[pct-l] I'm Fine--Lost PCT Thru Hiker is FOUND

[Reinhold Metzger]

Yes Ed,
There is the danger of colliding with speeding, reckless "Mountain Bikers"
And what about  "BEES"?.....Two weeks ago 3 hikers got attacked by bees 
in Arizona...1 is dead.

JMT Reinhold
-----------------------------------------------------------
  Ed wrote:
> Reinhold wrote:  " - - - dangers on the trail that are independent of 
> the hikers actions.... wild animals like bears, mountain lions, 
> snakes.... dangerous river crossings, snow covered mountain passes 
> .... rain and snow and sub freezing remperatures, etc., etc."
> YOU FORGOT TO MENTION ILLEGAL MOUNTAIN BIKES CHARGING, 
> SILENTLY, AROUND BLIND, DOWNHILL CURVES AT 25mph.
> MendoRider-Hiker
-----------------------------
> Reinhold wrote:
> Chuck,
> I agree, most most injuries and situations requiring SAR are probably
> the results of of human error, bad decisions or hikers not prepared for
> the conditions they might encounter on the trail.
> Notice that I said  "MOST"  not  "ALL".
> However, there are dangers on the trail that are independent of  the
> hikers actions....wild animals like bears, mountain lions, snakes,
> etc,...dangerous river crossings,...snow covered mountain passes,...rain
> & snow  and sub freezing temperatures etc., etc.
> And hey,....there is  "SWITCHBACK"  the  "TRAIL PIRATE"  who is always
> raiding and plundering innocent hikers.....there is no defense against
> that scoundrel.
>
> I know, if you use good judgement, don't do anything stupid,  and are
> prepared for the conditions you may or are most likely to encounter on
> the trail you most likely will be able to deal with most of those dangers.
> However, notice that I, again, said "Most"  not  "ALL" for some of those
> dangers are beyond our control and some of our hiker friends are known
> to make bad decisions and being naive and not prepared for the
> conditions they may or are most likely to encounter,....like freezing
> rain, snow, getting lost, ...without sufficient cold weather & rain gear
> or map or compass.
>
> Hey, when hiking solo, I have been known to make stupid decisions, for
> instance:....sitting out a thunder storm on top of Mt. Whitney....boy
> was that ever a stupid decision.
> You can't belief how loud thunder can be until it strikes next to you.
> Or how about the time on one of my JMT fast packs when UL was the #1
> priority and I made a rain pancho
> out of an UL space blanket....it worked great until it started raining
> and lightning....that's when I began to worry that I might be walking
> lightning rod...end of story.
> However, I have also have sustained injury that was not the result of
> bad decisions....a fall that resulted into a ruptured disk.
>
> Statements like..."Ooohhh,.... the trail is so safe"...."You have
> nothing to fear" only causes inexperienced hikers to lower their guard
> and be less prepared.
> That is probably the main reason for the dramatic increase in SAR rescue
> missions and I would not at all be surprised if an expert SAR member
> like Ned would agree with that.
>
> Yes Chuck,...the Mount Hua trail in China has got to be one of the most
> dangerous trails in the world.
> The good thing about that trail, however, you don't have to worry about
> snakes, bears, or mountain lions.
> Those critters have more common sense than humans.
>
> JMT Reinhold
> Your smart hiker
> --------------------------
> Chuck wrote:
> Good evening,
> The PCT is usually dangerous only when people make it dangerous for
> themselves.
> It is a very safe, easy-to-hike trail.
> Even places like the snow chute below Forester, the cliff walk along
> Eagle Creek, and the Knife Edge in the Goat Rocks are all pretty mild;
> particularly compared to the walk seen here:
> http://www.barnorama.com/the-most-dangerous-hiking-trail-in-the-world/
>
> Steel-Eye
>