[pct-l] Americas 10 most dangerous hikes?

[Reinhold Metzger]

No, no, no Ellen,
Cats have to much fur and would not be able to handle the heat.
Rats can crawl in their holes and escape the heat.
I'd rather be a cool rat than a fried cat.

JMT Reinhold
The Canyon Rat
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Ellen replied.......better to be a canyon cat.
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Reinhold Metzger wrote:
> I can't believe the October issue of Backpacker magazine rates the 
> Grand Canyon Bright Angle Trail America's 2nd most dangerous hike.
> Over the last 25-30 years I have rafted and hiked every trail in the 
> canyon, most of them multiple times.
> If there is one area that I have hiked more extensively than the 
> Sierra, it would be the ''Canyon.''
> I have always considered the Bright Angel to be the least dangerous of 
> the Grand Canyon trails and we always make it a mandatory required 1st 
> Grand Canyon hike for our Boy Scouts in our Troop.
> Don't get me wrong, with 4380 vertical feet and 100+ degree 
> temperatures, the Bright Angel is a tough trail, but certainly not the 
> toughest in the Canyon.....It has what many of the other trails don't 
> have....shade & water in several locations and is well defined and 
> heavily traveled....that is why it is known as the ''Freeway.''
> There are other primitive trails in the ''Canyon,'' without shade or 
> water or people, which are far more dangerous than the Bright Angle.
> Take the Apache Trail for instance, we had to haul 15 liters of water 
> each.
> In 100 - 120 degree heat you need lots of water....the ''Canyon'' is 
> very unforgiving....it tolerates no fools.
>
> The only reason the bright Angle is ranked so high on the danger list, 
> above the other Grand Canyon trails, is because it is the ''Freeway'' 
> and is heavily used by inexperienced hikers and visitors who 
> underestimate the trail and the heat and run into trouble.
>
> JMT Reinhold
> aka....The Canyon Rat
>