my house is actually only maybe 15 minutes from the Appalachian Trail. My town is considered an AT community as we welcome hikers. We get hikers coming down from the trail to stock up on supplies and to just get some AC during the summer. I've always been a little worried about who these people are that are coming into town because you have no way of knowing if they're good people or could have sinister motives. I will say 99% of all the hikers I've spoken with have been friendly and appreciative of the people in our town but you do get the occasional hiker that makes you watch your back a little closer than you usually would. The trail is such a beautiful place here in Virginia but it's also the perfect location to commit evil, it's so isolated that there might not be another human within miles of you.

[@jimmckay2337]

I live near the Appalachian trail. I have seen plenty of weirdos on the trail, too.

[@addiegraves3]

Damn, scratch the AT off my bucket list 😂 I'm sure there are plenty of nice ppl but there is always a few that ruin it for the rest of us.

[@user-ro2ke1nv6h]

Mike you are THE BEST story teller on the web.I so appreciate the fact that it doesn't take 5 min for you to promote your "other"sites all over the internet. Not gonna mention any names but you guys know who.

[@heyysimone]

Oh hey, one of those old clips of the police finding Susan's body wrapped in the sleeping bag showed Dr Bass (he was in the blue jumpsuit). Dr Bill Bass started up the body farm a few miles behind the University of Tennessee Medical Centre in 1971, 10 years before this initial crime happened. It was created to observe and study human decomposition in all manner of scenarios to better help criminal investigators determine not only time of death more easily (although it still isnt easy to determine, there are too many factors at play to get an exact timing) and also how bodies decay in certain instances. His books are super interesting.

[@Vladi0310]

I was talking to my friend and she asked about my plans for the evening, I said “well, hang with Mike after dinner and…” I was interrupted , she went “oh my god, I didn’t know you had problems in the marriage…” I started laughing , later , after explanation she asked me why do I say this way, well, because Mike is the only blogger that tells us that he loves us and wants us to take care of ourselves and to me, it’s truly means the world. So thank you Mike ) you are a gem ) ❤😊

[@JJmystic]

Love the format! Top 5s or top 3s can not be done better! Thanks Mikey. Give it a goo

[@ThatChapter]

Thanks! I always come across stories I wanna tell but maybe there's not enough for a full 20+ minute video, so it's fun to tie a few together

[@evanhirschmann1246]

you should cover the guy Justin Mohn that recently was accused of murdering his father and posting the video, seems like he was mentally ill and a conspiracy theorist. Not sure if you heard of this case but it was relatively big news

[@LevelEarthWD]

​@@evanhirschmann1246 is this the guy who beheaded the dad and shows the severed head on yt? Creepy.

[@cherbeatTX59]

​@@LevelEarthWDyes. So sad!!

[@evanhirschmann1246]

yes@@LevelEarthWD

[@alannabanana6255]

Yay, a Mike upload. Very much needed after an emotional day. Who'd have ever thought we'd find comfort in true crime?

[@melissamoonchild9216]

strange isn't it

[@nazzy101]

i guess it makes us feel lucky since this stuff hasn't happened to us

[@AngelaFlynnGrnEv]

It can be scary camping in the wilderness. I've had a few times when I was camped and a stranger set up near me and vibed me out. Fortunately nothing bad happened. To give some perspective there are over 3 million hikers on the Appalachian Trail every year. Most people are really awesome and safe to be around.

[@amemooress6291]

I've heard the last story multiple times in many different ways. Those two guys were certified badasses for surviving that shit.

[@mcnultyssobercompanion6372]

I grew up on the Cape. Only lived in West Yarmouth, where "Sovereign's" from, for a short while. Some parts are...pretty gnarly. He's about ten years younger than me, I never knew him. The Cape is such a weird place. So much beauty and opulence (Kennedy Camelot!!!) but also so much poverty and darkness.

[@kellietaylor9913]

I didn't know any part of Maine is poor

[@mcnultyssobercompanion6372]

@@kellietaylor9913 Massachusetts. Cape Cod's in Massachusetts. Don't feel bad, lots of people have no idea where it is when I tell them where I grew up.

