[pct-l] Carrying weapons

[mkwart at gci.net]

Carrie:

I think the suggestion to carry a weapon reflects unwarranted paranoia 
that "outsiders" have about the long distance hiking experience. The 
only place I would consider carrying a gun is on some trails in Alaska 
and that would be for grizzlies. The truth is I carried bear spray 
hiking there, which can be deployed faster thatn a gun.

I have sectioned hiked the entire PCT and was alone 95% of the time. I 
also thru hiked the Colorado Trail alone as well as trails from Alaska 
to Texas. I am a single female. The times that are most dicey for me 
were the hitches to towns for re-supply and zero days. I minimized this 
by hooking up with non-hiking friends who lived in the area and were 
willing to pick me up. Many people have their parents get involved with 
support of this kind for them. Also, more times than you would think 
there are other hikers hitching at the same time. I also got the names 
of trail angels in the areas where I needed to get off the trail and 
called them up and pre-arranged for a lift. It is customary to give them 
gas money. You can find these names at the post offices and other 
establishments in towns along the trail that host the hiker boxes and 
trail registers. Also--you can query for trail angel rides on the PCT 
list serve.

Every day I would see someone on the trail when I hiked in the normal 
hiking season. More people near big cities because of day hikers. It 
varied from 1-2 to 12-20. An average would be 6-8. If you hike during 
the winter/ very early spring there may be some days you won't see 
anyone on the trail.

I have always felt safe on the trail. I carry a cell phone and check for 
reception regularly. If your parents or friends are worried--get a SPOT 
satellite communications device. You can push a button and it will relay 
your location to pre-arranged people via the internet. It also has a 
button that you can summon help from friends and a button to summon help 
via 911. It is not very expensive. Many people use this. Your family and 
friends can also follow your progress on Google Maps from the SPOT 
tracking info. I also use the greatest of "weapons"--common sense. Don't 
camp near obvious dispersed camping site party spots near roads while on 
the trail. Avoid being obvious in the place you set up your tent if 
there are strangers around. Feel free to refuse rides with people who 
raise the hackles on the back of your neck when hitchhiking.

Good luck--check out the journals of single women on the trail at 
Postholer.com and trailjournals.com. You can get a lot of tips from 
reading them. I kept a journal at www.postholer.com/fireweed.

--Fireweed