In our overly litigious society where just about anything can and will be prosecuted, endurance running legend Scott Jurek, 41, accepted a plea deal and was fined $500 for public drinking after setting a new supported thru-hike record of the 2,189.2 mile Appalachian Trail.
This celebratory party foul came at the top of Mount Katahdin where humorless officials from Baxter State Park accused Jurek of consuming alcohol, having a crowd at the summit, and littering. The littering occurred when Jurek sprayed Champagne and inadvertently covered nearby rocks with the residue. The Grinch that stole the celebration and chose to prosecute Jurek was Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy. Almy told reporters that the higher than normal fine was justified because of the, “totality of the circumstances.” According to Almy the summit, “smelled like a redemption center.” All three charges were civil violations according to Maine law.
Baxter State Park Director Jensen Bissell argued that the celebration could have ruined the outdoor experience for others at the park. Bissell told reports that the mission of the park is the preservation of nature and to provide a refuge of outdoor recreation for everyone.
Jurek’s attorney Walter McKee told reporters, “Scott consumed alcohol on the summit; he didn’t know it was a violation; the people that brought it up were told it was OK to do so.”
Apparently no one in Jurek’s posse knew that spilling the alcohol constituted littering and would be aggressively prosecuted by Almy. The guilty plea agreement resulted in Jurek being charged with public consumption of alcohol, but dropped the charges of littering, and having a rocking celebratory party after accomplishing a truly inspirational act of physical endurance. While Jurek may have been guilty of excessive celebration in the end zone, the buzz kill flag goes to Almy and Bissell for truly not getting it.
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