[pct-l] Just another day on the PCT - guns and rattlers and bears and snow

[Jim & Jane Moody]

I heard that Handyman was lurking in the shadows, wearing Vibram 5's and munching corn pasta. 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: abiegen at cox.net 
To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 10:20:34 AM 
Subject: [pct-l] Just another day on the PCT - guns and rattlers and bears        and snow 

I was hiking up Apache Peak in 2010. It was deep snow conditions and still coming down. When I got to the top I couldn't figure out how I would be able to get down through the deep ice covered snow. All of a sudden a large black bear was there, reared up and growling at me. What could I do? 

My pistol was in my bear canister which I hadn't be able to get open for several days. I reached down and grabbed a large rock. As I lifted it I saw a rattlesnake had been hiding under the rock. I dropped the rock and picked up the rattler by the tail. I swung the rattler around over my head; my aim to throw it at the bear. Then I remembered the flare in the outside pocket of my backpack. 

Just as I reached with my other hand to grab the flare the lightning struck. 

The lightning hit the rattlesnake and scared off the bear. It also ignited my flare and turned my back pack into a jet pack. I flew down the icy slopes all the way down to Idyllwild where I was surprised to see that the lightning had also cooked my MRE so I had a nice warm meal ready to eat when I stopped. 

Just another day on the PCT. 

TrailHacker 

"When my feet get toasted from lightning, I can't think straight" 
Abraham Lincoln 

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