[pct-l] Planning First Solo Hike (Jim Cribari)

Ron Dye chiefcowboy at verizon.net
Mon May 24 00:24:37 CDT 2010


I tend to disagree with you.  If you are not firing 200-300 rounds each and
every month in scenario-based  situations, you cannot be expected to hit
your target.  A mountain lion is not going to pose while you gain an
appropriate sight picture and slowly squeeze off your rounds.  The best
protection is avoidance of the situations that put you at risk. From your
descriptions, it appears you come into risky situations more frequently than
most folks.  This comment from an "elderly" hiker who carried a firearm for
35 years in his normal daily duties (to include 10 years on a SWAT team).

You simply don't need a firearm in the back country - with the exception of
grizzly-infested areas.

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of mntmn4jesus at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2010 11:34 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Planning First Solo Hike (Jim Cribari)


 
In regard to hiking alone, I have never been on the PCT, but I have been in
a lot of other areas in the back country.  I back country ski, snowshoe and
climb mountains all over California and Nevada.  Some years ago I had an
encounter with a mountain lion when I went on my morning walk at 5 am (less
than 2 miles from where I lived at the time).  I decided after that to never
go into the wilderness alone unarmed.  I have a concealed weapons permit
(issued by the state of Nevada) that has served me well through the years.
I have never used my weapon even on a rabid raccoon that tried to gnaw his
way into a hut I was staying at alone, but I was certainly glad I had a
weapon as a last resort.  I have also had other encounters with wildlife
including bears, wild stallions that weren't too happy with me as well as
other encounters with mountain lions (Mt. Shasta at 2 am). While I have
drawn my weapon in some of those encounters I never used it, but it
definitely gave me an opportu
 nity to defend my life should the need arise.

You are naive if you believe that just because you are human all animals
will automatically leave you alone.  Just look at stories of recent attacks
on people by mountain lions, bears and coyotes over the last year.  While it
is true the odds of being attacked are very small, remember you only have to
be wrong once.  I don't carry my gun in my backpack but I carry it in a
place where it is easily accessible at all times and under all conditions
precisely because it doesn't do me any good if it is buried in my back back
somewhere.  If I didn't carry a gun I would at least carry some bear
repellent which would be a deterrent to any animal that had aggressive
intentions.

I would never shoot through a tent and am fully trained on the proper use of
a gun.  I am always aware of my surroundings and I don't presume upon the
grace of God just because I have faith.  I am thankful for my 2nd Amendment
rights and I intend to make full use of them in the back country.  

Jim


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-request at backcountry.net
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Sun, May 23, 2010 8:43 pm
Subject: Pct-l Digest, Vol 29, Issue 104


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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Camp stove survey (giniajim)
   2. transportation in Agua Dulce (Russell Ford)
   3. Re: Camp stove survey (Paul Magnanti)
   4. Re: Camp stove survey (giniajim)
   5. Re: Planning first solo PCT hike (Joel Fisler)
   6. Re: Planning first solo PCT hike (Grete Martinson)
   7. Re: Planning first solo PCT hike (Yoshihiro Murakami)
   8. Re: Planning first solo PCT hike (Joel Fisler)
   9. Re: transportation in Agua Dulce (dsaufley)
  10. Re: What places along the trail will make me leave my pack
      outside? (David Thibault)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 21:11:52 -0400
From: "giniajim" <jplynch at crosslink.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Camp stove survey
To: "Paul Magnanti" <pmags at yahoo.com>,  "PCT MailingList"
    <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <BE48F91E1B554879B23337D0D49B4539 at HomePC>
Content-Type: text/plain;   charset="iso-8859-1"

Certainly counts as something!  You make these gastronomic wonderments
often?  
Do you post a schedule?  :)  
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Magnanti 
  To: PCT MailingList 
  Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2010 9:08 PM
  Subject: [pct-l] Camp stove survey


  Does the four burner stove with oven at the 10th Mtn backcountry ski huts 
count as my favorite camp stove? :D

