The Hiking Culture (of fear)

[Chuckie V]

There seem to be so many threads going on about the risks and fears of hiking. It seems ours is a fear based culture, but I never really imagined so many hikers would be afraid. It's strange too, because when I'm out hiking and happen upon others, the conversations almost never steer toward what we're afraid of, or what "might happen." Perhaps being indoors raises our fears! I know the thought of being indoors all my life scares the living hell out of me! If hiking on the AT or anywhere else is deemed a risk, it's best to take some risks, I think.

[Prime Time]

Yes, true, but it seems that most of the fears are not of the outdoors themselves, but about other people in the outdoors. I don't worry about it but I sometimes think about it if I'm alone in a shelter late at night close to a road or a town and I hear something I can't identify. Just human nature I think. Booeyman stuff from when we were children.

[Lone Wolf]

so is this just a statement or what?

[Chuckie V]

so is this just a statement or what?

Are people not allowed to think out loud here?

[Lone Wolf]

Are people not allowed to think out loud here?

sure. are you afraid or not?

[Chuckie V]

sure. are you afraid or not?

Of contracting Lyme disease, yes. But not of other people, though that entirely depends on the individual.

[vamelungeon]

I'm not and have never been afraid of the woods nor anything that lives there. I am, however, always prepared for evil humans who might be found there and would do me harm. I'm not afraid. I am prudent.

[Lone Wolf]

most hikers are afraid of everything associated with the outdoors. not just other humans

[WingedMonkey]

I sometimes wonder where people that don't like the woods get these fears, then the other day I landed on Wikipedia's entry for the Appalachian Trail.

In a side bar they list,

Hazards:
Severe weather
American Black Bear
Tick-borne diseases
Mosquitos
Yellowjackets
Biting flies
Chiggers
Steep grades
Limited water
Diarrhea from water
Poison ivy
Venomous snakes

I wonder who edited this least of "hazards"?

[slims]

Haven't you heard that breathing too much is bad for you? Smiling too.

[Rasty]

most hikers are afraid of everything associated with the outdoors. not just other humans

Wolves are scary in their natural habitat. Not a problem on the AT though.

[snowblind]

Only recall feeling fear a few times on trail.
- Night-hiking in the rain and mist up White Cap after a 16 mile day. Exhausted and going over a mountain in very very poor visibility, at night, is not fun.
- Hearing that bull moose call 100~ ft behind me during rutting season. Rutting season. Moose. Enough said!
- Doing 11+ miles over Franconia Ridge on a clear sunny day with just over a Liter of water. Wasn't sure I was going to make it to Liberty Spring Campsite.
- Walking up on a porcupine in the middle of the trail. First encounter w/ that animal ever. Didn't know if it would 'charge' or not. (I have to laugh about that now!!)

Fear concerning people? Not really. Kept my eye on a few people here and there when sharing a shelter, but never really ran across people that put fear in me.

[ChuckBrown]

Oh man yellow jackets, I was in Vernon nj, dropped my pack to go into post office. Did my business, came out and put my pack back on and , yikes, I was stung by a bee that was on the inside of my shoulder strap. That left a mark.

[tiptoe]

Well said, Chuckie V. We do have a culture of fear. People seem to be afraid of new ideas, of risk, of each other. Every new product carries a ton of warnings, which are meant to ward off litigation, I suppose, but make people wary of doing or using anything. Politics (let's not go there) are confrontational, religion (nor there) is confrontational. When I hike, be it a short walk in the park or a long backpacking trip, I feel peaceful and relaxed most of the time. I enjoy the problem-solving aspects and try to make good decisions. Most of the people I meet seem to be in that frame of mind, too.

[garlic08]

The trails and woods are benign places, full of peace and God. I get nervous sometimes in town and traveling to the trailhead, then I relax.

I once saw a list of the things hikers are most afraid of (Backpacker Magazine, I think). Next to that was a list of things that actually hurt people in the woods. The two lists are almost exactly opposite. For instance, slips and falls are the number one risk, and it's the last thing most people are afraid of. Wild animals top the list of fear, and are at the bottom of the actual list.

[SoCalled]

Yea. Thats why I always carry gold when I hike in case of global collapse.

(but I do agree with you)

Basiphobia : (fear of walking)

Avoidance of walking because of the fear that something dreadful will happen as a result; such as, collapsing and dying.

[Colter]

... The two lists are almost exactly opposite. For instance, slips and falls are the number one risk, and it's the last thing most people are afraid of. Wild animals top the list of fear, and are at the bottom of the actual list.

Isn't that the truth. If anyone finds that article, please let me know.

[rickb]

For instance, slips and falls are the number one risk, and it's the last thing most people are afraid of.

Even in the last 200 miles of a thru hike?

: )

[hikerboy57]

There are indeed (who might say Nay) gloomy & hypochondriac minds, inhabitants of diseased bodies, disgusted with the present, & despairing of the future; always counting that the worst will happen, because it may happen. To these I say How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened!”
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, Apr. 8, 1816

[takethisbread]

I am mostly afraid of mice. On the trail, I am most often spooked that fearsome predator; the squirrel