[pct-l] On the Dangers of the UL Mentality

[Steve McAllister]

"Gear is “appropriate” only if a hiker has
the acumen and experience to utilize it effectively and with confidence."

Many people should not hike UL and many should not even get too far
from their cars:-)

Experience doesn't always mean good judgment nor outdoor skills.

I have seen many thousand plus mile backpackers that seem to be
compelled to pitch their shelter in depressions that to me look like
an area that will become a pond when it rains. I have heard multiple
times about the people who rely so much on the bathtub floor on their
tent that they often wake in a puddle. They would never consider a
shelter without a good bathtub floor.

Or have you seen people pitch camp in areas that look like a landslide
waiting to happen, or areas with lots of dead trees ready to fall.

I have seen experienced backpackers pitch freestanding tents without
ever pegging them down.

I have seen experienced backpackers who freak out when their stove
doesn't work for one reason or another as they don't know how to
prepare a meal without the stove and now have to eat cold food.

What about the knowledgeable experienced hiker who always suffers form
condensation issues and thinks the cure is to close off all the vents
in her shelter.

When people say UL is unsafe, they are coming from their own
experience. A lot of people don't care to learn outdoor skills. For
them, the extra weight to cover their asses is probably a good thing.

stevie