[pct-l] To Bear or Not To Bear

[CMountainDave at aol.com (CMountainDave@aol.com)]

In a message dated 1/1/04 8:36:02 AM, StoneDancer1@aol.com writes:

<< If you hike the trail you can either carry a can, or not.  If you don't, 
and 
see ranger, you will either get a fine or not. If you don't get a fine, the 
point is moot.  If you get a fine, then carrying one would have saved you 
money.   You will either see a bear, or not.  If you carry a can and don't 
see a 
bear, then it will have been a waste of time and energy and money.  If you 
see a 
ranger and not a bear, then it will only have been a waste of time and 
energy, not money.  If you see a bear, it will either be attempting to get 
your 
food, or not.  If it is not ( like, say you see it at 8AM while you're 
hiking) 
then it will have been a waste of time and energy and money.  If it is ( 
like, 
say at night while you're sleeping) then  it will have been a savings of time 
and energy and money.   >>

So if I like to take risks that's my business. All the above can be said 
about the odds of dying while climbing Mt Everest, or any mountain for that 
matter. If you slip you will die, If you don't the point is moot. If you get lost, 
life will be miserable. If you don't the point is moot and on and on. Using 
your logic, there would be no mountain climbing or thru hikes for that matter. 
People would simply rationalize their way out of risk. I see your argument as 
simply a rationalization for bear cans, not only where bears are a problem, but 
everywhere where running into a bear is a possibility, because one never 
knows! The only really valid point is that I could get a fine, since I and many 
hundreds of other "scofflaw" PCT hikers did just fine without one in the past.
  So the moral of the story is to question authority at your own risk and 
take risks at your own risk. So you do it your way and I'll do it mine. HYOH!! Or 
you could just stay home because too many bad things could happen at home or 
on the trail
   DANG, I wasn't going to comment on cans again but I just hate faulty logic