[pct-l] OT reaction and "The Fear"

[Matthew Edwards]

I too could not resist this one.
Currently I am hiking the CDT and in just about every townstop I have had occasion to discuss the trail with the locals. They have all been excited to hear about the trail and I do my very best to be a good "trail ambassador". Many times I have had to simply bite my tongue when the "fear" rears it's ugly head.
Twice I have had otherwise reasonable folks berate me for not carrying a gun or a knife big enough to cut the head off a hippopotamus.
One well meaning fellow actually insisted on buying me a knife or giving me his and it took all my courtesy to decline gracefully without being an ass about it.
Thru hikers spend huge amounts of time in the backcountry with nothing more dangerous than a silnylon tarp and a "cheese" knife.. every year and we are not being eaten or killed in numbers as such to deserve this fear.
The locals in one town told me of a person killed by bears and to "watch out". The whole story was the person in question had a habit of feeding multiple bears daily with only a chiken wire fence for protection.
Not every fear is groundless but also many injuries and deaths out here are simply accidents and miscalculations and those factors are in no way exclusive to wilderness settings.
I remember last year on the PCT the "fears" were: Fuller Ridge, The Mojave, The Sierra, Hat Creek Rim, The rain in Washington... But I suspect it is the same every year.
Even our little community of hikers is suseptible to "the Fear".
You are absolutely correct Big Toe, there is a huge amount of fear and ignorance about the wilderness and the dangers out here.
I also agree with Mendoriders analogy of letting young people frive 70 MPH on the freeway yet thinking the wilderness much more dangerous.
The greatest danger I have found out here so far, and in fact during my entire outdoor career is Hubris. False Pride in myself or assumed abilities is my greatest weakness and it is that which I am constantly on guard for.
As far as a Grizzly eating me I can take measures but ultimately, just like a rockslide or a heart attack it seems to me no more likely than any other fate.
I worry about the next generation as well since I have seen only two other hikers younger than myself that were not CDT thru's since starting this hike. It's been over 1000 miles and has been beautiful rewarding country all along.
Anyhow, back to the trail.
Cheers-Iceaxe

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