Speaking of weirdos, about two years ago I was heading to the blue ridge parkway to hike a local trail. It was late winter, and I should have checked, but the parkway was closed. So anyway, right before the turn off for the parkway was a pulloff, and I noticed a unmarked trailhead there. So I parked, loaded up my pack, and started up this trail, unknowing where it'd take me. There was snow on the trail, maybe 8". I was really enjoying this hike, until I reached the crest. At the top of the mountain the old forest I was walking through turned into a pine forest. But not a natural one. It looked like the area was logged out at one time, and pine was planted in rows. Immediately entering this pine forest my 6th Sense was telling me something was wrong. The area the pine forest was in was a bowl that was maybe 20 feet lower then the surrounding area around it. For the most part the area around the bowl was flat, and the area in the pine forest was flat, and with the trees being planted in a row visibility was pretty good. Half way through the pines, I couldn't ignore what I was feeling so I turned around, with the idea I was gonna exit the bowl, walk the edge of the bowl until I intersect with the trail again. And plus I figured I'd have better visibility being above the bowl looking down into the pines in case I was in a situation I had to perfect myself. So as I'm circling this bowl, I spot a guy, who looked homeless, very methodically moving through the pine in the direction I just left. He's not on the trail, just walking the woods. Stopping every 10ft or so, every time breaking behind a tree. Seemed odd to me, but didn't alarm me none at the time, so I reconnected back with the trail, and kept on. About a mile later, I start getting that uneasy feeling again. The area I was in at that moment was rocky with cliff edges on both sides. I took the path of several large rocks, maybe 10 in a row, to get me off trail, not leaving any foot prints. Sure nuff, about 15 minutes later, that same dude, very methodically emerges from behind a large rock. I was close enough to tell now that he was moving slow because he was tracking my footprints in the snow. There were other tracks from other hikers in the snow, and I assume he figured he was still on my trail, so he kept on down the trail. I followed his tracks all the way back to that pine forest, where I put it all together. I think he was living in that pine forest, and seen me walk in, and decided to follow me for whatever reason. I could see where he followed my tracks when I was exiting the pine forest, then followed my tracks all around the bowl, and all the way to that cliffed out area that I took shelter behind that rock when I seen him pass earlier , and was following the trail about 30ft within the wood line. Creeped me the hell out. I've never been back. Looking back I wish I'd of confronted the guy. I was carrying a 9mm, but I really didn't wanna put myself in a situation to use it if I didn't have to. Who knows how that situation would have turned out. I've learned to trust that sixth sense feeling a 100%.
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