Packing on the AT

Jonesaa said:
...on a side note-...the only time i almost crapped my pants was in the Smokies...i was fixing breakfast one foggy morning and this guy wearing a camo poncho appeared out of the fog. well, the wind blew away his poncho as he was walking up to the shelter and i saw that he was carrying what looked like a machine gun...
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Whoa, I would have crapped my pants too!! :eek: Good story!!
 
Your personal security is your own right. Take what you think is best.

I have hiked a few sections over the past decade or so and there were definitely times and places where I was very happy to have my sidearm.
 
Fiddleback said:
Get used to it. I was on an ultralight hiking forum once and was astounded to see a guy being attacked for carrying a SAK. They said it was a weapon and wasn't needed!!! What the hell? More reading and more shock. Nobody carried a knife!! Taboo even!
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Attacked by whom? A ranger or other official? Or other hikers? I never go into the woods hiking/camping/fishing without some sort of knife. Too many important things that have to get done that are nearly impossible without one.
 
I used to in my younger days, backpack on the AT. In April of 1988 I and a friend had a situation in the night, about an hour after sunset where I had to fire a warning shot from a small .38 I had along.

From the Virginia/North Carolina border, up into Pennsilvania, there have been several murders, some robberies, and some asaults from local redneck types. On that section of trail in mid-Virginia there are comunities and poor rural population very close to the trail.

if I were younger and backpacking again, I wouldn't go without a small revolver concealed on me. 16 onces ain't gonna kill you, but the lack of can.
 
I would recommend researching which states have reciprocity with your home state regarding concealed weapons permits. For those states that don't honor your state's permit, it may be possible to acquire a non-resident carry permit. Also, federal law protects firearms owners who are travelling with a firearm, so long as it is legal in the jurisdiction the journey both originates and terminates in. That said, there are states that disregard federal law, will confiscate your weapon, and will make you go to court to assert your rights. As stated previously, you have no rights in a national or state park.
 
Yep there are so many laws, and I was just wondering do the bad guys who are going to slice your throat or blow your brains out follow those laws? If they are not going to allow you to defend yourself maybe they should accept the liability of protecting you when you are on the trail. They won't let you defend yourself and they won't protect you. Buy a camera bag and stick your gun in it hang it around your neck so you can get at it. Stick a small camera in one of the pockets so you can take some pictures. And of course follow all the laws including your right to defend yourself when attacked. But of course your not allowed to follow that law unless your attacked by someone with a gun who is trying to kill you then you are allowed to break the law to defend yourself from someone who is breaking the law, but you will still be breaking the law. I hope that helps explain why you are not allowed to defend yourself when you are attacked by someone who is breaking the law which allows you to break the law of carrying a gun so you can follow the law of allowing yourself to defend yourself. So follow the law.
 
I carried a glock 29 from Springer Mountain to Fontana Dam, at my wife's insistence, during our thru-hike. Carried it in one of those obvious fanny pack cum holster gadgets, and never once felt the need to use it. So I cached it outside of Nantahala, and went back for it after we finished. Actually was able to find it, in good condition, and it is my EDC nowadays. But I never really felt the need for it as protection outweighed both the potential legal ramifications of getting caught, or the sheer crazy weight of lugging it around. I carried a Super Tinker for the entire AT, and it was plenty of knife for that sort of outing. In retrospect, a Mora would have been nice at times, but I managed to hike 2200 miles without a fixed blade. Imagine!
Jonesaa- What was your trail name?
 
I hiked 700 Miles of the AT with my parents in 97 when I was 13 years old. Never once did I feel like we were in any danger. You are never really more than a couple days away from a town. I understand what people feel about their personal freedoms to carry but I feel that it would be unncessary for the added weight and for the fact that their really isnt that much trouble out there to be found.

I also frequently speak to avid long distance hikers and really never hear of people who feel that kind of protection is necessary.

Carry if you like but maybe keep a self addressed box to ship it back in when you realize the weight isnt worth the "piece of mind".
 
I don't recommend interstate shipping of firearms unless you are a licensed dealer. It would be bad to finish your hike, go home and have the BATF waiting to take you to Club Fed.
 
Yes I do use my hawk as a camp ax.if sharpened correctly you could skin with it if need be.It just so happens that my camp ax can take care of business should the need arise.
 
