- Messages
- 2,999
- Reactions
- 6,979
Having spent most my seven decades in the woods from BC to California only once have I been squeezed enough by animals to consider packing armament to resolve the confrontation. While trail making for the forest service in the olallie lake area, (67 ish) it was at the end of a long dry summer following a grappy winter when the skinny black bears were hungry and aggressive towards campers or anyone with food. Even then, avoidance was possible. Actually, the yellow jackets were more problematic. many times though, have I come back to a trail head to find my, or another's car, ravaged or missing from the two legged vermin.
Sans grizzly's or the like, The most useful of guns for the trail (at least in the Oregon / Washington area) will produce camp meat. Rabbits, squirrels, grouse and the like make fine additions to dehydrated fare. I prefer my 9 shot 22 revolver (on the hip where handy, not in the pack) but the little ruger semi auto will do well also.
Practical and useful will ultimately overshadow 3 #'s of belt chafing paranoia when you finally retire and sit on the porch in retrospect and reverie.
I can still smell those grouse breast simmering in a wild onion gravy while I gazed down at the Imnaha river from Eagle cap area after a fun day boot skiing the dwindling glaciers.
Sans grizzly's or the like, The most useful of guns for the trail (at least in the Oregon / Washington area) will produce camp meat. Rabbits, squirrels, grouse and the like make fine additions to dehydrated fare. I prefer my 9 shot 22 revolver (on the hip where handy, not in the pack) but the little ruger semi auto will do well also.
Practical and useful will ultimately overshadow 3 #'s of belt chafing paranoia when you finally retire and sit on the porch in retrospect and reverie.
I can still smell those grouse breast simmering in a wild onion gravy while I gazed down at the Imnaha river from Eagle cap area after a fun day boot skiing the dwindling glaciers.
