[pct-l] Bear Attack Strategy (Revised)

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

In a message dated 2/22/2006 7:33:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
wandering_bob@comcast.net writes:
All activities have some inherent risk, and repetition only increases the 
probability that something ill will occur. How many times does a person 
drive their car before their first fatal accident? Does that make them a 
Darwin candidate?


In '77 I camped with the big wall climbers in Yosemite and had a very 
enjoyable discussion of this around a fire one night.  I asked them why they would do 
such an inherently dangerous thing.  They replied that they were not doing 
anything more dangerous than you or I would be, driving down a two lane highway 
at night trying to pass a slow truck.  You poke your head around and gauge 
whether the engine in your car is big and powerful enough to get around the truck 
before the oncoming traffic passes.  If you gauge it does, you go.  If not 
you wait.  Basically, you don't take unneccesary risks beyond the capability of 
your equipment and the basis of your knowledge.  

I equate all risks that I take to the risk of driving on LA freeways.  I 
generally find that almost no activity comes even close!

Greg