[pct-l] first night out

[Kevin Cook]

Gerry, I'm nearly certain Yogi was kidding ;)

This all reminds me of a hiking trip I took in Carrizo Gorge, a little east
of Campo, just north of Jacumba. We park the cars in the afternoon, and
started hiking towards the northern entrance to the gorge intending to head
south to I-8. We're sitting under some of the old railroad structure, a
water tank I think, taking a break, when 2 men and a young girl approach us.
It looks like a guy with his dad and daughter. They tell us they are camped
at the RV park down at the southern end of the gorge and have walked to
where we were. Two of us had hiked here a few times before and knew that
they were about 10-12 miles from the RV park. They asked us if there was a
store nearby so they could get something to drink, or if there was a road
nearby and they would call someone back at the RV park to come get them.

We felt bad. Here they were, in the Anza-Borrego desert, with a little girl
and no water. The worst part was, they had no water, but right there on the
guy's hip is a gun. I couldn't help but think what a terrible father this
guy was to take his daughter into the desert with no water, but he
remembered his gun? We actually got a little nervous too. Here we were, all
the supplies needed to survive out there thanks to actually planning ahead,
and here they are, no supplies, tired, and with a gun! I can't recall for
sure, but I think we gave them a little water and maybe some food, but we
didn't have a ton to spare. They thanked us for the info and said they
planned to continue walking towards the highway in hope of getting a cell
phone signal. We were planning to camp where they had found us, but we
decided to move in case they came back desperate. :p

So what's my point? You don't need a gun. It's not gonna help you survive
out there. If anything, having a gun creates a potential for something very
bad to happen. I know gun supporters argue that a gun can make the situation
safer, and it's the person, not the gun that matters. It's simple though.
The most sane and responsible person in the world is still more dangerous
with a gun, than without.

If you simply can't leave your gun at home, please make sure you have
everything else you need. Don't be like those people in Corrizo Gorge!

On Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 11:33 AM, Devon Taig <devon.taig at gmail.com> wrote:

> I believe that if you walk in peace, expecting peace, then peace is what
> you
> will find. I really do believe that.  I recognize that not everyone agrees
> with me, but please, if do you choose to carry a weapon, carefully consider
> under what conditions you might actually use it. Is it the best choice
> under
> most or all circumstances?  You don't want to escalate. Serial killers and
> rapists are very rare on the trail; drunken fools are more common (though
> still very rare). I'd argue that pepper spray would be a more effective
> choice. It's lighter, it's legal, and can be used far more safely than a
> gun.
>
> River
>
> On Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 12:22 PM, Erin Saver <erinsaver at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I feel like carrying a weapon won't do much good. Anyone who really wants
> > to
> > cause harm probably won't give you the chance to get to it.
> > -Erin
> >
> > On Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 10:46 AM, Gerry Zamora <gerry0625 at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > See Erin as a woman would haveing a gun make u feel safer?  Or was that
> > the
> > > only time u wish you would have brought one.  IMHO you never know who
> you
> > > will run into everyone on here seams sane but doesn't mean im leaving
> my
> > > gun.  Especially in section A.  I am not thru hiking this year but
> still
> > > can't leave home without it.
> > > Gerry0625
> > > On Mar 17, 2011 10:33 AM, "Erin Saver" <erinsaver at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
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