Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
If someone needed to do all those things and carry all that stuff, they wouldn't go hiking. If all that is required I would feel safer home in my bubble, checking my very capable gun.
Yeah, upon further review, thats overkill not only for day hikes in western NC, but also for all hiking/backpacking including the full AT.
Looking from a Search and Rescue perspective, day hikers are the usual victims.
Minimalists are the worst prepared .
These are that type that assume they will get where they are going with out any trouble .fantasy land.
Point of reference on the hand gun verses bear .(bear killed in self defense with .454 casull ) in Alaska.
Fact is 2 legged predators still warrant good self defense weapon.
Fact is black bear are "becoming aggressive" according to others living in black bear territory .
Day hikes in the woods among mountain loins is also a serious consideration and they are spreading their territory as well.
Even in the Los Angelus national forest has had a number of lion attacks on runners and bikers.
I had a cat jump in front of me with in 6-8 feet and it was a Mexican stand off , I was ready with my 44 mag rifle in the event the cat continued his aggression , fortunately he turned and ran.
He very well could have jumped me from the brush above me about 12-15 feet on the hill side.
Only a fool takes his safety for granted, then blames every one else when things don't fit the fantasy. liberal.
Many locaters in the old days used an aircraft frequency , so anyone flying over head was immediately aware of it.
Now I think most are satellite transmitter/receivers like a gps. some where in the 400 meg range or higher.
Looking from a Search and Rescue perspective, day hikers are the usual victims.
Minimalists are the worst prepared .
These are that type that assume they will get where they are going with out any trouble .fantasy land.
Point of reference on the hand gun verses bear .(bear killed in self defense with .454 casull ) in Alaska.
Fact is 2 legged predators still warrant good self defense weapon.
Fact is black bear are "becoming aggressive" according to others living in black bear territory .
Day hikes in the woods among mountain loins is also a serious consideration and they are spreading their territory as well.
Even in the Los Angelus national forest has had a number of lion attacks on runners and bikers.
I had a cat jump in front of me with in 6-8 feet and it was a Mexican stand off , I was ready with my 44 mag rifle in the event the cat continued his aggression , fortunately he turned and ran.
He very well could have jumped me from the brush above me about 12-15 feet on the hill side.
Only a fool takes his safety for granted, then blames every one else when things don't fit the fantasy. liberal.
It never ceases to amaze me just how many things can fall into the "liberal" bucket. I guess we should add preferring bear spray to a handgun to that list.
I've read an insane amount on the topic of bear attacks. Bear spray is almost certainly better than a handgun in almost every case. Yes, there have been bears killed by handguns in self-defense scenarios, but there have also been people hurt badly or killed because their gun was inadequate, their aim was bad or the bear got to them before the bear died. I know exactly which case you're referring to with the .454 Casull, and that was an old grizzly who was missing teeth in Alaska. I don't think that's comparable to WNC, and a .454 Casull is more gun than most people can safely manage. The man who shot that bear was a firearm enthusiast, and his ability to kill such a large animal almost instantaneously was both impressive and beyond the realm of expectation for most hiker.
There aren't mountain lions in WNC, so the comparison to LA is irrelevant.
Every year, millions and millions of people hike in bear country. Most years, not a single person dies from a bear attack. The odds aren't zero, but they're close.
It never ceases to amaze me just how many things can fall into the "liberal" bucket. I guess we should add preferring bear spray to a handgun to that list.
I've read an insane amount on the topic of bear attacks. Bear spray is almost certainly better than a handgun in almost every case. Yes, there have been bears killed by handguns in self-defense scenarios, but there have also been people hurt badly or killed because their gun was inadequate, their aim was bad or the bear got to them before the bear died. I know exactly which case you're referring to with the .454 Casull, and that was an old grizzly who was missing teeth in Alaska. I don't think that's comparable to WNC, and a .454 Casull is more gun than most people can safely manage. The man who shot that bear was a firearm enthusiast, and his ability to kill such a large animal almost instantaneously was both impressive and beyond the realm of expectation for most hiker.
There aren't mountain lions in WNC, so the comparison to LA is irrelevant.
Every year, millions and millions of people hike in bear country. Most years, not a single person dies from a bear attack. The odds aren't zero, but they're close.
Alright, alright. Not sure how this turned political hah! I do appreciate everyone's input. Even Arleigh's insane list did have some things on it that I think I will incorporate. I should have also been more clear. I haven't done any crazy multi-day hikes out of range yet. I'm enjoying 3-6 hour day hikes and most of those are 'in range' where I'm not far from a ranger station, other people, or even cell phone range sometimes.
I did wonder about bears. I was driving on the BRP a couple of months ago and a whole family of black bears was right on the side feasting on something. I stopped to take a picture, literally 10 feet from them at most and they couldn't have cared less. Although this was pretty cool, I find myself wondering on these hikes what would happen if I wound around a switchback and there they were. Just freeze? Yell? Walk the other way? I think I will pick up some bear spray just in case, but I wonder how quickly I could get to it in the unlikely scenario where one charged me.
So far the bare minimums have done alright (pun?). As of yesterday I am carrying a backpack, water proof shell, lots of water, lots of food, extra layers, walking stick (thanks max patch!), phone (camera), and letting someone know where I am going.
I think I am going to add fire making material, line, knife, small first aid supplies, and maybe bear spray.
Great picture! With black bears, especially Mom with cubs, back away slowly. If charged make yourself as big as possible, yell, throw things, do not run. Most of the time black bears are not aggressive but keep your distance. Do not be one of those idiots who thinks a selfie next to a wild animal would be cool. :-( Not that I think you would, but up where the Elk have been reintroduced someone always does something stupid. Maybe just natural selection at work.....
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