  ( It allowed me to make pork infused with rosemary and garlic, bake 
French-Canadian meat pies (Tourtiere),
  whip up a Bologna-ese style ragu, etc. etc. Not bad for 11k ft in the
winter.  
Of course, it does
  mean you have to cart it all on touring skis, break trail and gain
elevation.  
Good trade off. ;-)  )








   ************************************************************
  The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust 
  caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
  --Thoreau
  http://www.pmags.com
  http://www.redbubble.com/people/pmags/
  http://www.facebook.com/pmags

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------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 21:16:37 -0400
From: Russell Ford <russelldford at gmail.com>
Subject: [pct-l] transportation in Agua Dulce
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID: <4BF9D375.2090900 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hello all,

I will be flying out from Florida to LA in a couple weeks to rendezvous 
with some friends who are thru-hiking.  This will be my first time on 
the PCT and I plan to spend a month or two on the trail.  My friends 
have already hiking for about a month now and I am hoping to meet up 
with them at Casa de Luna in Agua Dulce, CA on June 7th.  I will be 
taking the train to the Santa Clarita/Newhall station from Union Station 
but I have yet to figure out how I am getting from the train station to 
my destination in Agua Dulce.  I would be grateful if someone in the 
area would be able to hook me up with a ride or just if anyone has any 
information about getting to Agua Dulce from LAX.  Thanks!

-Russ


------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 18:22:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: Paul Magnanti <pmags at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Camp stove survey
To: giniajim <jplynch at crosslink.net>, PCT MailingList
    <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <856297.73093.qm at web112114.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii



From: giniajim 
<jplynch at crosslink.net>


  
>>Certainly counts as something!  You make these 
gastronomic wonderments often?  
>>Do you post a schedule?  :)  
Usually in the winter.  You have to be willing to skin up (or snowshoe) to
get 
to it, though. :)


 ************************************************************
The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust 
caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau
http://www.pmags.com
http://www.redbubble.com/people/pmags/
http://www.facebook.com/pmags


>

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 21:33:05 -0400
From: "giniajim" <jplynch at crosslink.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Camp stove survey
To: "Paul Magnanti" <pmags at yahoo.com>,  "PCT MailingList"
    <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <519DBA84E1C04E96B2D477D66DA5D7B4 at HomePC>
Content-Type: text/plain;   charset="iso-8859-1"

Something to keep in mind... :)
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Magnanti 
  To: giniajim ; PCT MailingList 
  Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2010 9:22 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Camp stove survey




  From: giniajim <jplynch at crosslink.net>


  >>Certainly counts as something!  You make these gastronomic wonderments 
often?  
  >>Do you post a schedule?  :)  

  Usually in the winter.  You have to be willing to skin up (or snowshoe) to
get 
to it, though. :)



  ************************************************************
  The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust 
  caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
  --Thoreau
  http://www.pmags.com
  http://www.redbubble.com/people/pmags/
  http://www.facebook.com/pmags





------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 18:42:44 -0700
From: Joel Fisler <pct at fisler.ch>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Planning first solo PCT hike
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Cc: Grete Martinson <grete.rose at gmail.com>
Message-ID: <A781CE1B-C168-48C6-B1E2-3CA57E52BD07 at fisler.ch>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Again and again I am amazed what people ask on this list. But this question
kind 
of blew my mind and I had to answer. Maybe it has to do something that I am
not 
a US citizen and thus am not used to the "not without my gun"-mentality but
this 
question is so out of my "range of thinking" that I wonder if maybe I have
been 
too naive the last weeks hiking the PCT. Are you guys actually carrying a
gun 
while hiking? From all the people I've met so far, who had a gun in their 
backpack? The thought kind of scares me... 

