Where, pray tell, have you found civilized society?
What do you carry when you actually hike?
- Thread starter Macchina
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Deputy25
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I generally carry my duty pistol, a Glock 31.
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Macchina
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This post is word-for-word why I made this thread, I agree that many people are confusing camping with backpacking (hence the "really" emphasis in the title). Awesome pics!The term 'camping' is a giveaway; we're not talking about the same thing. Camping is pretending to be homeless for a night or two, usually within sight of the car or truck that brought you there. Backpacking is where you travel many miles over rough terrain to spend the night in some scenic spot carrying everything you'll need on your back.
Most (~90% or more) of the hikers and backpackers I know don't carry any means of self protection larger than a folding pocket knife. Of the few that do carry protection, most carry bear spray (~9%), and only a very few carry a handgun of any type.
It's not a war zone. Incidents where a firearm of any type would be useful are extremely rare. The time you spend at the trailhead is probably the most dangerous. We have thousands of hikers and backpackers here crawling over the terrain every month of the year, and I can remember only one incident where a firearm might have been helpful; a mountain goat attack.
Statistically speaking a firearm is unnecessary. Some of us carry one for several possible threats, all of which we know are very unlikely. For the places we frequent, your suggestion of "shedding a few ponds of equipment" is unrealistic. We carry only necessary survival gear, necessary food, and a few luxuries (camera, sleeping pad, fishing gear, etc.). Since hypothermia and falls kill and injure far more people than the wildlife, we prioritize our gear for those threats.
I'd much rather hike farther over rougher terrain to get away from the yahoos, and to do that my gear has to be lightweight.
Zerodefect
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Glock23
Custom Dan Wesson Valor 5" 1911
Kahr P380 (deep c, and keeping weight down)
Obviously the Glock and 1911 are my prefered pistols for nasty weather and sweaty dirty backpacking. Edge going to the Glock.
I've done multiple sections of the AT and most of the Florida trail. Lots of car camping, stealth camping, and canoeing as well. Allways feel better with a pistol on me. As unneeded as they may be. Especially when we start to have more and more "better" looking, attention grabbing, women in our groups.
Usually the only backwoods hobby I go unarmed is Mountain biking. All the bouncing around is a pain for retention and buried in my Camel Back is a useless place for a pistol. Weight is more important on wheels than it is backpacking as well.
My 3 day pack weighs about 15-20 pounds total. I never carry more than 1000ml of water or 16oz of denatured alcohol.
Key tech items in my pack to keep weight down:
-Gossamer Gear/Henry Shires 2 person Sailcloth tarp tent. 1lb.
-GG back pack. 1lb.
-Dryducks rain gear
-Mountain Hardwear Phantom bag or 20 degree Marmot.
-Ultralite Thermarest
-MSR Waterworks
-Pepsi can stove
For shorter trips and basecamping I'll use a big heavy Gregory Palisade and pack it plush with all the heavy luxerious bits. Both of my sleeping bags etc. etc.
Bears are the least of my problems. Crazy people, and desperate people are far worse. I hike all the time in Black Bear country. Even had them stick their head in my tent (friendly bear at designated campgound). Never any problems once I got used to it. Only have done a few small trips in Griz country. So I have no advice for those, other than that bear spray can be more effective than a pistol if your luck is poor.
Custom Dan Wesson Valor 5" 1911
Kahr P380 (deep c, and keeping weight down)
Obviously the Glock and 1911 are my prefered pistols for nasty weather and sweaty dirty backpacking. Edge going to the Glock.
I've done multiple sections of the AT and most of the Florida trail. Lots of car camping, stealth camping, and canoeing as well. Allways feel better with a pistol on me. As unneeded as they may be. Especially when we start to have more and more "better" looking, attention grabbing, women in our groups.
Usually the only backwoods hobby I go unarmed is Mountain biking. All the bouncing around is a pain for retention and buried in my Camel Back is a useless place for a pistol. Weight is more important on wheels than it is backpacking as well.
My 3 day pack weighs about 15-20 pounds total. I never carry more than 1000ml of water or 16oz of denatured alcohol.
Key tech items in my pack to keep weight down:
-Gossamer Gear/Henry Shires 2 person Sailcloth tarp tent. 1lb.
