[pct-l] Hiker Safety

[Kent Spring]

Hi Drew -
The trouble with sprays are two-fold: you need quick and easy access, 
and they are illegal in many areas (certainly National Parks, where 
your chance of meeting a bear would be biggest).

I think the most dangerous situation for hikers is that moment you 
come out of 5 or 6 days in a very quiet, fairly wild area like much 
of the PCT, and you venture to cross a highway.   Your senses will 
have no idea how to handle high speed traffic.  I think statistically 
the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths have occured due 
to traffic.

Be Safe, Kent

> From: "Drew Engman"
> <drew_engman at verizon.net>
>  
> Hiker Safety
> 
> 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
> "How Do Crazy People Hike The PCT? 
> They Take The Psycho Path!"