2 hikers shot dead on Pinnacle Lake Trail

[maxsolomon]

This is not, NOT acceptable. Frankly, i hope it was someone they knew, rather than another random NW homicidal maniac. I like to hike, i'm not afraid of black bears, and i don't want to carry a holstered gun every time i go.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003123623_hikersslain13m.html

Two women who were found dead near a trail in the Mount Pilchuck area had been shot, a source close to the investigation said Wednesday.

The pair, a mother and daughter from Seattle, were last seen alive at about 10 a.m. on a day hike to Pinnacle Lake, about 20 miles east of Granite Falls.

At about 2:30 p.m., another hiker called 911 after he discovered the bodies a couple of miles up the popular trail near the lake.

[flamingyouth]

1. Very creepy story

I hope we get more details soon too. :(

[glitch]

2. Horrible, But I will not let psychopaths dictate my lifestyle. Still going

to hike, whenever I can and often alone.

[maxsolomon]

3. what about carrying a pistol?

i think you can get an open carry permit in washington.

i have been camping with native washingtonians who always take a gun. i've thought that they're heavy, probably useless, and the likelyhood of needing it around one in a million.

but this makes me think i want one.

[glitch]

4. I've thought about it believe me. But I know nothing about them.

I do carry a tazer, for whatever it's worth. I sure hope they find out who did this quickly.

[maxsolomon]

5. i just carry my pocket knife

i should think about escalating my hiking arms race...

[glitch]

6. Yeah really. I figure the tazer for zapping a bear's nose but I have no

idea if I could really do it effectively or if it would even work! Every human I've ever run into on a trail has been another friendly hiker. And I've only seen the backside of bears, from a distance.
You know what, we probably run more risk driving to the trailhead. If I get a gun it will be to fight fascists, which seem to be becoming all too common, not for (very rare) killers in the mountains.

[maxsolomon]

7. meet me at the gun range

'there's a mighty judgement coming, but i could be wrong'
-L. Cohen, Tower of Song.

[glitch]

9. Love him! nt

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

8. The psychos, don,t really have power-,

Over people,- if you think you need a gun to go on a hike.

Perhaps keeping a watchful eye, never losing sight of the idea that thief,s and crooks and sex offenders- voyeurs -, that are child moulesters or rapest,-and arsonist and gang bangers, and all the bad ones exist.

They operate on the premise that you would not suspect they are there, or are what they are.

What is odd seeming , or what does not fit.

A good pocket knife on the trail is a handy tool to have.

If you think you need a gun,- mabe find another trail.

Can,t have psycho,s displaying power of any kind.

[maxsolomon]

11. the point is that it could happen on ANY TRAIL

you can't 'find another trail', you kook - Pinnacle Lake is as popular as possible.

there are places in the NW woods that are undeniably creeped out. the logging roads off 542 on the Nooksack - if you'd read about the horrific crime scene that was found up there about 5 years ago, you'd be reluctant to stay nearby without a gun, 2 rottweilers, & an armored microbus. here's the sanitized version - the creeped out version is long gone from the press.

http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/sheriff/helpus/missing/leah.jsp

Missing Person - Leah T. Roberts
23 Years of Age, 5'6" Tall, 130 lbs.
Home Town: Durham, North Carolina
Left North Carolina March 9, 2000
Veh: 1993 White Jeep Cherokee

Leah left her home town on March 9, 2000. She did not advise anyone of her destination. She left in a white 1993 Jeep Cherokee, North Carolina Lic# JVP-2881. The vehicle was found abandoned on a logging road in Whatcom County on Saturday, March 18, 2000. Receipts in the vehicle show gasoline was purchased in Brooks, Oregon in the early morning hours of Monday, March 13, 2000. A ticket was purchased from the theater at Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham on March 13, 2000 at 2:10 PM for the movie, American Beauty. Cat food was found in the car which leads investigators to suspect that she may have taken her small kitten with her from North Carolina. No other information is known at this time.

[pscot]

12. There are a lot more people

living out in that area now. Gold Bar used to be just a wide spot in the road, but now the whole area from there to Lake Roessiger is turning into a sort of suburban slum.

[flamingyouth]

10. Two slain hikers have been identified

Very sad indeed. I hope they catch the people responsible right away. :(

Two women found slain on a Snohomish County trail have been identified as a Seattle Public Schools librarian and her daughter.

Their cause of death and the official release of their identities are expected to be announced this evening, after the Snohomish County Medical Examiner has identified them through fingerprint or dental records and the next-of-kin has been notified. However, a note outside the home of one of the victims identifies them as Mary Cooper, 56, and Susanna Stodden, 27.

Cooper was a librarian at Alternative Elementary No. 2 at Decatur in Seattle.

Outside the school this afternoon a makeshift memorial was set up by students. Meanwhile, Cooper's husband refused to comment pending official release of the victims' identities by the medical examiner's office. The daughter's roommates also declined comment for the same reason.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003124787_webhikersslain13.html

[maxsolomon]

13. would anyone have an opinion on carrying a pistol

loaded with RUBBER bullets?

it wouldn't be lethal, but it could chase off a bear, coug, & probably deter a backwoods NW wierdo.

[maxsolomon]

14. today's media clues

saturday:

witnesses saw them at the trailhead @ 10 am.
3 cars at the trailhead that day:
1. victims
2. lone hiker dude who found them
3. unknown

my questions:
1. WHO saw them at the trailhead? the lone hiker dude was behind them - presumably far enough that he didn't hear the gunshots. if he was, then he started long after them - lone hiker dudes move MUCH faster than 2 women, one in her 50's. i'm sorry, that's not chauvanism, its fact.
2. was the 3rd car at the trailhead when the lone hiker dude came out to call the authorities? if that was the killer, it would make no sense at all. if you'd shot 2 women, you'd be out of there as fast as possible - did the lone hiker dude PASS the shooter before finding the bodies? if so, then find that car & its driver.
3. suspects - while sweating the lone hiker dude & the victim's family, i'd start with any oddballs in the volunteer orgs the daughter was in. it is conceivable she had an enviro-stalker.

[maxsolomon]

15. still no arrests

don't let this douchebag get away with it, Snohomish Co.

do i have to come up there & apply my Law & Order SVU expertise to the case? i've already caught 2 people who robbed from me & recovered my property.