So a question back to the person asking this question: If a an evil bear or
axe 
murder would come around the corner you'd shout "stop", you'd actually take
your 
backpack off your back, start searching throughout all the mess you have in 
there until you find the gun, put a bullet in the gun, "unsecure" the gun
(or 
whatever you call this process...) and then shout "ok, you can come now!".
Or 
how did you think the gun would serve you out in the wild? Or if someone at 
night would approach your tent trying to find a flat camping spot you'd
shoot 
through your tent into to the dark? And if its another hiker, too bad for
him or 
her? Or what exactly do you intend to do with a gun?

carrying a gun while hiking is something I have never ever in my life
thought 
about (and I am approaching my 40ies and I have thought about a lot of stuff

that I potentially would carry on a hike :-) Now that I think about it,
thats 
just bull*** Hope you guys all leave your guns at home :-)

Joel aka Blaze (currently enjoying many zero days in Topanga :-)



On 23.05.2010, at 15:50, Grete Martinson wrote:

> I've been getting a lot of "advice" from non-hikers who encourage me to
take
> a gun for personal protection.  I am not taking a gun because I don't want
> to believe they have a place on the trail in addition to the fact that I
> have no training at all and don't want to use one etc.


___________________________________________
Jo?l Fisler - joel at fisler.ch - http://blog.fisler.ch

HOME:   109 Muerdago Rd., Topanga, CA 90290
PHONE:  +1 (774) 2FISLER or "joelfisler" (Skype)
CHAT:   fisler at mac.com (Messenger & iChat)
___________________________________________





------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 19:02:43 -0700
From: Grete Martinson <grete.rose at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Planning first solo PCT hike
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <AANLkTinbHKGGrRBhyvwlfJydjwPpK0pTBlviO2pbCOS1 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Joel-

I was afraid of this response from the post.  I am not carrying a gun and
never had any intention of doing so.  I wrote this post because I've had to
listen to a lot of people, who aren't hikers and never will be hikers tell
me that I need to take a gun to defend myself in the big scary woods.
 Because I don't know any other hikers locally, I turned to the PCT-I to
hear the reassuring voice of reason, from like minded people.  You're
thinking is entirely correct- a gun would serve no purpose- especially at
the bottom of my backpack.  It would only add weight and ultimately if
removed from the bottom of the pack would only make a bad situation worse.

If we do meet along the trail, you are welcome to search my pack.  I promise
you won't find a gun.

Happy Trails- and happy zero days

~G


------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 11:09:00 +0900
From: Yoshihiro Murakami <completewalker at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Planning first solo PCT hike
To: Grete Martinson <grete.rose at gmail.com>
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <AANLkTin6HqKLXuRss92iD1z-jvhLJASqq5wrHpS2IRu2 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

When you trust people, people will trust you. That is a world wide
general rule. The American hikers are very good people. I guarantee.






2010/5/24 Grete Martinson <grete.rose at gmail.com>:
> Joel-
>
> I was afraid of this response from the post. ?I am not carrying a gun and
> never had any intention of doing so. ?I wrote this post because I've had
to
> listen to a lot of people, who aren't hikers and never will be hikers tell
> me that I need to take a gun to defend myself in the big scary woods.
> ?Because I don't know any other hikers locally, I turned to the PCT-I to
> hear the reassuring voice of reason, from like minded people. ?You're
> thinking is entirely correct- a gun would serve no purpose- especially at
> the bottom of my backpack. ?It would only add weight and ultimately if
> removed from the bottom of the pack would only make a bad situation worse.
>
> If we do meet along the trail, you are welcome to search my pack. ?I
promise
> you won't find a gun.
>
> Happy Trails- and happy zero days
>
> ~G
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Sincerely
--------------- --------------------------------------
Hiro    ( Yoshihiro Murakami )
HP:http://psycho01.edu.u-toyama.ac.jp
http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/CompleteWalker/
Backpacking for 30 years in Japan
2009 JMT, the first America.
------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 19:29:11 -0700
From: Joel Fisler <pct at fisler.ch>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Planning first solo PCT hike
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID: <60638172-E00B-4444-ABCD-D844CCF73884 at fisler.ch>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I have been hiking the PCT on and off since late March now and I must say
that 
never ever have I felt so secure here in the US than on the PCT. Much more 
secure than on the Highways and Freeways, hehe :-) And it is so amazing the 
kindness you encounter! Trail Angels like the Saufleys, the Andersons,
Hikertown 
etc. - it amazes me how much time, energy and also money they spend to help
PCT 
hikers! - but also complete strangers stopping along the road when you try
to 
get a ride, giving you water and/or food. All this stuff never happened to
me 
when I was hiking back in Switzerland, people keep more to themselves over 
there, are less "open". You guys should be very proud of this, I have hiked
in 
many countries all over the world (Nepal, China, Peru, New Zealand, Europe, 
Mexico, ...) but this is unique! No need for a gun :-)

