[pct-l] first night out

[Jackie McDonnell]

Was I kidding?!?!?  Hard to say.  All I know is that I *always* carry my
guns to protect myself and my poodle as we hike through the National Parks
together.  You see, I don't use a bear canister, so the gun protects me and
my pooch from the bears who think that our food is rightfully theirs.  It's
also helpful to have a gun if you're stuck in the middle of the herd caused
by the Saufley vortex.  There's just too much competition for the prime
campsites when 50 hikers leave Agua Dulce on the same day.

yogi
www.pcthandbook.com

On Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 1:51 PM, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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