How dangerous is solo backpacking? I live close to Appalachia and any time I talk to someone about going on a solo trip people talk schitzo-tier about how I'm going to die, disappear, or worse.Not even because of the nature specifically, but because of le paranormal, inbred mountain people, cannibals, accidentally stumbling upon illegal operations in the mountains (heard this one specifically a lot), etc. You get it, the list goes on.Anyways, is there any truth to the danger or is it just the average small-town tall tales and superstitions? Seems unlikely to me as I feel like if it was so dangerous you'd be seeing a lot more of it in the news.
>>2872583it's not the people you have to worry about...
>>2872584Do you frequently get attacked by fish, anon? I think you're doing fishing wrong.
>>2872583All of the spooky shit about Appalachia is a meme. Too developed for cryptids. They're all out west. Remember, nothing ever happens.
>>2872583Unless you find another autist nobody will encourage you to go innawoods aloneWeigh the odds and decide for yourself
>>2872583I just did the Massanutten Ridge trail alone and frequently do 6-12 mile day hikes along the AT. Nothing has ever happened to me, unless you just go wandering on people's land you won't accidently stumble across a meth lab (happened to my dad and brother when they were roaming). Don't know where in Appalachia you are but in virginia we have the AT, Tuscarora, Massanutten, and all of those are long, well established trails that don't cross people's land. Meth labs happen out in the back 40 of someone's grandpaw's unused farmland, not on mountaintops. Pic from my last hike. Really sick of every urbanite talking about Appalachia like its this big haunted thing "oh you'll get nabbed by skinnies, theres things in those mountains". People are so desperate to make places more interesting because they don't actually go out and appreciate whats actually there, the biggest thing out here are black bears and they're massive pussies, you can scare em off by yelling
>>2873491If that's the one that sort of ends at the resort I've heard the trail is in poor shape. I think the resort itself has a scenic chairlift to the top of the ridge with a good view maybe i should try that sometime.
>>2872583You'll probably be fine. Most people are. Solo hiking the AT is extremely common. Sure there are spooks and serial killers and your own dumb ass tendency to fall off cliffs or get lost, but so long as you take care and act respectfully it'll most likely be okay.Bonus points for not being frail or a woman.
>>2873493I did from Front Royal to 211 and I was having to go around a lot of fallen trees and it was semi overgrown in the lush parts but nothing impassable or bad enough that I lost the trail. I intend to hit the south half once the heat dies down a bit but right now its so damn hot.Did see something weird where the tuscarora intersects near shawl gap, a tent with no poles strewn on the ground and a woobie blanket with the corner torn up and some of the stuffing pulled out. Poked around a little and I think someone got caught in the rain and ditched their gear cause it was really cheap stuff, and rodents might've gotten into the blanket to scavenge nesting material
>>2873628hobos love to abandon their tents and blankets and shit everywhere, pretty sure they get it for free so they don't care about it
>>2873656Im kind of wealthy i often just buy cheaper gear when i backpack i consider it one time use, leave it behind so i dont have to pack it up and carry it home. Throwing it in the nearest ravine seems like a hassle and maybe not ecologically sound but who knows i just assume some poorfag will want it and take it home.
>>2873668sickening
>>2872583Depends on the location. Grizzly and polar bear territory is moderately dangerous. Most other places aren't dangerous as long as you have enough food and water.
>>2873628I guess my question is sort of more about the southern section (didn't realize it was so long)and if there are any views from the trail good enough to be worth not just taking the chairlift, I have somewhat limited mobility so it couldn't be too too far from a trailhead. >having to go around a lot of fallen trees and it was semi overgrown in the lush partsthe reviews I read indicated it wasn't in great shape it's too bad people as fit as you never get into the trails deeper into WV there's a lot of semi-interesting abandoned/former trails in eastern WV.
>>2873693I haven't gotten to that section yet but the trail holds the ridge pretty much the whole way so it gives stunning overlooks every 1/2 mile or so, hence all the pics. I say take the trail, always gives me a better sense of satisfaction
>>2873972I like the river, but the page mountain overlook or whatever it is called seems to be the best of those in angle but its a rocky 7 mi walk so I haven't. I don't have a ton of mobility so I can't hike tooo far. I just remember some reviews on alltrails saying the trail was in pretty awful shape.