Rich_S said:
Attacked by whom? A ranger or other official? Or other hikers? I never go into the woods hiking/camping/fishing without some sort of knife. Too many important things that have to get done that are nearly impossible without one.
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Attacked by the other forum members. Those ultralight hiking guys are anti knife. They don't carry one at all, and went banannas on a guy who said he was bringing a mora onto the AT. "Why do you need a weapon?" they said, and it got worse and worse. More reading there found guys getting reamed for bringing a SAK.

I didn't join. I'm with you. In the woods with no knife? Damn dumb.
 
Fiddleback said:
Attacked by the other forum members. Those ultralight hiking guys are anti knife. They don't carry one at all, and went banannas on a guy who said he was bringing a mora onto the AT. "Why do you need a weapon?" they said, and it got worse and worse. More reading there found guys getting reamed for bringing a SAK.

I didn't join. I'm with you. In the woods with no knife? Damn dumb.
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You should have said "why are you guys bringing a pack? they're heavy, unnecessary, and could cause you to drown in a river. why not just carry all your gear in your arms?"
 
I'm not from the US and I don't know whether your trip will move through bear and mountain lion country, but screw frighting one of those beasties with anything other than a large caliber gun.
 
Rich_S said:
You should have said "why are you guys bringing a pack? they're heavy, unnecessary, and could cause you to drown in a river. why not just carry all your gear in your arms?"
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Yea. As I said, I didn't join that forum. I know there are ultralight hikers that HAVE common sense. Our own Bear the Dog is pretty accomplished on the hikes, and has both cool knives and a cutie to model them. But these guys were off the nut.

Google ultralight hiking forum and check it out. Its not like I was in a freak zone. There is a lot of no knife loonatics out there.
 
Yeah, i can't imagine going into the woods without a knife..maybe these ultra light guys take a pair of "tactical scissors."

Raindog...My trail name was Smokey...not because i smoke(i don't). its kind of a long story, but basically i was in hotel with some other hikers and the police got called...i made friends with the officer who showed up and he drove me to the store to buy more beer...i was 20 at the time. somebody started calling me smokey afterward,as in smokey and the bandits, and it stuck.

what was your trail name?
 
I Have A Orange Flare Gun And Have Bought A 38 Caliber Adapter That Fits It . This Only Becomes Illegal If You Insert The Adapter Into The Flare Gun. I Talked To A Kentucky State Trooper And He Told Me The Legal Points Of This Carry And Said He Would Do The Same Thing If He Were Me . Have You Ever Thought About That ?
 
Fiddleback said:
Yea. As I said, I didn't join that forum. I know there are ultralight hikers that HAVE common sense. Our own Bear the Dog is pretty accomplished on the hikes, and has both cool knives and a cutie to model them. But these guys were off the nut.

Google ultralight hiking forum and check it out. Its not like I was in a freak zone. There is a lot of no knife loonatics out there.
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Which one are you referring to? Backpackinglight.com? That is the first result and probably the largest forum out there for, well, backpacking light. They have their share of nuts (just like us...OK all of us), but most will recommend bringing at least a small SAK. They even have articles on the main site recommending certain knives.
 
Do your self a favor make sure ya can make a splint and bring an extra pair if hikin' boots for PA, I kow it's extra weight but the state of PA is probably one of the toughest on yer feet, lotsa jagged rocks play hell with yer boots and feet.

If ya get off in Watergap head to Stroudsburg and there's a walmart and kmart pretty close buy where ya can buy supplies and a place in Stroudsburg called Dunkleburgers where ya can get quality campin' and hikin' equipment.

Respect the AT and good luck.:thumbup:
 
When I left springer this past March (March 20th actually) I was carrying a RSK MK1 (my main folder, and a BRKT NorthStar. These are the two ill go out with on the AT, to me anything else is kind of overkill for a thru-hike IMHO, but Im also a ounce counter. For most of the trail you never that far away from town, and there are a fair amount of people most of the year on almost any given section that if you can't move because of, lets say and injury, your hiking gear will more than likely keep you alive until your found. As for the gun, I cannot really think of any time on the trail I was scared for my life (not to say it doesn't happen) but because of laws (as stated in the above numberous posts) and that simple fact that most likely it's dead weight you have to be sure it constantly stays out of sight, but thats just MHO, and as for those people who don't carry a knife with them into the backcountry I say ok, well welcome to the food chain. Happy trails.
 
ieraseu said:
You can not legally carry a gun in any national park. If you get caught with it, you can potentially lose your right to carry a gun forever.
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Of course, if you get caught without one, you could lose your right to LIVE forever......

If you decide to take one, keep it concealed and tell no one.......ever.

.
 
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