Mainsail
Member
That’s the problem that always comes up in these threads. How do you define hiking or backpacking (vs camping) and where geographically do you intend to do it (whatever ‘it’ is)?
Here in Washington we have day-hikes, multi day backpacking, severe terrain, scrambling, and serious climbing. We also have yahoos who drive their trucks into the forest to drink beer, do drugs, and play soldier. If you ask them, they are hiking or camping- unless they packed their clothes and gear into a CFP90 in which case they’ll tell you they’re backpacking.
Alaska is a whole different discussion- and one certainly worth having if the OP was going there. Nevertheless I’ve backpacked into the wilderness here (no trails into, and no trails within the wilderness) like hundreds do every season, and you don’t need a hand cannon and twenty extra reloads for it. If you believe you do, then you either don’t hike regularly or you’re paranoid. The majority of hikers, backpackers, scramblers, and climbers (I would estimate 99% or higher) do not carry any protection whatsoever. If there were problems with the wildlife, trust me, those of us in the hiking community would hear about it- we have forums too.
The greatest threats to you in the wilderness out here are getting lost, falls, and hypothermia. In Alaska you may easily get lost, sprain your ankle, start shivering, and fall into a grizzly bear’s mouth, but for the rest of us it’s just those three. Those are the things you need to gear up for. Some of us carry a sidearm because it’s a part of our daily lives anyway- but we’re realistic about its utility.
Here in Washington we have day-hikes, multi day backpacking, severe terrain, scrambling, and serious climbing. We also have yahoos who drive their trucks into the forest to drink beer, do drugs, and play soldier. If you ask them, they are hiking or camping- unless they packed their clothes and gear into a CFP90 in which case they’ll tell you they’re backpacking.
Alaska is a whole different discussion- and one certainly worth having if the OP was going there. Nevertheless I’ve backpacked into the wilderness here (no trails into, and no trails within the wilderness) like hundreds do every season, and you don’t need a hand cannon and twenty extra reloads for it. If you believe you do, then you either don’t hike regularly or you’re paranoid. The majority of hikers, backpackers, scramblers, and climbers (I would estimate 99% or higher) do not carry any protection whatsoever. If there were problems with the wildlife, trust me, those of us in the hiking community would hear about it- we have forums too.
The greatest threats to you in the wilderness out here are getting lost, falls, and hypothermia. In Alaska you may easily get lost, sprain your ankle, start shivering, and fall into a grizzly bear’s mouth, but for the rest of us it’s just those three. Those are the things you need to gear up for. Some of us carry a sidearm because it’s a part of our daily lives anyway- but we’re realistic about its utility.