The Hiking Culture (of fear)

[hikerboy57]

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

the red squirrel is to be feared. he is ruthless.
and lets not forget


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvs5pqf-DMA

[johnnybgood]

It has been said that the fear of the unknown is fear itself. Nothing can be done about unfounded fears exept confidence in oneself to handle whatever life tosses your way.

[Pedaling Fool]

I don't know why, but hikers do seem to be a group of scaredy-cats.

[Malto]

I think it's pretty easy to explain..... There are many very inexperienced hikers and wanna-be hikers on here. I suspect there is an strong inverse correlation between hiking experience and fear of the multitude of "dangers".

[Lone Wolf]

I don't know why, but hikers do seem to be a group of scaredy-cats.

scared of the water, ticks, bears, pain, rain, boogie men, sleeping alone, and their own damn shadows

[canoe]

simply put....inexperiance

[HikerMom58]

[QUOTE=john gault;1421119]I don't know why, but hikers do seem to be a group of scaredy-cats.

scared of the water, ticks, bears, pain, rain, boogie men, sleeping alone, and their own damn shadows

You both just made a negative interpretation even though there are no definite facts that convincingly support your conclusion.

Seems to me like you pick out a single negative thought and dwell on it exclusively so that your vision of all reality becomes darkened, like the drop of ink that discolors the entire beaker of water.

[Lone Wolf]

[QUOTE=HikerMomKD;1421159]

I don't know why, but hikers do seem to be a group of scaredy-cats.



You both just made a negative interpretation even though there are no definite facts that convincingly support your conclusion.

Seems to me like you pick out a single negative thought and dwell on it exclusively so that your vision of all reality becomes darkened, like the drop of ink that discolors the entire beaker of water.

sure

[WalksInDark]

I am deathly afraid of:

1) Running out of toilet, or any other sanitary, paper
2) Running out of water
3) Running out of food
4) Running out of semi-clean underwear (don't ask!)
5) Running out of energy
6) Running into wasps/hornets/yellow jackets
7) Running into large groups of: scouts; drunks; or vegetarians
8) Running into hikers who have decided to take their missionary lectures into the great outdoors
9) Finding half eaten insects or rodent droppings in my food
10) Getting back to my car in the dark... being really hungry and tired...in a remote location where no one else is around...seeing no bars on my mobile phone...and finding out I left the interior light(s) on in my car....and now have to wait until day break or later to get my dead car battery jump started!

[atj_Hiker]

I'm only afraid of what could happen to my boys or what could happen to me when I got home after something happened to my boys.
I think it's important to have a healthy respect for mother nature and be prepared for anything but being afraid isn't a fun way to live. You'll met more crazy people off the trail than you will on the trail. I'm not a gambling type of guy but I like those odds.

[kayak karl]

there have been a lot of threads on this and i don't get it. there are less way of getting hurt in the woods then in daily like. is everybody scared to get out of bed in the morning too?

[MuddyWaters]

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"?

Some people have most of those in their yards. Not much in the way of real hazards.

[Hairbear]

Fear comes from a lifetime of being exposed to the preconditiond response to possible danger. We make all decisions based on possible dangers. The saying money makes the world go round,well its not its ear of not having money that makes the world go round.

[Hairbear]

Fear comes from a lifetime of being exposed to the preconditiond response to possible danger. We make all decisions based on possible dangers. The saying money makes the world go round,well its not its ear of not having money that makes the world go round.

Thats fear not ear darn the sausage fingers anyway.

[Maddoxsjohnston]

My greatest fear is having my car keyed or having the tires slashed in a TN trailhead since my car has an SC liscence plate. Tensions are high because sc is on the winning side of football as of late. I usually back into parking space because of this.

[Odd Man Out]

I think I have seen this posted before, but it seems to be worth another look and applies to several on-going threads. Hilarious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEOFDwWv4fk

[Mountain Mike]

I think I have seen this posted before, but it seems to be worth another look and applies to several on-going threads. Hilarious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEOFDwWv4fk

I have to bookmark that one! That covers about %80 of the questions on WB!

[rocketsocks]

I have to bookmark that one! That covers about %80 of the questions on WB!

Book marked!...notice how she pronounces "Appalachian" funny!

[Dr. Professor]

I'm scared sometimes, but I'm not afraid to admit it. A little fear is healthy. Too much fear is as bad as too little fear.

[Mountain Mike]

I'm scared sometimes, but I'm not afraid to admit it. A little fear is healthy. Too much fear is as bad as too little fear.

Great quote!