[@SwedePotato314]

@@mcnultyssobercompanion6372I currently live on cape. It’s very true- a lot of beauty and money but there is always a flip side to that.

[@TheRealEMURSE]

​@@kellietaylor9913 maine is very poor.

[@ScottShedd123]

I believe it's called a disparity.

[@borrowedfromtheocean]

I just love your storytelling abilities. The subtle dark humour always gets me

[@7jcjg]

no way randall waited all that time by the trail and never murdered anybody else before he attacked those 2.

[@lennonwilson6407]

I hiked around 1000 miles of the AT in 2021 and over 4th of July weekend was threatened by an agitated man with a dog while at a popular shelter in a small Virginia town. After being told that at a previous hostel stay someone had accused him of stealing, he became very angry and wanted to blame the messenger. She was trying to be helpful, not accusing, just informing him. It quickly escalated and he said he was going to slit our throats while we slept. He had a large knife. The poor dig looked embarrassed. The cops got called and they took buddy for the night and we agreed to dog sit. There's more to the story, but that sums it up... stay safe.

[@danielleyoder5226]

I've never been this early!

[@ThatChapter]

Thanks for being here!

[@amuunscraft2943]

Same! 😂❤

[@lauren5144]

same lol

[@daughterofCyrustheGreat]

Me neither 😅

[@buggiebuild1]

Me either, I was literally watching the channel at 3:00, no notification needed this time😂😂✌🏻💞

[@westleyjay]

Mike did a great job as usual. If you want to hear Scott and Sean tell their own story, there’s an episode of I Survived about it. It’s wild!

[@LK-wq3su]

I was going to take my dog on a hike in the woods today, but after watching this, I think we're just sticking with the dog park! (Shudder) love ya!

[@lisahinton9682]

You know the content creator is talented when you happily listen to the entire ad! "Hackers can take a hike like the people in this story are!" We all luv ya, Mike!

[@bingsballyhoo711]

This is why it's good to hike with a big spicy dog.

[@discordye4825]

And a firearm.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Yes, that way if you get lost you have something to eat...

[@ursodermatt8809]

@@discordye4825 ah yes, you can shoot outs with other hikers.

[@bitterellaselectricgroove8544]

​@@davidhollenshead4892🤣

[@DemocracyOfficer2485]

@@ursodermatt8809or ya know, defend yourself?

[@billcarson7913]

Didn't the movie Deliverance teach us ... Stay out of the Woods

[@thegreencat9947]

Do I hear banjo music?

[@angelapyle7301]

@@thegreencat9947😂😂😂💯

[@angelapyle7301]

That was a very traumatic movie.When I hear that movies name I get flashes of men’s in white shorts & pig sound.. shivers 🫨

[@orangelab6846]

My favorite RomCom of all time!

[@evelynwaugh4053]

No. It's message was that people you may underestimate because they wouldn't be viewed as very competent in your world, may be more competent than you in their world, so never underestimate them. Lewis was the only one of the group competent in both realities.

[@Jonathan_Strange]

Thank you *Michael Henley,* you made my day! *_"Application Trail"_* That's a classic! Having just finished tracing down and squashing a bug in some code.... I can tell you that the _Application Trail_ is not for the faint of heart!

[@darkallegiance666]

Yes, I noticed that too.😢

[@jimparker880]

“Western, regular Virginia.” Mike is a hill country geography master!

[@PrincessOsma]

Love this channel!

[@zyrosqrd2552]

Appalachian trail- Where you can hear the Big Dogs barking for miles

[@notsparks]

I am a thru-hiker and have done the AT twice. My trail name is also my username here. Some of my best friends and worst nightmares have been met out there. It takes a special kind of crazy to want to hike that far, but it also attracts people looking to get away from problems and those who enjoy starting new ones along the way. Sometimes it isn't that special kind of crazy and just downright crazy that are drawn to its seclusion. Fugitives find refuge along the trail. Crime is officially "rare" along the trail but it is also rarely reported because long stretches are very secluded from the surrounding communities and by the time police get out to the area, the perpetrators are often long gone to other sections of the trail. Because most of the crime encountered along the way is petty, people don't want usually don't want to take a zero or a nero day to wait around all day to report a stolen flashlight or vandalism to camps.

