Disturbing Secrets of The Appalachian Trail

I knew the woods of my small southern rural town like the back of my hand. I cleared dozens of trails to ride my bike, built forts with my friends, and enjoyed the best— and worst— of what nature has to offer. Being outdoorsy, hiking the Appalachian Trail was always a primary goal.

Growing into my mid-teens, I moved from a small town to a slightly bigger city in Western North Carolina, where I could finally see the mighty Appalachian trail. This trail and the surrounding areas created pivotal memories that forever changed who I am as a person. My respect and undying passion for the forest were forever solidified with my time spent in those woods...

Today, we’re taking a microscope to one of North America's— really, the world’s— most infamous hiking trails; these are the dark secrets of the Appalachian Trail…

Written by: Swamp Dweller + Page Turner

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[coryshann]

Growing up, I went to church with someone whose husband decided to hike the Appalachian Trail and died- supposedly of eating “bad potatoes” along his journey 🤔 I have always had my doubts.

[nratliff]

The "sound" lines jumping up and down at the bottom of the screen are super annoying!

[marianhaas]

When my brother and myself trough-hiked the PCT in 2019 we went on a Side-Trail in Oregon called Bloody Run Trail. This trail was so remote it has no beaten path with 10 feet farn growing everywhere and located in a valley surrounded by mountains. The sun rised above the peaks at 10am and sunk at 5 in the day and it seems that nobody was there for years and that was the only time on trail i thought to myself, when there are cryptids or such things this is the place to search for them. Nothing happens while we marched trough the valley, but when i look back it was the only time i felled so lonely and in touch with pure nature. I can't tell you the exact location of this trail, but when you went on the PCT in Southern Oregon ask the locals and hikers about the Bloody Run Trail maybe you can find it (Its worth it!). Sorry for some grammatical problems in the comment. Greetings from Germany to all swamp people Auf Wiedersehn!!!

P.s: Thank you Swamp Dweller for providing us with all the stories and reports on National Parks and Trails.

[thomasbranson]

I grew up as a kid in all those hills. I still take trips of anywhere from a few weeks to three months at a time. I am 62 now, never carried a weapon, never needed one. I have layed in camp and had bears walk in and around camp, stood face to face with a bear and walked with mountain lions. I have been accepted and protected by the magnificent creatures our Lord created. I am moving back to Virginia soon so I can walk through my beloved mountains again. I was born there, and when it is my time to leave this world, I pray my Lord gives me the strength to take one last walk where I can pass in peace with my animals.
Also my mom and uncle had to walk down Brown Mountain each morning to go to school. I know these stories well.

[Bigworms]

I remember hiking to the approach trail to springer mountain G.A, i quickly notice the thinner trails and at night groups would camp at the same shelter in groups because the shelters was one every 75 miles. I would always by pass the shelters and try to go on another 5 miles past any shelter. I would never have fire at night, never camp on the direct trail. It’s the people you truly have to worry about.

[puca]

Dang! I think these stories may have actually finally cured my desire to visit the Appalachinan Trail!

[James-ygxu]

Always bring a weapon just in case you run into a crazy person. People can be much more dangerous than wild animals

[charlesparr]

Over 1000 people complete the Appalachian trail every year, and the trail is visited by 3 million people per year, though most are only driving to a viewpoint, or walking a short piece of pathway. To give a perspective, plenty of people do their grocery shopping every couple of days while on the trail and on foot. However there are also sections that are very remote indeed, and the trail is punishingly laborious, constant rolling ground (experienced hikers know that walking downhill at least as rough on you as uphill, and rolling ground is the hardest to cover.

The trail is a wierd place, a large part of it is literally a walk through rural farmland and even suburbs. Then some of it is wild backwoods that is full of abandoned settlers homesteads and mines. There are also plenty of more or less feral people living in the woods, mostly temporarily and in summer, but further south there are permanent dwellers. Some of them are criminals growing weed and the like, not all are friendly.

And like all places far from civilization, soaked in the violence of slaveholding America and the Genocides against the Native American people, the trail is assuredly haunted. The real question is whether you are the kind of person those restless spirts will protect, ignore, or....

[kaci]

as someone who grew up in Appalachia, I love these videos

[noahcarver]

Always happy to see more wilderness type stories uploaded. Also, I'm really digging the Swamp Dweller 24 hour radio. I leave that on all night for some spooky dreams.

[glendashubin]

Thank you Swamp Dweller!!! 🌹♥️ I love listening to your stories!!!

[sonicfangal]

Yess, finally, stories about my home! The Appalachian Trails are always so beautiful and have so many legends, mysteries, and secrets. PS, I love the new intro!

[richardlanier]

Hellyeah the southern Appalachia right here. North Georgia and the mountains are all around me. I was born in such a beautiful area.

[thecosplaygurl]

Thank you for new video!
Hope Everyone in the swamp has a great day/night

[sins-of-oblivion]

Let's go I'm all bogged Hogged up in the middle of the swamp when all of a sudden a notification that swamp Dweller uploaded a video and I'm in the middle of Green Swamp in North Carolina 3 tp 4 hours from the app trail on the nc side hell yeah thanks SD you make sleeping in the swamp a bit easier

[moonhead]

Crazy that you mentioned Molly Larue. I didn’t actually know her but she’s a semi-distant relative, same last name as well, and she’s a common subject of conversation among the older members of the family anytime the AT is brought up. My grandparents and their brothers and sisters and stuff seem to know mii of re about it, my dad too but he doesn’t enjoy talking about it. Not aged who actually knew her or how she’s related, but if you trust word of mouth and ancestry and stuff, there is some relation. There are like a billion related Lheureux/Larues in Maine in particular though like swing a cat and you’ll hit there, but it was wild to hear her mentioned while I’m just chilling listening to scary stories lol

[thewaywardgrape]

Just think: There's been 8x more people that's been to the top of Everest, compared to completing the Appalachian Trail.

[becci]

I went to my subscriptions looking for a new Swamp Dweller vid. And here it is!

[Kulio_ibwc]

The last time I hiked the AT a very sweet older couple told me to be careful that there were people on the trail that were "armed and dangerous." I said to her " so am I lady, so am I."

[treysmith]

I grew up 15 minutes from the Bell witch. I understand you probably didn’t know this, and it’s ok; but The Bell Witch is not considered Appalachian. It’s like 3/4 away from Robertson County.