[pct-l] Pct-l Digest, Vol 11, Issue 30

[Steel-Eye]

Good afternoon,

You guys aren't being very progressive in your thinking -- actually
suggesting that hikers take personal responsibility for their decisions and
behavior.  I'm reminded of part of a conversation I overheard a couple of
years ago at REI:  A young couple said to the clerk, "We're going hiking in
the mountains.  Tell us everything we need to be sure we'll be safe."  I
didn't hang around to hear what the clerk suggested, but it was certain to
include a plastic whistle and a bear-bell, among a list of perhaps 300 other
items.

I often recall that conversation when I'm hiking past one of the many snow
peaks here in the Northwest.  As I look up and enjoy the view I remember
that I'm also staring up the barrel of a live volcano, cocked and loaded
with perhaps 50 billion tons of potential pyroclastic flow -- and there I am
without my plastic whistle or bear-bell.

Steel-Eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Bankhead" <wandering_bob at comcast.net>
To: "Phil Baily" <pbaily at webuniverse.net>; <drew_engman at verizon.net>;
<pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 11:49 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Pct-l Digest, Vol 11, Issue 30


> In 16 yrars of PCT hiking, I've never encountered an unsafe condition I
> couldn't handle, mitigate, or avoid entirely - including a bear that
> walked up to my sleeping bag one night while cowboy camping. In my
> opinion, the biggest safety hazards on the trail are the decisions you as
> the individual hiker make for yourself. You are the one who decides what
> gear you do or don't carry, whether or not to try that creek crossing,
> risk that snow traverse, go in that direction, or which side of the road
> you'll walk on and under what conditions. To quit or go on?
>
> Fatalities are very rare on the PCT. Only two come readily to mind; John
> Donovan who got lost traversing Fuller Ridge 2 years ago and the Rodmans -
> Jane and Flicka - who were struck and killed by a driver who fell asleep,
> left the road, and struck them while they walking 100 feet off to the side
> of that road in southern CA in 1995. The latter proves the old addage that
> "you can be doing everything right and still get in trouble by being in
> the wrong place at the wrong time".
>
>
> Bear spray is not needed. Yes, you will probably see a black bear or two
> in the Sierras, but - using common sense and making good decisions - you
> won't have a problem with them. That said, it's your hike. If it makes you
> or your companion(s) FEEL safer, carry it. It's only another pound. Just
> remember it does you no good on your pack strap or hipbelt if you set your
> pack down and walk away from it.
>
> Wandering Bob
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Drew Engman" <drew_engman at verizon.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 9:52 AM
>
> Does anyone carry some type of personal defense against ? Whatever, such
> as bear spray/pepper spray? Anyone ever been waylaid (I'm not talkin' sex)
> on the PCT? Other than falling deaths, have there ever been people killed
> by animals or humans on the PCT? Just curious, someone mentioned hiking
> with others for safety, and that got me wondering. I've never heard of any
> serious troubles caused by anything other than weather or getting lost.
> Drew A.G. Engman
> Desert Man
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