[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

[pct-l] Getting Into Trouble on the Trail



Paul wrote:
>
What do you think, specifically, ultra-lighters are missing in their
gear
to deal with emergancies out there?
>

Having written some comments lately about the hazards of the ultralight
philosophy, I'll clarify my own position by saying that it's not really
the ultralight philosophy but the misapplication of it that's dangerous.
I'm a big fan of lightweight gear myself, having a summer base pack
weight of 13.5 pounds, but in my mind the ultralight philosophy is all
about carrying "just enough" gear.  But in the minds of some people,
it's a license to carry "not nearly enough" gear.

The biggest problem, I think, is that some people think that going
ultralight means that they don't have to carry gear that's appropriate
for the conditions.  Every year there's PCT thru-hikers who hit the
trail carrying no rain gear, or no shelter, or no ice axe on icy
sections, or no water, or some combination thereof.  Just read the
journals.

To me, anyone who goes out on a multi-day wilderness trip without (for
example) any kind of shelter at all is just plain dumb.  I don't care if
it's the desert southwest and you don't think it'll rain.  I don't care
if you think you're some kind of ultralight ninja.  Going without a
shelter of any kind isn't freedom, it's recklessness and other people
will have to pay for your mistake if things go bad.  Anyone who leaves
one water source without carrying enough water to make it to the next
permanent water source is likewise foolish.

You need to be able to take care of yourself in all circumstances that
could reasonably be anticipated.  (Notice I said "reasonably"!)  Being
an ultralighter doesn't free you from that responsibility.

I agree with Ron Moak that it's really not about gear; it's about
knowledge and choices.  However, I think the ultralight philosophy, when
poorly communicated and poorly understood, can and does contribute to
poor decision making.  Again, just read the trail journals.  I'm amazed
that more people haven't died in years past.

Carrying 45 pounds of gear won't automatically make you safer - that's
not what I'm saying.  But an attitude of, "Well, I'll just wing it
without everything I ought to have and hopefully things will turn out
fine" will usually make you less safe.  That's not what ultralight
philosophy is about but unfortunately that's what some people *think*
it's about.

Eric