Quote:
Originally Posted by medic
No. If it was I wouldn't have posted it. We'll just agree to disagree on this one. I'll carry when I want and you don't have to. I hope that's not something you ever regret.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by medic
No. If it was I wouldn't have posted it. We'll just agree to disagree on this one. I'll carry when I want and you don't have to. I hope that's not something you ever regret.
Just like I carry a few bandaids in my wallet, a lighter in my pocket and a knife (or two) while I am out, I do carry a firearm. It is not out of fear or paranoia, but rather just part of being prepared.
I guess I can say I have never really thought about camping alone, for the sake of camping only.Quote:
Originally Posted by Winnie
As in "I'm gonna go camping alone....to see if I can do it", for many years, or childhood.
Most every trip has been a hunting trip, canoe trip, fishing trip, and even primitive camping....both rendezvous and practice trips.
In all cases some sort of firearm is along....be it the tackle box snake gun...or the muzzle-loader or pistol, shot gun, rifle...., de jure.
The modern camping in a camp ground or even motel, is really the only time I carry on purpose for more than just 4 legged varmints.
The change in the laws has extended what and where, I carry, but generally have something near by....like my pocket knives, EDC kit wallet, keys......
Winter is coming so something bigger than the NAA mini or LCP change out may occur.
All this said, carrying a gun has nothing to do with fear of camping alone....but it doesn't hurt.
Overcoming that fear has to do with your confidence, familiarity, skill level, altitude, and desire.
I've reread what I said and what was posted. I'm still failing to see where you guys are getting the impression that i'm saying I don't want to or don't. Again i've been pretty clear, my gun goes with my as much as it can. I however don't break laws and take it on federal ground. Call me a rebel but I can still mail a package or go to the doctors without a gun without having to worry about needing it in that short time, and either break the law or staying home.
A lot of those comments were to Ky, who said he won't go anywhere without carrying, wont leave his house after a certain time, or at all on certain day, and of all ghastly things avoids fatty foods:surrender: Ky also seemed to think I was categorizing him in the "realm of lunatic" fringe. Not at all. My personal opinion on not needing to carry. Do what makes you feel happy and safe.
I wasn't suggesting you carried a gun because you were SCARED. I agree with the statement about "What are you scared of? Not a damn thing" The comments about living in fear were in regards to restricting your life and things you'd like to do out of fear of not being able to carry in certain places or at certain times. Statistically, and logically, you are MOST LIKELY to not need it in that short time period.
As far as not being a stretch- So then you don't eat unhealthy foods right? That's a bit like saying the shortest way off this cliff is straight down. If I die, oh well.
There are a lot of "unsafe" things one can do or not do. I minimize my risks as much as possible, but not being able to carry a gun everywhere at every moment is just not one of the highest risks. I do when I can, but also realize life is life, and i'm not going to avoid it because I can't. I also get in the ocean to dive, realizing a Great White could literally bite me in half at any moment. I take this risk because I love it, and have accepted when it's my time, it's my time. The chances are extremely low. Does that make me a lunatic for not staying on the beach shaking my head thinking no way man, there's a small chance I could get injured or die.
We can agree to disagree on this one, it just seems a lot of you are taking the point I was trying to make out of context or wrong, sorry if I didn't explain it the way I was trying.
We get it......You disagree.
So do you carry camping?
Camping/day hiking- Yes, unless the law prohibits it.Quote:
Originally Posted by hunter63
Long distance multiple day or week hiking. Nope.
So you don't feel the need to carry a weapon for camping?.I believe that most hikers don't as well, as it adds weight.Quote:
Originally Posted by wilderness medic
I am not a Hiker hiker...hiking for the sake of cover miles......I hike to get some where, to do some thing, so camping and gear is sorta different as well.
We all have our own ways, thoughts and habits.....nothing wrong with that.
That's tricky, I can't say I feel the NEED to carry while camping. I however have a strong desire to be able to protect myself. And feel it's my right, especially if it's at an actual camp site with other people, who tend to get drunk, loud and confrontational. Day hiking, I do. I live next to and hike in a national/demonstration forest that is notorious for guerrilla marijuana grows. In fact Aaron Bassler the shot the ex mayor and his friend when they stumbled upon his grow which led to almost a month long national man hunt for him in this forest. I've already come across remnants of grows.Quote:
Originally Posted by hunter63
But if i'm hiking loong miles and shaving every ounce, nope. No firearm, or ammo. Not worth the slim chance of needing it to pack extra pounds. If that means i'm the 1 in 1,000,000 (Or more, whatever it is) to get tied up and mutilated, so be it. I'm ok with those odds.
