Dangers on the PCT

Next summer, most boys my age will be facing some sort of risk. These may include getting stung by jellyfish, falling off a bike and skinning a knee, or maybe even getting sunburnt on a luxurious holiday.

On the PCT no such dangers can be found.  My dad asked me to research some of the real dangers of the PCT so I would know what I had coming. He asked me to tell him about them, which got me wondering whether he genuinely wanted me to for the helpful research or he just couldn’t be bothered and wanted me to find out for him…probably a bit of both!  Anyway, I thought it would make good material for my next blog, so here’s what I found.

On the PCT, mosquitoes and wasps live and roam freely. They happily hunt down and torture any body that dares to cross their path. Desperate for food, these ‘micro-minions’ will track you down and devour your skin and bones. Unless you want to suffer much pain and agony, you want special clothing and mosquito hats.  Even with this protection, it’s still not the best idea to go and hit a wasp’s hive with a stick!!!

Virtually all of the PCT belongs to the almighty bear.  Whether you live or die really depends on whether you are in the right place at the right time. Yes, luck. Obviously the risk may be minimal, but August is the month we’ll be hiking and last summer, bear attacks occurred more in that time of the month than anytime else, probably because this is when these beasts stock up on food for hibernation. Bears generally avoid us and go for a less intelligent species but, when hungry, no bear can resist the tasty, crunchy surprise of a homo sapien!!! The only item needed for – what is supposed to be – protection, is a small can of what looks like deodorant. When you see a bear, you need to spray this ‘thing’ around yourself and pray to God that he leaves you the hell alone!!!

There are also Black Bears on the PCT.  Despite their namesake, Black Bears can be cinnamon, brown, black or even white (yes, some are albino).  Some smart chap probably just saw a black, black bear and said, “right, this is a black bear. Deal wiv’ it.”  They are the smallest of their subspecies and, unlike the Grizzly, love a good ol’ human for tea, recording the most fatalities. They generally hibernate during winter (imagine that!) and feed during [gulp] the period we are going to hike.

                                       

What if we fall off a cliff and snap out neck? Not good. In some areas the PCT is only 2-3 feet of walking space.  There is almost no way of making sure you don’t fall off a cliff - unless you select a part of the trail which doesn’t have any cliffs: BORING!!!

With all the stones, rocks and animal holes, it would not be unlikely for either my dad or I to twist or sprain an ankle, and have to miss a couple of days off our hike. We will of course take first aid kits but other than that, there are few things that can be done about this one.

Another danger - every year since 2004, there has been at least one forest fire that has killed more than fifteen people on the PCT.  For example, the Yosemite fire killed 104 people, 74 of them firefighters. If you are hiking from July to November, watch out, because that when fires most commonly scorch the trees of the PCT.

By far, one of the most likely problems on the PCT is that instance when you reach for your bottle, open the cap, open your mouth, tip the bottle over, and wait for the cooling sensation to occur, but nothing. You give the bottle a shake, hoping, praying, that worst wouldn’t come to worst. It does. You frantically scramble for your map, only to find the nearest town is miles away.  You’re now in danger of dehydration.  We will be bringing lots of water, of course, but because water is shockingly heavy, and at times we’ll be a several days’ hike from a town, we’ll have to ration our water very carefully.

So whilst other boys are complaining because of their sunburn, or grazed knees, I will be braving bears and dehydration.  And for some reason, perhaps an insane world view that I've obviously inherited from my dad, that sounds perfect to me.