[pct-l] Have I been Lucky?

[Jon Danniken]

MtnGuy wrote:
> FWIW...
>
> I've been hiking the PCT, CDT and Appl. Trail for 40+ years.
> I've never filtered or treated water.
> I've never slept in a tent.
> I don't use trekking poles.
> I don't own a stove.
> I don't hang my food or use a bear device.
>
> Have I been lucky?
> If so, I hope my luck continues.

Well, I'd say that a stove and trekking poles are a matter of personal 
preference more than anything else; I got along for the last 20 some plus 
years without poles, but I swear by 'em now.  I always have used a stove of 
some sort, though, but that's just me. .

As concerns water, that would certainly fall under the "lucky" category, and 
even though most water sources are safe, those of us like myself aren't 
willing to take a chance on getting sick out in the middle of the woods to 
save a few ounces on treatment chemical (or 13 ounces on a filter, like I 
use).

As for bears, that could also be considered to be luck, although there are 
areas in which there is a higher probability of negative bear encounters 
(such as the heavily abused areas in Northern California).  Now personally, 
I've never had a problem with bears here in Oregon, but then most of my 
backpacking time has been spent in places that lack the over-abundance of 
humans which is what creates problem bears in the first place.

So perhaps you are lucky to a certain extent, at least in the sense that you 
haven't been in the wrong place at the wrong time, anyway.

Jon