I only camp or hike where it is lawful, and in Virginia... just about everywhere is lawful. Even in National Forest I can carry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Virginia
http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/sh...=1#post1767520
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3051492/posts
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...g+4VAC15-40-60
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...g+4VAC15-40-60
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...0+cod+18.2-308
I *love* living in Virginia, especially SW Virginia!
EB
A gun's a good thing to have when you need it.:mellow:
I carry hiking and camping. Federal land uses state law except in a few instances. Military bases and Corps of Engineers. They set their own standards.
I don't have any problem camping alone. If there's an area where I feel like I might be bothered or that I might be a little unsafe due to one reason or another, I take my hound dog with me. When I camp alone however I don't go outside of cel phone range, and try to keep in areas that are close to civilization in case I have an emergency of some sort. That way I don't die alone because I stepped in a hole and broke my ankle or took a bad fall.
If I decide that I want to camp out in the wilderness I always bring someone along, so they can haul my *** out if I get hurt (or I can haul their *** out). I've never had an emergency, but I've heard stories from people that I've hung out with.
Every place I camp takes you out of cellphone range.
In Malaysia, there are no cellphone coverage the moment you are at the trail head.......and sat phone bills are so darn expensive....!!!!
I was a bit scared the first couple of times I went by myself. Of course, the very first time, I had a bear encounter too so that did put the fear well into me. But I found that once I got in my tent and blocked out all the vast tundra, I felt more secure. That was really strange actually. Now I am not scared at all. I love to go out alone. When I car camp I'll take my kids but when I go out backpacking, I go by myself.
I know our California bears are no Alaskan bears, but do you really fear them? The only ones i've had have been rather uneventful, besides blocking me from going to the bathroom lol. I came up on a Grizzly hunting last month and he ran almost quicker than I snapped up and could get my sights on him.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1stimestar
Pretty much the same here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Batch
I'm no longer fearful of them. The only time one scared me was I was out backpacking by myself for the first time and he was coming right for me. But just because I am no longer scared of them doesn't mean that I don't take all necessary precautions and am very alert. When I go backpacking, it is not on any trails but across the open tundra. But even on the open tundra, bears can hide. Bears maul and or kill people here every year. Here are a few.Quote:
Originally Posted by wilderness medic
Quote:
The second grizzly bear mauling in less than two months on the outskirts of Alaska's largest city has sent another runner to the hospital with serious injuries. The attack this time came in Bird Valley, just south of Anchorage. It follows on an attack at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in mid-May.
http://www.adn.com/article/20140707/...near-anchorage
Quote:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Jessica Gamboa grew up hearing you should play dead during a bear attack, and she put that knowledge to the ultimate test when she ran into a brown bear on the grounds of a military base.
The bear knocked Gamboa down, then picked her up and threw her to the ground. The bear went on to pummel Gamboa several times more with her powerful paws.
Throughout the May 18 attack, Gamboa lay in a fetal position and remained silent.
That action likely saved her life.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...ttack/9751353/
Quote:
Monday morning Knudsen was jogging alone along Bird Creek Trail on the way to Penguin Peak – amid Chugach State Park, slightly closer to Girdwood than Anchorage – when she came across a brown bear sow and two
Knudsen told emergency responders one of the cubs appeared from brush about 10 yards up the trail. It rushed her way, and almost immediately she was hit from behind by the sow. http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/troope...uling/26829642
Quote:
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Bloodied and dazed after being slashed by the claws of a brown bear, a woman struggled to walk 2 miles along a curvy, hilly trail to find someone to help her.
The woman, who has asked that her identity not be released, was hospitalized in stable condition Monday, a day after the attack on an Anchorage military base, officials said. She suffered lacerations to her neck, arms and legs.cubs.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/05/20...while-jogging/
Quote:
A bear killed a 64-year-old Fairbanks man late Thursday outside a cabin on Lake George, southeast of Delta Junction, according to Alaska State Troopers.
It was unclear Friday what kind of bear attacked Robert Weaver, forcing a family member to hide inside the cabin and block the door, troopers said.