[@ben4815234]

👋 I'm Jubel PCT 2012. I wonder how many other thru-hikers are That Chapter fans

[@notsparks]

@ben4815234 hey Jubel! AT 2002 & 2017. How was PCT? I live near it in WA but never explored more than a few days of it

[@harduphiker]

@@ben4815234 I am doing longer through hikes (wild camping) in the UK, although I'd not describe myself as a proper AT-level hiker...yet. But camping in a lonely wood, I try not to think about stuff like this....

[@NvrDieNvrSurrender]

The sad truth about criminals being committed to the state hospital as with the first story, the hospital can decide that the criminal is no longer a threat and release them into an unknowing society... I saw it time and time again when I worked for the county. Some of them weren't insane but were insanely dangerous.

[@DBUCKS1988]

The way you described the cassette tape sounded like a Yoko Ono album. Which is one of the most frightening sounds one could stumble across.

[@Ozziecatsmom]

😂😂

[@nhmooytis7058]

👏👏👏

[@dnr2089]

😂😂😂

[@TheRealEMURSE]

that guy sounds like he was trying to be the devil

[@Zepster77]

No. More like the “Lucifer Rising” soundtrack Jimmy Page did. Or something like that

[@nicolette575]

Perfect timing for me here in the South of the Africaness. Thank you Mike!

[@timbrethomas7548]

I watch A LOT of videos on KZbin but That Chapter is definitely the best channel. I absolutely love you and all of your content!! I've literally watched every video on this channel and The That Chapter podcast numerous times!!!❤

[@cpoole371]

I had a terrifying experience on a trail about 25 years ago. We caught a guy trying to switch our trail marker. When I asked him what he was doing, he pulled a large knife out of his boot and stared towards us. I pulled my pistol out, and he walked away. We told the Ranger about what happened, and she said there had been several robberies in the area.

[@praytogodus]

That sounds incredibly scary and unsettling. It's fortunate that you were able to handle the situation safely and that nothing worse happened.

[@slayer6936]

RIP. Never ever go into the woods without a weapon to defend yourself. I live in the mtns and my pistol is on me everyday when I do my 5 mile hike.

[@addiegraves3]

Oh heck yeah, I would carry if I was out there too I'm not even big into guns but I grew up hunting with my Dad there was always a gun leaning up against random corners of the house 😂 Someone had to protect the chickens

[@markcarpenter6020]

That's just common sense if you live anywhere with dangerous wild animals. The dangerous humans are just an afterthought.

[@slayer6936]

@markcarpenter6020 Obviously, it's not for those hikers.

[@discordye4825]

Absofreakinglutely

[@markcarpenter6020]

@@slayer6936 Darwin at work

[@jennametalsome2445]

stronghold, what a great name. rest peacefully my friend

[@Marinaxp1]

Meeting a stranger on a lonely trail is always scary to me. Several years ago me and a bunch of friends camped later than we should and got caught in the middle of the trail back to the car after sunset, and just before it became pitch dark a man appeared and asked to walk to the parking lot with us. I was the slowest one in the group and was absolutely freaking out calling out loud every few minutes to make sure my friends don't go to far in front and leave me behind and then the stranger said " don't worry I am right behind you " :)))

[@thexxit]

Letting a cold blooded murderer and r@pist out of jail after 15 years is absolutely wild. There must be a way to sue the justice system when things like this happen. R@pists especially get out early or don't get time at all and are allowed to repeat their crimes over and over and over. It's just insane.

[@KarenSmith-pc8ji]

Thanks for another great production. I enjoy your regular length stories but giving us these shorter ones put together is really awesome. Great idea!

[@triatheletewolf7279]

I have done over 1900 miles on the AT and have only run across 1 semi sketchy dude, and that was because he was begging for food. He had a dog, but said he had no money for food, yet he could afford cigerettes. I fed the dog, when he went back to his tent, but told him I had nothing to spare.

