From: tilley@fsg.UUCP (Tom Tilley)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Fear and Social Conditioning
Date: 5 Oct 92 20:52:20 GMT
Reply-To: tilley@sunfse.ese.lmsc.lockheed.com
Organization: LMSC, Sunnyvale

In article <1992Oct5.012038.7483@gmuvax2.gmu.edu> rauletta@sitevax.gmu.edu (R. J. Auletta) writes:
>
>The May/June 1992 issue of the "Appalachian Trailway News" has an article
>entitled "Safety on the Appalachian Trail". Becky Blanton makes
>the following observations which apply to many situations.
>(I have paraphrased her exposition.)

I have to agree with the posters who have expressed disbelief at the level
of concern with backcountry crime.  It occurs to me that being aware of one's
surroundings in the backcountry is important for many reasons: for example,
"is my tent site going to flood when it rains?", or "if I stumble on the
trail here, just how far is that drop?".  These (and others) are the concerns
I expect in the wilderness.    Worrying about being mugged in the wilderness
is simply not something that has crossed my mind.

Does anyone have actual statistics on backcountry crime?  The only thing
I've seen is an article in _Backpacker_ earlier this year dealing with
the issue of guns in the backcountry.  They answered the "guns are needed
in the backcountry to protect against backcountry murder" argument by
pointing out how very low the backcountry murder rate is.

Another point: when I do encounter people in the wilderness, I find that
once I am past the "casual day-hiking" range, the people are uniformly
friendly.  This is very striking: within easy day-hiking range, many people
appear to act as they would walking down a city street.  As the crowds
greatly thin a few miles from the trailhead, I find most if not all people
to be very friendly.  I also note that, as the crowds thin, my friendliness
toward strangers on the trail increases (reaction to crowding?).

With that said, some of the paraphrased points make general sense, albeit
they seem a bit odd as "wilderness advice" (for example, if someone wants
to start a confrontation, avoid it).  Other points I have specific comments
on:

>2) That trash on the Trail is trying to tell you something that may save
>   your life or at least save you a lot of harassment.
>
>   We watch for weather signs, but you can also look out for safty signs.

I submit that if we have any problem with "ignored signs", it is the
weather signs and not the "safety signs".  I suspect numbers will show that
the weather is a far greater backcountry killer than crime.  I don't recall
ever reading of "mugging" in Eugene's "Morbid Backcountry" FAQ post: I read
of hypothermia, avalanche, lightning, etc. in Eugene's periodic post, in the
paper, and in any good "wilderness skills" book.

>   Does the trailhead show heavy usage? Is it littered with beer cans, litter?
>   Probably frequented by men, teen-agers, hunters, and fisherman.
>   Avoid such areas. ...

  a) The only thing the litter would tell me is that the place is
     frequented by slobs, regardless of sex, age, or avocation!

  b) So what if it is frequented by men, teen-agers, hunters, and fishermen?

>3) The location and condition of a Trailhead is not so much a personal
>   safty issue as it is a vandalism.  ...

Vandalism is not the only trailhead automobile danger.  When you are
given warnings about bears at trailheads, and not leaving food (or even
visible empty coolers) in your car, take them seriously.  The rangers at
Yosemite have posted pictures at the Tuolumne Meadows wilderness permit
booth of cars that lost their encounter with bears.

I'd have to see some numbers to be sure, but I also suspect that, at Yosemite
for example, cars lose far more encounters with bears than with vandals.

>5) One of the most deadly "diseases" on the Trail is "creeping Pollyanna-sim,"
>   also known as "Mr. Roger-sim."
>
>   Not everyone you meet on the Trail is your friend or has your best
>   interest at heart. ...

"Deadly"?  See above regarding a) the _very_ low backcountry murder rate,
and b) the weather danger versus the danger from other people.  Other dangers
exist as a natural part of the wilderness.


Tom.
#--------------------------------------------------#
| Tom Tilley                                       |
| Internet : tilley@sunfse.ese.lmsc.lockheed.com   |
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry,rec.climbing