One of the top questions I get when people realize I backpack is do you carry a gun. The answer is an astounding no, I do not carry a gun. What for? For defense against people? First off, I often try and backpack in areas where there aren’t a lot of people, but even somewhere more populated like the JMT or GSMNP (I think firearms are prohibited both places anyways) but you are much more likely to run into an altercation in a city than on the trail. In my thousands of miles of backpacking, I’ve only run into one person that I was un-nerved by, at a shelter near Watauga on the AT, and I just moved on and got water somewhere else. Even then, I’m sure the guy (who I think was homeless) probably didn’t want to hurt anyone, he was just hanging out looking for his next 40oz.
For protection against animals? Before a trip to Alaska I researched bear protection quite a bit. I had done a lot of hiking in black bear territory, and had backpacking in Grizz country a few times before and not thought much about it, but I expected to see some bears in Alaska (ended up seeing 5 grizzlies). What I discovered is if you want to take a firearm, you would need a high caliber pistol, and not only that you would need to hit the bear in about a 4″x4″ section of the skull to kill it – and by the way the bear is moving at up to 35 mph and you are under duress. Bears often false charge and stop, but if you shoot it and wound it, it is coming after you. I ended up taking bear spray, which was the recommended method as it was deemed the most effective – most bears run after getting a whiff of the spray – meaning you don’t have to have sniper precision under duress. I’m not sure it would have mattered anyways – I have been false charged by a black bear and it all happed so quickly that I can almost guarantee that if I had a gun or bear spray in an easily accessible location (I’m amazing that many people that carry a weapon or bear spray carry it very inaccessibly) I know there is no way I could un holster it, aim and get a good shot off – especially a gun, where a good shot is mandatory.
By the way – I never felt threatened by any of the grizzlies I saw in Alaska including this female that stood on her hind legs to get a good look. She then returned to digging up ground squirrels.
You are much more likely to get seriously injured in the backcountry by falling, getting hit by rockfall (I’ve had a softball size rock whiz by my head – it was probably really 15 feet away, but it felt like it was right by my head), break a leg on talus, etc than be attacked by an animal or another person.
I am 1000 times more likely to die driving to the trailhead than I am to get attacked and need a gun on the trail. I am probably 100 times more likely to need a gun walking to a football game on any college campus, or going to a concert, or the grocery store. Bringing a gun is packing your fears.
What exactly do you think you need a gun for?
