Times have changed. As a Scout in the 1970s I hiked almost all the AT from the Smokies up to Damascus VA and the area around Sams Gap was one of our favorites. Scariest thing I ever saw was once my friend and I got slightly lost and off the main trail, came upon a clearing and before it was too late saw two large stills and 2-3 legit mountain men moonshiners. They were armed. We turned around quietly and walked away. I kept waiting to feel a bullet in the back of my skull. But I did learn years later in having a conversation w my old Scout leader that he always carried a pistol when he took the Troop backpacking and also that while we all slept in our tents he never slept--drank coffee by the fire all night w his pistol nearby.
I have always hoped to do a through hike when I am done running and retired.
I had a run in with a homeless person just recently who bears a strong resemblance to this nut job. He was threatening in sort of a verbal type way, and it did leave me feeling very defenseless or I guess I realized at that moment how defenseless we really are
These hikers did everything right as far we know--were in a group, were on the main trail, apparently tried to reason with him
Yes re the element of surprise is always on the attackers side, similar to assassination attempts, but in this case there was definitely an exchange regarding the perpetrators comments that he would douse their tents w gasoline and burn them down, which is why they broke camp at midnight and left, and went diff directions.