Pure Maple Syrup, US 19 and US 129 are routes which at that point lie on the same roadbed. Whichever number you use, it's the same road (see Google Maps.) "Seen following her on the trail" is not explicit enough since there are three separate trails in the area at the foot of the mountain. One (the AT) leads directly to the store; one (the Bird Trail) is the one her roommate said she had planned to hike; the other is the AT access trail to the Reece Loop. My remarks were meant to describe a hypothesis consistent with a store clerk saying he/she saw Meredith walking ahead of Hilton at some distance and Hilton having his baton out in his hand. If the store clerk were in the store the only explanation would have to be that Meredith was seen approaching US 19/129. How she got back towards her car is at issue. Having arrived at the store, would she hike back upslope on the AT to the secluded AT access trail? Maybe... if she and Hilton had become fond acquaintances. But, No... if she was in flight from him. If she was comfortable with him why would she be walking "some distance" ahead of him? and why would he have his baton out and in his hand? HIlton probably would not have known where she had parked her car. Sometimes dayhikers ignore the signs posted and park at the store anyway, especially if the store is closed. The clerk could have been closing up, doing inventory, or something. Could Hilton have been thinking of taking her right there and using her car to get away in? Perhaps the matter could be settled if we knew upon which of the three trails the ex-cop found her water bottle and sunglasses. And where, on the Reece Loop in relationship to her car, the leash and baton were found. But...Incomplete info.
I repeat, I am not advancing what is a proven description by any means. It is only one possible scenario consistent with the incomplete reports I have at hand.
The fact no one came forward with a story of a hiker hiking down US 129 near a hikers' store would not be remarkable to me. Given the reckless the way the locals drive that highway, I would be surprised if they even noticed themselves.
I repeat, I am not advancing what is a proven description by any means. It is only one possible scenario consistent with the incomplete reports I have at hand.
The fact no one came forward with a story of a hiker hiking down US 129 near a hikers' store would not be remarkable to me. Given the reckless the way the locals drive that highway, I would be surprised if they even noticed themselves.