>>2872583Several questions for you to answer, the more you answer "no", the more dangerous it would be for you:1-Are you naturally unlucky, or are you accident-prone?2-Have you spent at least several years in the outdoors backpacking? (Not consecutive, just have you been backpacking as your main hobby or favorite hobby for more than 1 trip per year the last several years)3-Are you ABSOLUTELY certain that if something terrible were to happen that (a) people would worry enough about you to send word that you are missing, and (b) that you have several methods to signal for help, i.e. Garmin Inreach, radio (with knowledge on how to signal for help) and a way to know EXACTY where you are (coordinates on a map, not "inbetween these two hills)If you answered "no" to at least one of these questions, please consider going with someone who can be useful in an emergency and has been at least familiarized with outdoor leadership and survival skills.I'm not saying you should not solo backpack, but as long as you are asking "How dangerous is solo backpacking?" I am assuming you haven't done so yet.Develop more survival skills or hone the ones you already have, gather ways to signal for help if shit hits the fan, and ALWAYS have someone at home or a close friend know EXACTLY where you are going, when you will be going, and when you will be back.Stay safe!
>>2872583i literally only go alone because everyone irl is a loser that doesnt want to do anything other than sit at home
>>2872583The wilderness in the gorges in west NC are fucking creepy as hell, even with people, since they are abnormally dark and cast with shadow due to being so deep between tall mountains. They really feel like the dark forests you see in games or old medieval movies. I heard stories from my dad about tales he heard during his solo work travels in the mountains, and the ones in the general region that involved supernatural entities were:>Will o the WispsMalicious ghostly lights that trying to lure individuals into dangerous situations or into getting lost.>Brown Mountain LightsWandering ghosts (usually natives looking for tribe members lost to battle).>Yunwi Tsunsdi or Moon-eyed peopleCave-dwellers with large crescent shaped eyes that are nocturnal. Cherokee legends tell of driving out these creatures.>U'Lag'uGiant yellow jacket the size of a house that would snatch people and carry them off to never be seen again.Dad used to tell a story about the brown mountain lights passed down from some time after the colonial days where people would observe trails of the lights moving through the mountains like a line of people with torches. The tale recanted that they were native search parties formed of spirits looking for lost warriors from battles from over the eons. In this story, it was said that they were observed traveling in vicinity of a distant cabin across a valley where a settler lived alone. Other local settlers went to visit him after and found him scalped with his eyes and tongue ripped out and missing.I've been out myself to the gorges region and stayed overnight a few times. I haven't personally seen anything that ever looked supernatural, but the feeling as you become more isolated in those mountains almost feels oppressive at times like something doesn't want you there. Normally nights out are pretty loud. But the creepiest times when you're out there remote is when it is dead silent at night. I don't know if I could do it solo, bros.
>>2872583The danger of solo hiking isn't any of that shit you mention. The danger is getting conventionally injured. If you trip and break your ankle/skull/spine, then there's nobody to treat the injury or go for help. Best case scenario you call for help, but if there's no signal or you lose consciousness, you're fucked. Even if you get a message out, without somebody mobile to flag down rescuers it'll be harder to find you, and you might not have the time to wait if you're badly hurt.I go out solo all the time though. This is the danger, decide if you're willing to take the risk. Safest group size is 4 - one to treat a casualty, two to go for help so that they aren't alone if they get injured too.
>Are you a man with reasonable athleticism, the ability to plan ahead and make reasonable decisions for what is within your ability and to respect unsafe weather?Not dangerous at all.>Are you a small woman but otherwise reasonable in all respects?Not very dangerous, although mountain lions occasionally attack small children and women. Nonzero chance of a dangerous "man.">Are you an idiot who makes bad decsions such as inadequate water, supplies or clothing, unrealistic fitness goals for speed and distance and disregard for dangerous weather?Might be dangerous.Overall very safe.
>>2876987You desperately need to go outside. Your mythology isn't even correct.
>>2877532>Saar! You kindly must be going outside. What in the hell! Your mythology is not even correct!
>>2872583I always think... What are the chances two crazy people bumb on each other on the woods? Broh you probably the kind of person other people would be scared of encountering in the wild
>>2878384one evening i walked to one of those state funded campfire sites because i figured nobody would be there and i cound rinse myself off in the lake while making dinner and then go find some place to camp for the nightsome 13 year old kid appeared asking me if he could come sit by the fire, apparently he drove there 10km with his moped many times every week just to be alone and thinki was on my 5th day walking at that point but unshaven and dirty i looked like i was going 2 months already so drinking heavily i told the little guy all these tall stories about my adventures in the wilderness and he thought it was the coolest shit ever even when i looked like a crazy personi hope he hasnt gotten himself killed /out/ there and managed to find some friends
>>2872583It’s literally so fine, if ur worried just like tell someone where you’re going and when you’re expecting to be back, and you’ll be good
>>2872583I moved from the north west to Knoxville for work and have gone solo hiking plenty of times. There is no "true" wilderness out here, everything is developed and you are never farther than a few miles from civilization. Hav not had any spooky occurrences or seen illegal grow operations. The most you need to worry about are trail junkies because how close you are to population centers.
