[pct-l] RIP- Missing AT hiker Inchworm: "When you find my body..."

[Scott Williams]

Thanks Paint.  Nothing snarky here, it's just a sad story.  I remember
stepping off trail to dig a cat hole a few times on the AT and then
wondering which way led back to trail.  A thicket on the AT can be pretty
darn dense.  But anywhere on the AT is pretty close to something.  Even the
100 Mile Wilderness is neither 100 miles, nor a true wilderness.  Just a
shame she didn't just stagger on a bit further.  She was so close in
several directions.  Thanks for posting the story.  Shroomer
On May 28, 2016 10:14 PM, "Paint YW" <paintyourwagonhikes at gmail.com> wrote:

> While reading on another forum (non hiking) a thread was started regarding
> the story of an AT hiker that went missing. Geraldine Largay, left the AT
> to do her business in the woods, but never came back out. She got lost, and
> stayed at her campsite for 26 days until dying from starvation and
> exposure. I believe the article states that she was 3,000 feet from the
> trail. That's a little over a half mile in distance.
>
> In her notes she mentions that she is north of the trail, therefore hiking
> south of her position would reunite her with the trail, in perhaps an hour
> or two at most, surmising that the woods were dense and choked with
> undergrowth. She did not report being injured in her diary. Apparently, she
> stayed in the same location for all 26 remaining days of her life.
>
> I wonder if she became mentally paralyzed by imagined fear, and could not
> break free from whatever comfort she took in staying in one place. She was
> near water, had fire starting tools, and a compass. It is quite strange,
> very sad, and a great mystery. While not PCT linked, it's hiking/hiker
> specific, and will likely generate a number of responses from the list-
> serve's body of knowledge and experience.
>
> Perhaps lessons can be drawn from this hiker's plight, that might help
> someone else, should they find themselves lost in the extreme. May I ask
> that the snark and mockery, which is well honed on the Internet, be
> tempered by compassion and consideration for the deceased, and her family?
>
> The news articles linked below, contain a number of working links to
> additional articles, to include the investigative report by law
> enforcement.
>
> Have at it-
>
> Paint YW
>
> "When you find my body, please call my husband," wrote dying hiker lost
> along the Appalachian Trail-
>
> The Washington Post, May 26, 2016
>
> https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp
>
> /2016/05/26/when-you-find-my-body-please-call-my-husband-wrote-dying-hiker-lost-along-the-
> appalachian-trail/
>
> The Washington Post, October 16, 2015
>
> https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp
>
> /2015/10/16/skeletal-remains-likely-those-of-66-year-old-who-disappeared-in-2013-during-her-dream-hike/
>
> The Maine Warden Service held a news conference in Oct. 2015 to announce
> the discovery of the remains of missing hiker Geraldine Largay, who had
> last been seen in July 2013. (Centralmaine.com)
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