[pct-l] Carrying weapons

[Ron]

Diane,

Well said (as usual...good points).
Another tip:  read lots of journals to learn from the mistakes of others...

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <diane at santabarbarahikes.com> wrote:

>I was a solo female hiker and I kept myself solo the entire way, only  
>hiking with others a total of about 6 days the entire distance.  
>People get on my nerves after a while. That's just the way I am.
>
>Do not listen to any folks who recommend anything to you for your  
>thru-hike unless they have hiked the trail. Anyone who has not  
>backpacked the PCT for a significant distance or at least during the  
>thru-hiking season within the herd has absolutely NO idea what the  
>experience is like. I had NO idea what it was like until I got there  
>and I was blown away. Wildest imaginations can't come close to what  
>hiking the PCT is like. Any recommendations for boots or gear or  
>weapons or daily miles or water treatment should be ignored unless  
>they come from veteran long distance hikers. Listen to the wise  
>people here who have hiked the trail.
>
>I never felt safer anywhere than on the trail. I never felt a need  
>for a weapon of any kind against any living or inanimate thing, wild  
>or domestic. Hitchhiking restoreth my soul. I got to the point where  
>I felt scared of all the dangers lurking in town and felt relieved to  
>be back on the trail where life was safe again.
>
>What you might find useful for protection are trekking poles (work  
>great to keep dogs away and to cross scary creeks), aluminum crampons  
>or microspikes, an ice axe, a bear canister where required and  
>possibly a cellphone and pepper spray if you are truly worried. If  
>you do decide to bring a gun, research how to ship it home if you  
>change your mind.
>
>Good luck and enjoy your hike! It'll be the most amazing thing you  
>ever do.
>Diane
>
>On Nov 10, 2011, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>> ?
>> I'm a single female hiking the PCT in 2012 and?have had a few folks  
>> recommend I carry a weapon (mainly, a gun). I'm opposed to this,  
>> but want to get the opinion of other hikers.
>> ?
>> Would you or do you carry a weapon?
>> ?
>> Other single women hikers, what do you carry if you carry anything?
>> ?
>> Happy hiking!
>
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