-GG back pack. 1lb.
-Dryducks rain gear
-Mountain Hardwear Phantom bag or 20 degree Marmot.
-Ultralite Thermarest
-MSR Waterworks
-Pepsi can stove
For shorter trips and basecamping I'll use a big heavy Gregory Palisade and pack it plush with all the heavy luxerious bits. Both of my sleeping bags etc. etc.
Bears are the least of my problems. Crazy people, and desperate people are far worse. I hike all the time in Black Bear country. Even had them stick their head in my tent (friendly bear at designated campgound). Never any problems once I got used to it. Only have done a few small trips in Griz country. So I have no advice for those, other than that bear spray can be more effective than a pistol if your luck is poor.
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Yes, typically one spare loaded with 124 gr ball.
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Macchina
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A few summers ago (June is the best time to hike a desert, right?) a few buddies of mine and myself decided to do the hike to Havasu Falls. It is on a Native Reservation, so no guns are allowed. They don't even allow machettes or hatches...
The hike in is 12 miles through a dry desert canyon. The high that day was 105. I packed a gallon of water (about 10 pounds) and had used it all up 2 miles before camp and had to borrow from others. It was so dry that even though I cycled a gallon of water, my shirt never got wet from sweat.
Once we got to camp, we had quite the feeling of accomplishments. We spent 5 days hiking the canyon down to the Colorado River and back. We saw sights I've never seen before, Havasu Falls is a place like no other in the world. Not once did I wish I had a firearm on that trip and was quite glad I did not have the extra weight! We could have gotten into a lot of trouble if we all substituted 3 pounds of water for handguns...
The hike starts (and ends on the way out) with a 60 degree 1/3 mile drop into the major canyon. Switchbacks the whole way.
Going back up at the end:
Enjoying the smallest of the falls:
The stream provides all the water for the plants at the base of the canyon
A trail down on our way to the lower falls:
Very worth it:
I try to plan a pretty epic hike about every other year. I have never brought my firearm on any of these "real" trips. We tend to see much less people when you're literally hundreds of miles from civilization and everyone that is around is as into the trip as you are. I carry always on weekend hikes in my state, I can handle the extra pound or two and I don't feel as comfortable on short trails. Bottom line: judge the need for the firearm and remember how dangerous it is to drive to the trailhead. If you don't think you'll need it, bring extra water instead.
The hike in is 12 miles through a dry desert canyon. The high that day was 105. I packed a gallon of water (about 10 pounds) and had used it all up 2 miles before camp and had to borrow from others. It was so dry that even though I cycled a gallon of water, my shirt never got wet from sweat.
Once we got to camp, we had quite the feeling of accomplishments. We spent 5 days hiking the canyon down to the Colorado River and back. We saw sights I've never seen before, Havasu Falls is a place like no other in the world. Not once did I wish I had a firearm on that trip and was quite glad I did not have the extra weight! We could have gotten into a lot of trouble if we all substituted 3 pounds of water for handguns...
The hike starts (and ends on the way out) with a 60 degree 1/3 mile drop into the major canyon. Switchbacks the whole way.
Going back up at the end:
Enjoying the smallest of the falls:
The stream provides all the water for the plants at the base of the canyon
A trail down on our way to the lower falls:
Very worth it:
I try to plan a pretty epic hike about every other year. I have never brought my firearm on any of these "real" trips. We tend to see much less people when you're literally hundreds of miles from civilization and everyone that is around is as into the trip as you are. I carry always on weekend hikes in my state, I can handle the extra pound or two and I don't feel as comfortable on short trails. Bottom line: judge the need for the firearm and remember how dangerous it is to drive to the trailhead. If you don't think you'll need it, bring extra water instead.
Zaydok Allen
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That is a cool pic michaelmcgo with a foot in frame while looking over a cliff, and I know it isn't a competition, but I had to post this. I got ya beet on that one!! LOL. Apples and oranges though, you know?
This was just shy of a 1500 climb/hike to the top of this spot in Bryce Canyon NP. That is a bus stop at the bottom on a paved two lane road. In the black and white shot, the top of the trail ended at the prominant point on the left. My God, that was a good day.
