[pct-l] Carrying weapons

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I was a solo female hiker and I kept myself solo the entire way, only  
hiking with others a total of about 6 days the entire distance.  
People get on my nerves after a while. That's just the way I am.

Do not listen to any folks who recommend anything to you for your  
thru-hike unless they have hiked the trail. Anyone who has not  
backpacked the PCT for a significant distance or at least during the  
thru-hiking season within the herd has absolutely NO idea what the  
experience is like. I had NO idea what it was like until I got there  
and I was blown away. Wildest imaginations can't come close to what  
hiking the PCT is like. Any recommendations for boots or gear or  
weapons or daily miles or water treatment should be ignored unless  
they come from veteran long distance hikers. Listen to the wise  
people here who have hiked the trail.

I never felt safer anywhere than on the trail. I never felt a need  
for a weapon of any kind against any living or inanimate thing, wild  
or domestic. Hitchhiking restoreth my soul. I got to the point where  
I felt scared of all the dangers lurking in town and felt relieved to  
be back on the trail where life was safe again.

What you might find useful for protection are trekking poles (work  
great to keep dogs away and to cross scary creeks), aluminum crampons  
or microspikes, an ice axe, a bear canister where required and  
possibly a cellphone and pepper spray if you are truly worried. If  
you do decide to bring a gun, research how to ship it home if you  
change your mind.

Good luck and enjoy your hike! It'll be the most amazing thing you  
ever do.
Diane

On Nov 10, 2011, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> Hi all,
> ?
> I'm a single female hiking the PCT in 2012 and?have had a few folks  
> recommend I carry a weapon (mainly, a gun). I'm opposed to this,  
> but want to get the opinion of other hikers.
> ?
> Would you or do you carry a weapon?
> ?
> Other single women hikers, what do you carry if you carry anything?
> ?
> Happy hiking!