In the midst of the hub-bub of the late 70s the Appalachian Trail was becoming increasingly popular and with this the rampant drug use on the trail. As the letter described the trail shelters located most remotely in the Shenandoah National Park were closed due to the drug use of hikers as they passed through the area. The increase in hikers had led the park to be overwhelmed and the use of the drug caused havoc as trail shelters were used for gatherings of hikers and even non-hikers to smoke marijuana and take part in other illicit activities while on state property. This was a major concern and due to this, the shelters were closed down to help elevate the problem and keep the hikers on the straight and narrow.