Need to head into town for a resupply? Want to grab a cold beer at the local watering hole after a particularly humid stretch of trail? Second, hikers and backpackers are notorious gram counters. Are you seriously going to agonize for months over how to save a few grams on your stove, tent, and shoes, and then pack two pounds of loaded pistol on your hip? You may as well carry an external frame pack and a canvas-wall tent. Finally, and most importantly, carrying a gun changes the way we interact with and feel about others.
For thru-hikers, the social element is an enormously rewarding part of the experience. They meet people from around the world, adopt kooky trail names, share information including who might be sketchy or carrying a weapon , and coexist for a brief time in a remarkable place, doing a remarkable thing.
All they know is that you have a weapon and, with it, the power to hurt them. Guns intimidate. The most important defensive training I received had nothing to do with how to apply deadly force. Situational awareness and anticipation are the keys to avoiding trouble, and these are the best tools we have to remain safe in any environment.
They are what we used to safeguard all that cash when I was an armed courier and what I use daily to keep my clients safe in the backcountry. Do research before you embark on any adventure. Identify threats—bears, people, weather, fire. You may not be permitted to enter certain buildings or access certain services that you would want as a thru-hiker.
For example, even in national parks that allow firearms, you may not be allowed on park shuttle buses. Similarly, some hotels, grocery, or gear stores may have policies against having firearms in the room. Most thru-hikers are obsessed with cutting down their pack weight choosing minimalist gear and carrying only what they need. A fully-loaded Glock 19 weighs nearly two pounds; even a lightweight concealed carry pistol weighs well over a pound. Despite the way that true-crime writers eat up murders on the Appalachian Trail, the real crime rate on long trails is incredibly low.
In fact, some studies show that being in nature is correlated to less crime. The key is to carry a quality firearm with a reputation for reliability and keep it clear of dirt and debris as much a possible. Now that you have some idea of what to carry and how to carry it, I must stress that you research the local and state laws regarding firearms in the area where you hike. Laws change significantly from state to state, but can also change from county to county and city to city.
They may even be different depending upon whether you are hiking on state or federal land. If you have a concealed carry license, make sure that your license will also permit you to carry a gun exposed. Some do. Others do not. The basic message here is, do your homework before your carry a gun. How should you carry a gun while hiking? Follow us youtube yelp. All Rights Reserved. More: Despite murder on Appalachian Trail, Cranberry's Joseph White doesn't fear for safety as he continues northward.
Ranger said about the only thing he has with him on the hike that could be considered a weapon are his trekking poles. He's not an advocate for carrying guns. For a stretch of the trail Ranger hiked with someone who was carrying a gun. He said it never made him feel uneasy. Staunton's Jan Williams has hiked sections of the trail. She usually carries a gun with her on hikes, although she said she could understand why a thru-hiker might find the extra weight a problem. Williams remembers feeling threatened once while hiking.
0コメント