[pct-l] Safety on the trail

[Timothy Nye]

Hiking provides an epiphany as to true nature of humanity.  You will discover, after a few weeks on trail, that our default social programming is one that deeply supportive of one another. It takes about that long to shake off the time compression and related behavioral changes of our current technological society. After that, as Diane noted, your faith in humanity, basic, down to earth, every day people, in all walks of life, will be restored.

I really like the expression 'all walks of life'.  I think that it says quite a lot that most who use it do not appreciate.



Sent from my iPad

On Feb 5, 2013, at 12:23 PM, "Bob" <bobandshell97 at verizon.net> wrote:

>> Make sure it's [pepper spray] access-able and can be quickly  deployed
> 
> And be keenly aware of the wind direction.  You don't want the spray back in
> your face.
> 
> Dr Bob
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Scott Williams
> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 2:21 PM
> To: Emily Toby
> Cc: PCT list
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Safety on the trail
> 
> As retired law enforcement, I can say that I never feel so safe as when I'm
> deep in the woods.  Beware of parking lots and roads, and if you can hitch
> into towns with someone, that is better than on your own, but in the woods
> themselves, other than a rock falling on you, slipping on ice or tripping on
> something, you are the safest you can  ever be in today's world.
> 
> During 30 years I saw many crimes at trailheads and urban parks, and
> uncounted victims on city streets, but not one crime of magnitude on any of
> our wilder trails, and in the East Bay, we have over a 100,000 acres of
> Regional Parks alone without counting the State, and National lands.  The
> vast majority of folks who will venture out beyond a trailhead are
> wonderful, fellow hikers.  The closer you are to civilization, the more real
> your cause for worry, but out in the wild, crimes are very rare.
> 
> For the reasons already listed, a gun would not be your best defense.
> Carry bear spray.  If it can incapacitate a charging grizzly, it sure as
> hell will do a job on a would be bad guy.  Make sure it's access-able and
> can be quickly  deployed.  We all carried them this past summer on the CDT
> from the Winds north to Canada.  We strapped them right in their holders on
> the front of our pack straps and in a pinch, could fire them without even
> taking them out if the need arose.  It is not lethal, but sure would take
> the starch out of any character who wanted to do you harm.
> 
> My experience is that anyone who wants to hike with others, and is a good
> person, will find friends during the first several hundred miles or so.  I
> met people on my first day out of Campo who I still cherish.  By the San
> Jacintos, I'd met friends I ended up hiking thousands of miles with.  If
> you don't want to be alone, you won't be.   And the altruism of fellow
> hikers is incredible.  They will help you out, over and over.  Diane is
> right, the experience of the PCT can restore a person's faith in humanity.
> Three people I hiked with described it that way as well.
> 
> Shroomer
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