The sleepy hamlet of Garrison was overcome with nervous excitement when the FBI came Wednesday morning to search for evidence along a stretch of the Appalachian Trail.

Members of the FBI's Evidence Response Team descended on the area at Route 9 and Route 403, to search along the trail for about five hours out in the open, causing passersby to stop their cars and take photos.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office confirmed late Wednesday that the agency is working on an investigation into a past case and the FBI evidence technicians arrived just after sunrise to assist.

Seeing the shovels, metal detectors and a special dog brought in by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, John Cronin felt he had to document the event with his camera.

"I've lived here since 1981," he said. "I've never seen the FBI come to visit. They are welcome, but I'm really curious about what they're up to."

It remains unclear whether the evidence techs found anything significant and whether they are searching other parts of the trail.

They did not tape off a perimeter when they left the scene, allowing hikers to walk right through the search area.