[pct-l] Planning First Solo Hike (Jim Cribari) II

[Ernie Castillo]

Fear.

Nearly all of us experience it. (Some admit it, some don't.)

Fear is not exclusive to hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

Like everything else, do what you believe you need to do to manage fear the risks involved in hiking the PCT, whether alone or in a group.

 

My 2 cents worth.

I carried an ice axe for large portions of my 1980 through hike mainly because I walked through a lot of snow. (Heavy leather boots were a must back then.) I was glad I did because I once slipped in the snow on San Jacinto and would have fallen several feet into water if I hadn't been able to swing the ice axe into snow and stop my descent.

 

I sent it home when I reached the upper end of Northern California. The thought did cross my mind that I could use it as a weapon but I really only jutified it as a snow traversing tool and/or a walking aid.

 

I also carried a large hunting knife my brother-in-law had given me specifically for the trip. It was on the top of my pack, nestled underneath straps that held my sleeping bag and pad to the top of the frame. I practiced getting the knife out of its sheath while walking. I didn't use it for much beyond slicing beef jerky and it wasn't worth the weight. But it gave me peace of mind.

 

So did hiking with Robert Stanley through the last portion Washington. Robert, from what I could gather, was a former British soldier (spy?) and while I never asked, I assumed he carried a firearm.

 

I felt safe hiking with Robert. But then again, I rarely felt afraid walking the PCT.

 

 



Ernie Castillo
erniec01 at hotmail.com
248 884 5201
 		 	   		  
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