Being on the trail...what to do?

LASur5r · October 25, 2000, 08:43 PM

Ok...another real 'un.

Two of my buddies and I were into backpacking and rock climbing years ago in college. We all knew the risks we faced out in the wilderness, but we didn't talk about it. One day we were on a short seven mile hike (one way), when we heard a girl scream around the bend. Immediately, everyone took cover and to my surprise, three guns were drawn..their's pointed at the trail, and I covered the back door.
A short time after, a college age girl came running up the trail, apparently in a panic. We watched her run by from our cover, and after a little while, the source(s) of her panic showed up on their motorcycles...they were tracking her'till one of the other guys yelled at them to stop. He's the only one that partially showed himself, but when the bikers moved their bikers to flank him, my other friend made his presence known. They didn't like it, so they turned around and left.
We tracked the girl, caught up to her, and took a hard path, but a shortcut back to the parking area to report the incident to the rangers...except the gun part.
Afterwards, when we got off the mountain and in a safe location, we all brought out our guns and "admired" them....a gun nut thing, right?

Anyway, what are other things that we could have done?

MTAA · October 25, 2000, 09:59 PM

You got it covered man.

Joe Demko · October 26, 2000, 09:07 AM

Not much else to do. You had no cause to shoot. It is not your responsibility to detain them, and attempting to do so would have escalated the situation. Citizens arrests are a chancy thing, at best.

Spectre · October 26, 2000, 12:02 PM

Hmm.

How far out were you?

cobraman · October 26, 2000, 12:30 PM

I always pack a heater out on the trail. Sounds like you did good

Jeff Thomas · October 27, 2000, 04:02 AM

Well, I suppose you could have taken their bikes, and ridden off into the sunset with the grateful coed, but ... I think I'm getting this confused with a movie ...

Nice work - glad everyone was OK.

Regards from AZ

LASur5r · October 27, 2000, 10:23 AM

Jeff,
I'm glad you mentioned that...I knew that I forgot to do something.
We should have made them dismount and taken their rides.
Would have made for a more picturesque ending, though.
Sad that we have to not report the guns otherwise we would have been in trouble.
We did have a good time checking out each other's revolvers and sharing a gun appreciation moment...sort of a guy thing. The young lady went off with the rangers so that they could conduct a further investigation.
So I guess the rangers kind of won out.

ACB777 · November 1, 2000, 12:58 PM

Outstanding! When I'm on the trail, which is usually alone I always have my .357 Ruger SP101. This story really warms my heart!

zot · November 1, 2000, 03:16 PM

wasn't there some high cliffs????you saved a
life,good for us!

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October 25, 2000, 08:43 PM	#1
LASur5r Junior member Join Date: July 20, 2000 Location: pasadena,california,America Posts: 542	Ok...another real 'un. Two of my buddies and I were into backpacking and rock climbing years ago in college. We all knew the risks we faced out in the wilderness, but we didn't talk about it. One day we were on a short seven mile hike (one way), when we heard a girl scream around the bend. Immediately, everyone took cover and to my surprise, three guns were drawn..their's pointed at the trail, and I covered the back door. A short time after, a college age girl came running up the trail, apparently in a panic. We watched her run by from our cover, and after a little while, the source(s) of her panic showed up on their motorcycles...they were tracking her'till one of the other guys yelled at them to stop. He's the only one that partially showed himself, but when the bikers moved their bikers to flank him, my other friend made his presence known. They didn't like it, so they turned around and left. We tracked the girl, caught up to her, and took a hard path, but a shortcut back to the parking area to report the incident to the rangers...except the gun part. Afterwards, when we got off the mountain and in a safe location, we all brought out our guns and "admired" them....a gun nut thing, right? Anyway, what are other things that we could have done?

October 25, 2000, 09:59 PM	#2
MTAA Junior member Join Date: April 12, 2000 Location: CA Posts: 447	You got it covered man.

October 26, 2000, 09:07 AM	#3
Joe Demko Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2000 Posts: 1,143	Not much else to do. You had no cause to shoot. It is not your responsibility to detain them, and attempting to do so would have escalated the situation. Citizens arrests are a chancy thing, at best.

October 26, 2000, 12:02 PM	#4
Spectre Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 23, 1998 Location: ATL Posts: 3,277	Hmm. How far out were you?

October 26, 2000, 12:30 PM	#5
cobraman Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 1999 Location: orlando fl Posts: 751	I always pack a heater out on the trail. Sounds like you did good

October 27, 2000, 04:02 AM	#6
Jeff Thomas Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1998 Location: Texas Posts: 4,753	Well, I suppose you could have taken their bikes, and ridden off into the sunset with the grateful coed, but ... I think I'm getting this confused with a movie ... Nice work - glad everyone was OK. Regards from AZ

October 27, 2000, 10:23 AM	#7
LASur5r Junior member Join Date: July 20, 2000 Location: pasadena,california,America Posts: 542	Jeff, I'm glad you mentioned that...I knew that I forgot to do something. We should have made them dismount and taken their rides. Would have made for a more picturesque ending, though. Sad that we have to not report the guns otherwise we would have been in trouble. We did have a good time checking out each other's revolvers and sharing a gun appreciation moment...sort of a guy thing. The young lady went off with the rangers so that they could conduct a further investigation. So I guess the rangers kind of won out.

November 1, 2000, 12:58 PM	#8
ACB777 Junior Member Join Date: November 1, 2000 Posts: 7	Outstanding! When I'm on the trail, which is usually alone I always have my .357 Ruger SP101. This story really warms my heart!

November 1, 2000, 03:16 PM	#9
zot Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 1999 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 566	wasn't there some high cliffs????you saved a life,good for us!