On this day I chose to carry the smallest and lightest gun I had: My little S&W 642 Airweight, loaded with Speer 135 gr Short BBL 38's. Stupid tourists were the only threat up there, and attack chipmunks that would hop up on your hand or shoe if they thought you had food. I only had the one day there, so I needed to move as fast as I could and see as much as I could, so a super light gun was a must. I probably didn't need one at all, but when ever there are people around, I assume the worst.
That's why I live and work alone.... in the woods...... away from people as far as my bank account and my job allows.
This was just shy of a 1500 climb/hike to the top of this spot in Bryce Canyon NP. That is a bus stop at the bottom on a paved two lane road. In the black and white shot, the top of the trail ended at the prominant point on the left. My God, that was a good day.
On this day I chose to carry the smallest and lightest gun I had: My little S&W 642 Airweight, loaded with Speer 135 gr Short BBL 38's. Stupid tourists were the only threat up there, and attack chipmunks that would hop up on your hand or shoe if they thought you had food. I only had the one day there, so I needed to move as fast as I could and see as much as I could, so a super light gun was a must. I probably didn't need one at all, but when ever there are people around, I assume the worst.
That's why I live and work alone.... in the woods...... away from people as far as my bank account and my job allows.
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Macchina
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I didn't know this was going to be a competition...
Here's a picture from the summit of my last hike:
anothernewb
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^lol. Unless you're hiking with Baumgartner.
I carry the 642. lightest thing I have.
I carry the 642. lightest thing I have.
Zaydok Allen
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LOL! Nice man!
It doesn't count though. You have to have your foot in frame!!!
Mainsail
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Shadow 7D
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Mossberg 500 (18.5"barrel and youth stock) think there may be trouble (bears, and not the black kind) along with spray
Tokarev or CZ52 and spray otherwise.
Tokarev or CZ52 and spray otherwise.
Deer_Freak
Member.
I carry a Ruger Blackhawk chambered in 357 mag with a 6.5" barrel in a simple belt holster with a retention strap. Double Tap makes 180 gr cast ammo that is supposed to take down a bear. I shot a deer that was facing me in the chest with a 125 gr JSP Fiocchi. The bullet went through 34" of deer and exited right before the hip.
Cryogaijin
Member
For my 10mm witness I tend to carry two spare mags. One with ball, one with a quality jhp. Have ball loaded by default.
AJumbo
Member
4 5/8" Blackhawk in .357, or a Bisley Vaquero 5 1/2" in .45 Colt, loaded with six (I know, I know...) appropriately heavy SWC rounds. In summer, I might load two snakeshot rounds for the first two shots. Two reloads on Speeds Strips, maybe another on a belt slide. Trail threats here in central AZ can be rattlers, mountain lions, bears, or drug/human smugglers.
I work as USFS Wilderness Ranger. I never carry while working. If I do carry while hiking like I do around home, I carry a Glock 20. Light weight for the power. Having said that I seldom carry while backpacking only day hikes, and at work I always carry bear spray. Bear spray will work on lions and wolves too. Statistics show in a real life bear charge, bear spray is about 95% effective, handguns are less than 5% effective. A bears heart beats about 1 beat every 5 seconds, even IF you could hit a charging bear in the heart, it will still most probably make contact with you, especially with a Grizzly. Bear spray will stop them in their tracks. Spray will cover an area of about 30 feet, handgun not so much. Spray is much lighter and easier to put into action if needed. I'm a very avid hunter, I work in the backcountry in Rocky Mountain states and have no problems doing so only carrying bear spray.
AJumbo
Member
Bad Andy- that's good info, a lot of food for thought there. Thanks!
sansone
Member
LCP, no extra mag.. I'm an optimist
beag_nut
Member
Carry while hiking?
Bear spray, everywhere. East of the Mississippi Ruger SP101 4" .357 mag., snakeshot, and solid jacketed 180 gr.
West of That river, GP100 6", .357, snake shot and same solids.
Bear spray, everywhere. East of the Mississippi Ruger SP101 4" .357 mag., snakeshot, and solid jacketed 180 gr.
West of That river, GP100 6", .357, snake shot and same solids.
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