A wildlife trooper shot and killed a black bear that "wandered on scene" later, but it is unknown if that is the bear that mauled Weaver, a troopers statement said. State wildlife biologists say they will examine its carcass and are looking into the circumstances of the rare fatal bear mauling in Interior Alaska.
..."Based on the way the bear was approaching the trooper and the civilian, it wouldn't surprise us. It was actively sneaking up on them," Peters said.
http://www.adn.com/article/20130607/...delta-junction
Crazy Alaskan bears. The only fatal ones I could find in the last 150 years were from 2 captive ones lol...Quote:
Originally Posted by 1stimestar
I can not even begin to understand how you can think animals, bugs or virmin will not visit you in the night.
Really? That's weird. What did you use for search words?Quote:
Originally Posted by wilderness medic
Must have been bears that died from eating bad humans.....?Quote:
Originally Posted by 1stimestar
Yogi and pick-a-neckQuote:
Originally Posted by 1stimestar
:lol:That was a good one. lol. "Yogi and pick-a-neck"
Some people are simply afraid of being alone at night regardless of where they are. That kind of fear is not justified. My sister is like that. She gets the heebie-jeebies being in her house alone at night. This is in a safe neighborhood behind good locks and with several guns. She just isn't used to being alone. It's true that in the presence of predators it's more dangerous to be alone, and if you have serious medical conditions perhaps it's more dangerous, but short periods of solitude are not in and of themselves dangerous. To me they're necessary.Quote:
Originally Posted by sjj
I guess you've already been flogged around the fleet for this one, so I won't pile on...much!:tt2: Those that call you a coward for wanting to CCW on the trail would probably also disapprove of you carrying around town. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether to carry. But if a cop can't get there in time to save you at Denny's how can a ranger save you out in the wilderness? It would be dumb luck if someone else was around to extricate you from a bad situation in the woods. You often must be your own first responder.Quote:
Originally Posted by wilderness medic
I can't legally CCW everywhere. I just got back from voting; the polling place is in a gradeschool. No guns there. But for the most part I CCW where I legally can. Every time I step out the door. After all, would you only wear your seatbelt when you expected to be in an accident? If I knew there'd be an accident I'd stay home that day! Problem is we never know what's coming. As Bruce Willis said in The Last Boy Scout, "Be prepared, son. That's my motto".
I'm with Rick there. Generally I don't carry on-body in my house; due to several factors that I won't get into right now it would be unusual for me to not be able to get to a firearm before someone could get into my "bubble". When I'm in my shop or working out I keep a sidearm close to hand as those are places I wouldn't have as much advanced warning if someone tried to break in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
Half time comment......
This thread has really had some tangents.......
CC being one, (with all sorts of twists)
Cell phone coverage......we used to go off alone to get away from these distractions...and this option is only been widely available for 15 years or so for most folks.
Not going alone....several reasons, but fear of being alone seems to pop up for some folks...
Area......yeah, has a lot to do with it...California Yogi bears vs Alaskan for real bears.....and everything in between.
I will say it seems that the older members don't worry as much, but they started out in a time where guns, phones, and a lot of SAR options wasn't even thought of.....So experience seems to be a key.
Might be wrong....just an observation........
Carry On
I was reading from the Wiki list of fatal bear attacks in North America.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1stimestar
Most of the hikers i've talked to say brown bears are nothing at all, beware of grizzlies. The black bears I ran into hassled me more than the high tailing grizzly I ran into. The only other grizzle encounter I had he just stood there eating apples not giving a crap about my presence. I'm sure he would have if I approached and tried to eat his apples, but other than that, nothing. That one was in Colorado.
They will eat anything. Fruits, and even the occasional nut LOL.Quote:
Originally Posted by hunter63
Unless it's a large predator, that can just mean a mid night interruption for food.Quote:
Originally Posted by sofasurfer
That could very well be true. A lot of backpackers are anti gun hippies. Regardless, my point was that got me over my fear of needing to be armed at all times.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phaedrus
Again, I think some of you were misunderstanding. I'm all for CCing as much as you can, it never hurts to be prepared. But, using your seatbelt example, if my seatbelt was broken and I had to go do something right down the road I wouldn't be afraid to go out, and stay home because of it. Today I even walked in the post office while my gun sat in my car, call me a rebel:) If you are elderly, disabled, unfit, then carrying 24/7 makes more sense. You can't run, or fight someone off. You can still try to talk your way out of it, but that doesn't always work.
