[pct-l] Knowing when to Stop

[Stephen]

Well said Erik.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Erik The Black" <erik at eriktheblack.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 11:03 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Knowing when to Stop


> Some of the discussions lately about the dangers of hiking have got me
> thinking.
>
> Almost always, when you hear about someone getting hurt or killed in the
> wilderness, it's apparent that if the person had just STOPPED what they 
> were
> doing, they would have been fine. Usually danger didn't come to them. They
> walked right into danger, and many times they knew what they were doing.
>
> But they did it because they felt like they had to be somewhere, or
> accomplish some goal in a certain timeframe. They had to put in 20 miles
> before camp, or be in XXX town by Thursday to receive a package, or meet
> somebody, or conquer the challenge, or whatever.
>
> And the lamest excuse of all: "If I don't keep moving I'll run out of 
> food".
>
>
> Hey I love food too, but it's way down the list of survival necessities. 
> You
> can live for weeks without food. You might be a little hungry, but you'll
> live. What's more important is water, shelter, and protecting yourself 
> from
> injury.
>
> Sometimes, when confronted with a tough decision, the best decision is 
> just
> to do nothing at all.
>
> ****************************************************************************
> If you start to overheat in the desert... STOP, and get under some shade 
> and
> take a nap.
>
> If  you start to get hypothermic in the cold... STOP, and pitch your tent
> and get in your sleeping bag.
>
> If you run into a gnarly creek fork... STOP, and casually explore upstream
> for a better place to cross, or just wait until the next morning when the
> flow isn't so swift.
>
> If you get lost... STOP, and take a little breather before consulting your
> maps, rather than wandering aimlessly hoping to regain the trail.
> ****************************************************************************
>
> Don't be afraid to stop. There is no shame in putting in a 5-mile day 
> every
> once in a while. It's a good excuse to catch up on your journaling ;)
>
>
> -Erik The Black
> www.pctatlas.com
>
>
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