[pct-l] to flare or not to flare

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I hiked in Washington in August, not October so I didn't feel that  
I'd be in danger of lack of warmth as long as I carried my sleeping  
bag. I did not find the PCT to be this huge, dangerous wilderness  
experience where "survival gear" was a necessity. I never built a  
fire. Of the 10 essentials, I did pretty well:
1. Map - Guide book. Better maps in some areas.
2. Compass - Nope. Well, I think I had one somewhere but I never took  
it out of wherever it was stashed.
3. Flashlight / Headlamp - 3 LED headlamp
4. Extra Food - There's no such thing as "extra" food when you are a  
thru-hiker
5. Extra Clothes - Nope, unless socks and a jacket counts as extra.
6. Sunglasses - Yep
7. First-Aid Kit - Bandaids, neosporin, a couple Vicodin, some  
Ibuprofen, an Alka-selzer, a couple immodium and a bandana
8. Pocket Knife - Yep
9. Waterproof Matches -Yep
10. Firestarter - I suppose a bandana and hand sanitizer would do it.  
Or the trash in my food bag. Or possibly the candles.
11. Water / Filter / Bottles - Aquamira and bottles.
12. Whistle - I had an Irish tin whistle. Does that count? My pack  
also had a whistle on a buckle. Not that I would have remembered it  
was there.
13. Insect Repellents or Clothing - God yes. Multiple kinds.
14. Sunburn Preventatives - That's what clothing is for.

See, lightweight and I still had the "essentials."


On Feb 13, 2011, at 12:21 PM, linsey wrote:

> I've joked that in a survival situation, I wanted enough  
> firestarter to burn down the state although I ought not have  
> confessed that on this particular thread.   If I lived somewhere  
> arid I would likely use different tactics.  As far as the weight, I  
> save elsewhere.  For example I save weight (and additional calorie  
> expenditure) by not carrying trekking poles.
>
> Let me paraphrase advice gleaned from Cody Lundin's book, "98.6  
> degrees:  The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive".  He strongly  
> recommends practicing survival skills with your chosen gear before  
> you need them.  Which is why I'm shocked that you don't know how  
> well your trick candles work, and why I know your kit would be  
> inadequate to guarantee a survival fire in all Washington's weather  
> conditions.
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