You never do know what's coming, so my motto would be more along the lines of do everything you can to prepare for it, but don't fear it and avoid parts of life out of fearing it.
You can compare statistics all day and see your odds in this vs that. If that one time I didn't wear a seatbelt or If I didn't have a firearm on me, then i'm at peace with it. If it's your time, it's your time.
Well I am the type of guy that carries a gun to mow the grass, so being in bear country and not carrying a gun just sounds fricking crazy to me!
You said this...we get it....many don't agree......It's OKQuote:
Originally Posted by wilderness medic
Ah there's your problem. Do a search like "Bear attacks in Alaska."Quote:
Originally Posted by wilderness medic
Sorry, I was referring to fatal bear attacks in ca. Thought I put that in there but I guess not.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1stimestar
And you said this. It is Ok to disagree. I get that.Quote:
Originally Posted by hunter63
I just did it as a young man. It does get exciting sleeping out in Bear Country. I seldom use a tent, like to see the stars.
Hahaha! I can guarantee there's no one alive today old enough to have been out there when guns hadn't been thought of! No old mountain man of the 18th or 19th century would have been out there without his boom stick!Quote:
Originally Posted by hunter63
The most scared I have ever been was when I was with a group. In the middle of the night we heard a terrible scream. It sounded like a banchee was coming to get us. It was intermittent and sounded like it was coming toward us. Then is sounded like it was walking away from us. Eventually we couldn't hear it, and tried to go back to sleep, but every little rustle after that kept me awake. I went home and did youtube searches to try and find the animal. It didn't sound canine or cat like. I still checked mountain lion and bobcat sounds, along with canines. I eventually found it....... a FOX! Well, I know what a fox says now. ;)
Here is exactly what I heard....it was LOUD! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBpZTo1dlPM
I am telling you....we were scared. Of course, now that I know what the sound is, I won't be scared if I hear it. Knowledge is power I guess.
By the way, I don't carry in the woods. The only time I did was because Uncle Sam gave me a rifle and told me to. But, the only time I was in the woods with that rifle, I was never given bullets. The only place I was given a rifle and bullets at the same time......didn't have woods.
It isn't that I don't think you need to....I just don't have one to carry. I have a couple rifles, and a shotgun, but they aren't great for backpacking. Some day I might get a hand gun...when I can afford it. I was planning on getting one this Christmas, but medical bills might trump it again.
I also can't carry when I am with the Boy Scouts. That is a BSA rule.
Now that is funny I don't care who you are.......LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by wilderness medic
Yeah, agree....didn't think that statement thru....Quote:
Originally Posted by Phaedrus
Wha-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!Quote:
Originally Posted by finallyME
I was camping with the girlfriend out in a somewhat remote area in the mountains with a girlfriend "deer hunting" several years ago. We had a small fire, tarp with sleeping bags laid out on it. We were in a small clearing of manzanita and chest high brush thick like a mat. In the middle of the night we both abruptly woke to what sounded like a very big cat growl and scream in the brush right behind our heads. We both go back to back with the rifles and moved closer to the center of the small clearing next to the fire.
With the small flickering firelight against the scrub brush and our quasi tactical movements it felt like we were on an African safari or something haha. Not much sleep was had the rest of the night.
deleted.....
The fact that it was several years ago, before I did any serious hiking or outings. Somewhat remote, is still remote enough to easily die before help arrives. In fact I don't really see a difference unless you're close to a hospital at a certain spot, which I wasn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by sjj
Oh, and as I said, bears have never messed with me, besides the one time I mentioned, which was nothing more than not wanting to get in between her and her cubs. That was my first experience with any cat/lion.
ANd honestly i'd still be much more concerned with a cat as they tend to stalk and attack rather than a bear who tends to act out of fear or protecting itself.
Also, i'm not in Alaska, so when did I say I wouldn't be concerned about a 1,500 pound Alaskan bear?
From my experience...the jungles in Malaysia, it does need to be very far or at a remote location...you can even die even if you are a jungle fringe and quite near a village....as Elephants crosses the roads near villages, snakes are even in a sub urban area and sometimes tigers are seen in some rubber or oil palm plantations...
Ooh. tigers. Another one for the list.