Authorities in Sylva, North Carolina, are trying to determine who placed dozens of nails on a two-mile section of trail popular among runners and hikers.
Officials have found about 50 to 60 nails on a trail in the 1,100-acre Pinnacle Park, according to Brian Barwatt, a director of the Assault on BlackRock trail race within the park and an engineer technician with the Department of Transportation. Barwatt, who spoke to Runner’s World by phone on Wednesday, said police and city maintenance workers have found many of the nails sticking out of tree roots. The Citizen-Times has a report on the discovery of the nails.
On February 11, Barwatt was contacted by a trail runner who said that while on a run with two friends he stepped on a nail that impaled his foot. Barwatt said the runner got a tetanus shot and is doing fine.
Another person—a hiker, who was not hurt—stepped on a nail the following Saturday when Barwatt and Sylva Police Chief Davis Woodard began to thoroughly go over the trail. They initially found eight nails in an isolated area, but two days later with a larger group using leaf blowers and metal detectors found what appeared to be 50 purposefully placed nails.
Barwatt said it appeared someone took 4-inch galvanized nails, hacksawed off the ends, and left them sticking out of spots along the trail about a half-inch to 2 inches high, acting like spikes. After the locations were documented, the nails were removed by authorities.
“It was a slow shock. We didn’t really know what was going on at first,” Barwatt said. “I was hoping it was some isolated nail, but when we went up there and found eight and then continued to explore, the shock just kept growing.”
The trail and park is frequented by hikers, and runners have started hitting the mixed gravel and singletrack terrain since Barwatt began his Assault on BlackRock Trail race—which climbs 2,770 feet up 3.5 miles to the top of Blackrock Summit before heading back down the mountain—seven years ago. Based on his estimates, Barwatt said about 25 percent of the race route was compromised with nails.
The park was closed on February 19, but has since reopened. There is a $1,000 reward leading to information about the case.
Brian has spent more than a decade focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling. He’s coordinated coverage of major events like the Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, and Tour de France, with an eye toward both the professional race and the engaging stories readers love.