Cant wait to get back on the PCT (but unfortunately have to work currently
:-(
Jo?l aka Blaze 
(www.pct2010.org)



On 23.05.2010, at 19:02, Grete Martinson wrote:

> I was afraid of this response from the post.  I am not carrying a gun and
> never had any intention of doing so.  I wrote this post because I've had
to
> listen to a lot of people, who aren't hikers and never will be hikers tell
> me that I need to take a gun to defend myself in the big scary woods.


___________________________________________
Jo?l Fisler - joel at fisler.ch - http://blog.fisler.ch

HOME:   109 Muerdago Rd., Topanga, CA 90290
PHONE:  +1 (774) 2FISLER or "joelfisler" (Skype)
CHAT:   fisler at mac.com (Messenger & iChat)
___________________________________________





------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 19:45:24 -0700
From: "dsaufley" <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] transportation in Agua Dulce
To: "'Russell Ford'" <russelldford at gmail.com>,  <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <000d01cafaeb$29c81f00$7d585d00$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain;   charset="us-ascii"

Got you covered. Yosemite James does Metrolink Station rides to/from Hiker
Heaven (Casa de Luna is in Green Valley, approx. 25 trail miles north).  

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Russell Ford
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2010 6:17 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] transportation in Agua Dulce

Hello all,

I will be flying out from Florida to LA in a couple weeks to rendezvous 
with some friends who are thru-hiking.  This will be my first time on 
the PCT and I plan to spend a month or two on the trail.  My friends 
have already hiking for about a month now and I am hoping to meet up 
with them at Casa de Luna in Agua Dulce, CA on June 7th.  I will be 
taking the train to the Santa Clarita/Newhall station from Union Station 
but I have yet to figure out how I am getting from the train station to 
my destination in Agua Dulce.  I would be grateful if someone in the 
area would be able to hook me up with a ride or just if anyone has any 
information about getting to Agua Dulce from LAX.  Thanks!

-Russ
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------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 20:43:06 -0700
From: David Thibault <dthibaul07 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] What places along the trail will make me leave my
    pack    outside?
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <AANLkTil2KIyGj9EuvjeCNjXWGSWTGAFLXpqgEnlU4AMi at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

There are very few places I can remember having to leave my pack unattended
as I don't like doing that either.  While shopping at larger stores I just
took it in with me and shoved it in the cart - never had any comments or
questions.  At small stores I was never far away - I usually left it by the
door.  Same with restaurants - either I could see it or took it with me.  I
did leave it in my tent in a campground - probably the least secure place I
can remember off the top of my head.   I kind of get attached to my pack on
the trail and never wander too far from it.

Day-Late

.

> From: bjbjbj at email.com
> Subject: [pct-l] What places along the trail will make me leave my
>        pack    outside?
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <8CCC8BE242CA4A4-F3C-144F5 at web-mmc-m01.sysops.aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> In the process of over planning my 2011 thru attempt Ive noticed a few
> references to places that may make you leave your pack outside. Im not a
big
> fan of leaving expensive stuff sitting around and was just wondering
> where/what types of places I may be asked to leave my pack outside. Any
> related thoughts welcome. Thanks, BJ
>
> .


------------------------------

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