[pct-l] To flare or not to flare

Fri Feb 11 16:41:56 CST 2011

I carry a knife similar to this one:
http://www.gerbergear.com/index.php/product/id/192
I don't think they make mine anymore though as I don't see it on the site.
Mine is tiny. The blade is maybe 1.5". It's light and sharp. It works for
everything I've ever needed a knife for in the backcountry.

On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 2:01 PM, Gerry Zamora <gerry0625 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Fyi Eric I don't plan on carrying one I don't see the need if u take the
> time to read this whole thread u will see I am simply making the point that
> stupid people start fires not flares if I hand one to a forrest ranger I
> bet
> he will not light the forrest on fire yet that same flare in the hands of
> an
> idiot will start a fire.  I agree I don't see a need for road flares but to
> think that carrying one will lead to a fire is ignorance.  Once again I
> stand by my statment.  Besides lightning strikes fires don't start
> themselves.  Hike your own hike.
> Gerry0625
> On Feb 11, 2011 12:19 PM, "David Thibault" <dthibaul07 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I carry a knife - just a real small one. I know a couple of people (gram
> > shavers) that just carry a razor blade. But even if I had a guardian
> angle
> > surrounding me on the trail and was guaranteed not to get in any survival
> > situation I'd still carry that small knife as I use it to prepare meals
> > (opening packaging, slicing onions, garlic, veges) and for minor
> equipment
> > repairs.
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 12:39 PM, Eric <johner27 at evergreen.edu> wrote:
> >
> >> So you don't carry a knife at all? I just took a wilderness survival
> >> course last weekend and a knife was the #1 thing that contributed to
> >> survival. Of course, it can be done without, just a lot harder. I'm
> >> definitely carrying a knife of some sort myself.
> >>
> >> As far as the road flare goes, maybe excess, maybe not? Anyone know the
> >> chances of it accidentally igniting? I would think they are pretty
> slim...?
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >> Eric
> >>
> >> On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 9:58 AM, David Thibault <dthibaul07 at gmail.com
> >wrote:
> >>
> >>> After reading this I went through my gear list to look for my "survival
> >>> kit"
> >>> I found only one item that I would consider an item I carry for
> survival.
> >>> That is a whistle. All the other things like a knife, meds, bandages,
> >>> etc.
> >>> are more for comfort than survival. I guess you could consider a
> >>> tent/tarp
> >>> as part of your survival kit but to me its just what is needed to do
> the
> >>> trail. The things like the bandages (bandaids) and meds (anti
> diarrheal,
> >>> IB, and antibiotics) I carry are not going to save my life out there,
> >>> they
> >>> are just going to make me more comfortable until I get to town.
> >>>
> >>> I believe that what people are trying to express is most thru hikers
> learn
> >>> pretty quickly to carry only what is required and then some of what is
> >>> desirable (nice to have). Super ultra-lighters generally don't carry a
> >>> lot
> >>> of the 'nice to have' stuff. The advice you are getting is an attempt
> to
> >>> make the trail easier for you. But, this is really something everyone
> has
> >>> to learn for themselves. What works for one person will not work for
> >>> another. One trait I've picked up, and I have noticed it in a lot of
> long
> >>> distance hikers, is that I can't pick up an object without
> subconsciously
> >>> weighing it. Never did that before I started long distance hiking.
> >>>
> >>> One more thing, while most people are strong proponents of HYOH and the
> >>> idea of "carry whatever you want" there maybe exceptions. For example,
> if
> >>> you are carrying something that endangers others or the trail . The
> >>> concerns expressed with the road flair was just this. If that flair
> >>> accidentally ignited in southern CA it could be tragic. Trust me on
> this,
> >>> if you get through the trail in CA you will gain an great appreciation
> for
> >>> the amount of damage that has happened to the trail due to forest
> fires.
> >>> I
> >>> was saddened so many times to be walking through so much devastation.
> I'm
> >>> still saddened by just the memory of some of those huge dead burned
> trees
> >>> that had to be hundreds/maybe a thousand years old.
> >>>
> >>> Enjoy your hike.
> >>> Day-Late
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> >
> >>> > Some of us do carry little in the way of a survival kit and rely on
> >>> > experience and planning to mitigate the few true dangers that exist
> on
> >>> the
> >>> > trail; but this by no means is the answer for everyone. Back in '06 I
> >>> > carried a knife, multi-tool, patch kits, many types of tapes and
> >>> bandages,
> >>> > three forms of back-up fire starter, a dozen types of pills and on
> and
> >>> on.
> >>> > Through time and experience I've trimmed this down to some tape,
> >>> > antiseptic,
> >>> > needle and dental floss, backup lighter, pocket knife and a few
> meds..
> >>> But
> >>> > I'm comfortable with that, most wouldn't be.
> >>> >
> >>> > Jackass
> >>> >
> >>> >
> >>> >
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> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Because we don't think about future generations, they will never forget
> >> us. ~Henrik Tikkanen
> >>
> >> “The things you own end up owning you.”* -*Tyler Durden, *Fight Club*
> >>
> >> "The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a
> monthly
> >> salary."—David Hieatt
> >>
> >>
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