[pct-l] safety on the pct

[Hiker97 at aol.com]

_pct-l at mattmaxon.com_ (mailto:pct-l at mattmaxon.com)  writes: It is my  
experience that we let our guards down when in these trail  
towns, and  other rural areas. I don't know how to describe it other than to 
call it a  "Sixth Sense"  
but if something or someone doesn't feel right, leave,  take action.
---------------------------------------
Switchback replies: I guess I should mention that my profession at the  
police department is crime prevention.  I teach personal safety, property  safety, 
etc., etc., etc., all the time to the public.  One thing I teach is  the value 
of "sixth sense".  You are exactly right.  I do not want  hikers to be 
paranoid or afraid to go hiking, but you should be aware.   Awareness is the key.  
And that comes from education and knowledge.   By the way, I carry a small 
pepper spray can on my key chain.  Not much and  don't use it down wind, but 
better than nothing.  A whistle is great  too.  I just bought a hiking new 
emergency whistle from REI.  It is  LOUD.  Cheers.




**************Start the year off right.  Easy ways to stay in shape.     
http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/attachments/20080112/e7c4b8f1/attachment.html