[pct-l] To flare or not to flare

[Mike Chapman]

I have used flares for years,ive never had to lite one,but I wouldnt
think twice about saving my a$$ with one,and I sure as sin wouldnt ask
permission.  I was just responding to another post,about bringing
stoves to save your life.  I cant beleive the ego of someone trying to
speak for 18 million people. My friends and family would like to be
excluded from the list of 18 mill. in socal who dont want me or my
gear. A box of matches are just as dangerous,no argument needed,just
common sence,no need to disrespect the brainpower and actions of
fellow hikers. I thought this was a close knit family.  By the way,I
think Alta-nater is a good name,or stick with my fantasy league
name,Altathunder. Road-Flare will only bring up this bogus thread in
my mind,Hike on and try not to belittle your fellow hiker.

On 2/11/11, Brian McLaughlin <brianmclaugh at comcast.net> wrote:
> While I see the point you are making, I think you have
> oversimplified reality, which is much messier than that.
>
> Smart people do stupid things. Well-informed people
> sometimes act ignorantly, or rashly, or impulsively,
> or out of fear. All it takes to become a stupid person
> is a moment or two. And stupid actions, once they are
> done, cannot be undone.
>
> The difficulty with lighting a flare is that they are
> designed to burn hot and not go out once they're lit.
> You can't hold it until it is burned out, because it
> would burn your hand. You will have to put it down.
> In SoCal's dry forests that is just begging for trouble.
>
> If you bring a flare, in some sense it means you are
> intending to use it. Unless you have very specific criteria,
> for when you'll light it, why you would light it, how you
> will manage to handle it, and have practised all this
> beforehand, the chances for screwing it up are too
> high compared to the harm it could do.
>
> Just believing that, if you're "not stupid" you can't
> go wrong seems kind of... er, maybe I should stop
> there.
>
> Aimless
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gerry Zamora" <gerry0625 at gmail.com>
> To: "David Thibault" <dthibaul07 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] To flare or not to flare
>
>
> ...stupid people start fires not flares...
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