A suspect known as ‘The High-Country Harasser’ has been arrested in Carbon County, Wyoming.
Nicholas “Cottonmouth” Sampson is accused of “plagued the CDT [Continental Divide Trail] for years,” with alleged acts ranging from following females on the trail to threatening and yelling at hikers to assaulting random victims.
Incidents Sampson was allegedly involved in a range from New Mexico to Wyoming, with the Continental Divide Trail spanning 3,100 miles from New Mexico to Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
According to a press release from Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken, Sampson, whom Bakken referred to as a “pest of the plains,” was previously arrested in Wyoming’s Sublette County for assault in July 2024 and spent the summer in jail. Following his release, the sheriff claims he returned to the trail and “resumed his erratic and sometimes violent behavior.”
Sampson was reportedly arrested again on July 24 for an incident on Wyoming’s Bridger Pass Road, which is part of the Continental Divide Trail’s route.
The arrest came after a report was received of a disturbance between Sampson and a worker on the road, with Sampson allegedly throwing a water bottle at the worker.
Sampson was arrested and charged with two counts of ‘Breach of Peace’, and he was being held at the Carbon County Jail as of last report.
“We’d like to take this opportunity to encourage our residents and visitors to enjoy all of the scenic trails that Carbon County has to offer, especially now that” Cottonmouth “is enjoying a complimentary stay at our 5-star county accommodations,” state Sheriff Bakken said.
All alleged crimes are accusations, and all suspects must be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
