Re: [at-l] 1/2 oz. FM radio

[Pat Villeneuve <patv@falcon.cc.ukans.edu>]

In the shelter situation, I was not in danger, although I certainly did 
not like the dynamic going on between a couple of the hikers. I could 
have stayed, but it would have been a long, awkward afternoon and night. 
Mt. Momma's was ahead, and I was eager to move on, but I was feeling 
cautious because I had had complete raingear failure a few days earlier. 
In this case, it seemed reasonable to be cautious, and I wanted 
information to back up my gut feeling--or give me good reason to 
reconsider.

As for 1996, there was a lot of fear and confusion and misinformation on 
the trail. I was more than cautious, but I wanted information to make a 
sound decision. BTW, I got off the trail.

Radios--I use mine on rare occasions for supplemental information. 
Others use them frequently for music or sports or NPR. Others don't want 
them at all. 

Give Me Chocolate

Owen wrote:
> 
> Pat Villeneuve wrote:
> >
> > I used to agree, but then I found myself hiking solo and injured towards
> > Shenandoah after the 1996 homicides. I wanted and needed information to
> > make some important decisions. I decided to carry a small radio the next
> > time. I used it then to find a weather forecast when I was in a shelter
> > situation I didn't like--should I stay or could I go?...
> 
> Pat - It seems to me that you have actually provided good reasons not to
> carry the radio.  If I read this right, you felt uncomfortable in the
> shelter, for whatever reason. Instead of listening to your inner voice,
> you let something outside determine whether or not you would stay in an
> uncomfortable situation. Then in the Shenandoahs, you were injured and
> feeling vulnerable and heard about the murders, and instead of playing
> it safe, instinctively, you let the voice on the radio determine your
> actions. I don't mean to be critical, but one of the best defenses we
> have, especially hiking alone, is an ability to read subtle cues that
> tell us when there is danger.  Learning to ignore those cues is not
> wise.  I have found that I have an inner voice that can help me, if I am
> willing to listen. If I don't listen, I stop hearing it.  Several times
> I have altered course because something didn't feel right about a
> situation. There wasn't necessarily any logic to it, but I know when to
> listen. I don't need to find a logical reason (i.e. a weather report) to
> give justification to my actions, it's enough to know that something
> feels wrong, and my inner voice says to move.  One of the reasons for
> living the trail life is in order to get back in touch with the inner
> voice that knows things that logic and reason may not know.  Carrying a
> radio for entertainment is one thing, but to determine my actions? Not
> me.
> 
> Ginny
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