[pct-l] Hiker Safety

[Eric Lee (GAMES)]

Bob wrote:
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Fatalities are very rare on the PCT. Only two come readily to mind; John Donovan who got lost traversing Fuller Ridge 2 years ago and the Rodmans - Jane and Flicka - who were struck and killed by a driver who fell asleep, left the road, and struck them while they walking 100 feet off to the side of that road in southern CA in 1995.
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And of course No Way Ray who fell to his death at Deep Creek a couple of years ago.  Also someone who was bailing off the PCT and fell at New Army Pass in the Sierra, and someone who was section-hiking on Mt. Hood and drowned in the Sandy River.  Maybe a couple of others I don't recall right now.

There are certainly things you can do and decisions you can make that will increase or decrease your exposure to risk while hiking.  It's everyone's responsibility to take reasonable safety measures.  But ultimately, there are always uncontrollable events out there that can overwhelm even the most careful and well-prepared hiker.

There was a death in Washington State a few years ago where someone was walking along a trail (not the PCT, I don't think) minding their own business when a large rock broke loose somewhere far above, fell, and struck the person in the head, killing him instantly.  How do you prepare for that kind of thing?  It just happens.

The good news (if you want to call it that) is that Drew is right - the major dangers on the PCT are environment-related, not human- or animal-related.  Falling off things, hypothermia, drowning, and getting hit by falling objects or cars are probably the four biggest risks by far.  Historically, things you'd carry personal defense items for (predatory humans, bears, mountain lions, snakes, etc) haven't proven to be an issue.  That's not to say that no one will ever have a problem with them, but history shows that that's not what you should be worried about.

Eric