[@lisahinton9682]

@triatheletewolf7279 He could've bought the cigs before he ran out of food. Or he could've found the cigs, or bummed the cigs, or stolen the cigs. You judging him is gross. And you've clearly never known hunger. True hunger is horrific. Try it some time, Mr Holier-Than-Thou.

[@cannabliss6908]

@@lisahinton9682 Your own comment is incredibly judgmental. And I do think that certain situations make it fair to question someone's ability to make sound decisions. Having cigs but no food, not only for him but also his dog is very questionable. Certainly when hiking because every day is essentially a survival situation. It would 100% make me distrust the guy. He obviously is a liability to himself and the dog. If hunger is the only problem, there are soup kitchens in cities/towns. But he has a reason to be in the woods instead. I agree with triatlethewolf that the whole situation sounds very sketchy.

[@joanntourville4857]

What a heartwarming story.

[@MrSh4des]

@@lisahinton9682 how can you watch that chapter videos and be such a naive idiot.

[@GregBrownsWorldORacing]

@@joanntourville4857 Which story warmed your heart more Joann? The guy with no dogfood only smokes, The 'You have never known hunger' lady, or the one that told her she was actually judgemental one. For myself all these comments bundled together, it gives Me a case of heart burn also.

[@duke3326]

After I've read what happened to little red riding hood in the forest, I promised my mom never to go there.

[@PashaSlavaUkraine]

Dude, god bless the people who lost their lives in such tragic way, my condolences to the families. Tragic

[@ttf4now]

I really think this is the best story yet. Plenty of suspense, surprises, beautiful scenery and a bit of humor as always. We love you, too, Mike! Keep up the great story telling 😉

[@wdwexploreandchill]

Yay! I’m home sick and this is JUST what I needed! And I’m finally more used to you with out your glasses than with them. 😂

[@daughterofCyrustheGreat]

Omg, me too 😂 first when he took them off I felt uneasy. Now it's weird to see him with his glasses in his old videos.

[@vivienneclarke2421]

I was thinking that his last video lol.....

[@jrwalsh2244]

Another outstanding That Chapter episode. I am never hiking again!😳😱

[@beautifulblackbeauty8641]

Always great to start my day with you and a little crime. Thanks Mike! Love ya!

[@user-ir2jn1ke5w]

Mike, you really are a great story teller. That second story was absolutely riveting! I was captivated chap. Seriously, keep up the good work. I've been here for years now. Look forward to your posts.

[@JJbIrd0608]

Every time a new video comes on I say "Guess what time it is?" and my 18 yr old son says "It's time for Tree" We love your videos

[@user-gj1me4mf5c]

You taught your kid to make fun of someone??? 🤡 How about you TRAVEL? Then you may have an understanding of other people. Smh 🙄.

[@SpecialBlanket]

@@user-gj1me4mf5cMike makes jokes about the three/tree thing himself.

[@JJbIrd0608]

@user-gj1me4mf5c ahh Mike jokes about it and no I didn't teach him, he HEARD Mike joke about it. Don't assume what you don't know.

[@wendyp.5559]

Thank you so much for telling these stories so well. As a day hiker in Western North Carolina and Southwestern VA, I've seen some creepy stuff. And on a few occasions, some creepy people. But, I've also met some of the absolute best people on the trails. I can't say enough good things about the AT community, or our beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

[@enaitat]

Poor 1st guy. If the other 3 hadn't ran and stood their ground like he did, they could've probably overpowered him.

[@Rayna-gn3ni]

I get all excited when Mike says, "Let's give it a go." Seriously, the only thing Tuesday has going for it is a new episode of That Chapter.

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

It's the only reason I know or care what day it is!

[@graedot]

On behalf of Mike I must correct you - "give it a goo." 😁

[@Whimsey6]

Named out farm Give It A Go. Thanks for the inspiration Mike!

[@cosmohobbs7506]

Amen

[@haamification]

Shoutout to the Class of 2019! I was about 80 miles south down the trail when this happened. It sent shockwaves through the community. Some good souls tried to help the guy, but he spelled trouble for weeks. But ... hindsight is always 20/20.

[@akarimastarte1968]

having a rough day, and youe narrations always give me joy. Thanks for the hard work!