>>2879057knoxville is a great location but a horrible city>There is no "true" wilderness out here, everything is developed and you are never farther than a few miles from civilizationparts of no business creek in the big south fork and remote sections of the rockcastle gorge exist, you haven't gone far from knoxville
>>2879058Nah man, ive been all over the Appalachians, the only people that think this is wilderness haven't been north or west of the Dakotas
>>2873674People throughout history look at your use of resources as incredibly wasteful. People in the future will be even more wasteful than you. Release yourself from your commie programming, resources become less scarce over time not more. The economy growing is literally resources becoming less scarce.
>>2879239If not kidding then it’s actually a really profoundly chink thing to do. Nature is cool and cleaning it up is good. Plastic polluting chinks will be killed horribly then burn forever. Thats makes me happy when I sleep.
>>2872583The hiking itself only moderately dangerous. The real danger though is if something goes wrong. If something happens and you are alone you are 6/10 fucked.
>>2879239>resources become less scarce over time not moreThis is magical thinking. The economy is only "growing" because they cook the numbers to look good on the next quarter report.
>>2873491>Really sick of every urbanite talking about Appalachia like its this big haunted thing "oh you'll get nabbed by skinnies, theres things in those mountains"As someone in Appalachia I love urbanites talking like this because it means less urbanites on my trails
>>2873668I might come to your house and asked to use your bathroom, but you know what? That's too much of a hassle--so I'll just shit on your lawn instead.
>>2879239Weak ass tu quoque.
city people can’t imagine life outside the concrete cube so they will tell that you will die if you try
>>2879301>magical thinkingIt’s not, it’s logical thinking. Value is subjective which means that scarcity can only be understood in relation to the individual, however in a market all actors coming together competing and sacrificing creates prices which represent the closest possible approximation to a resources real average value across all individuals in the market. In no uncertain terms, an economy growing means that resources are less scarce, that is literally what is meant by growth. Your personal opinion, the opinions of trained experts, officials and committees elected or unelected, has absolutely zero bearing over scarcity.As to whether economies grow at all is an entirely different question. They do. >>2879443You would be repulsed by the kind of food conditions people endured in the past, in the future people will find what you had to eat repulsively unsanitary. What’s so difficult to understand here? If it helps your brainwashed mind comprehend it just imagine that the technology they use in the future in this scenario is all apple white and runs on algae. The phenomenon isn’t technological though it’s just plain old economic growth.Everything you leftists believe is based on fear. It’s the same thing as Malthus and his theory of overpopulation, he predicted that population would outpace food production and he was famously wrong but if you look at everything leftists believe, it’s the same argument. Climate change and environmentalism, that the environment is going to degrade faster than the tools to protect it will naturally develop. AI will take jobs faster than they are created. Poverty will grow faster than living conditions will improve. What the leftist is doing is the same fallacy as Malthus, you assume (solution) grows linearly and (problem) grows exponentially. So what you should do if you really want to test the strength of all your leftist doomsday beliefs is research how often people who make predictions like this are right.
>>2879563>AI will take jobs faster than they are created. Poverty will grow faster than living conditions will improve.Not that anon, but these are objectively true though. You have people who work and slave away inside the system, for the benefit of the owners of said system, and then you have a rapidly growing group of people outside the system or on the periphery. You could cull that group of outsiders (or outright enslave them through legislation and private prisons) and keep the illusion going a while, but what we're talking about isn't really a civilized, dynamic and living society but rather something out of a sci-fi dystopia. A rotting corpse of a system. You have to be retarded or a disingenuous faggot to defend this.
>>2879788Capitalism doesn’t impoverish, it creates the possibility for population growth, it pushes out the margins of poverty. It will never get rid of poverty because poverty is a direct result of its success, that more people are able to just get by so there will be more people just getting by, an elimination of poverty is an elimination of growth. The employer employee relationship is not an abuse in any way, it’s not even unequal, both have equal bargaining power in the market. The entrepreneur is also the essential element to the success of an economy, as I said value is subjective, knowledge of it is contextual and has to be discovered in the moment through risky guessing. By bearing risk and loss some entrepreneurs discover value and make profits and society becomes wealthier. Don’t be so quick to dismiss them as lucky either, not that that would negate their importance, and there is more to it than them being hard working too. You could say they saw something nobody else saw or whatever made them the right person at the right time, but that only makes sense after the fact, and again since value is subjective it doesn’t even make sense that objective qualities would lead to its discovery. The truth is they made the value. I want to talk about the concept of the minority now, leftists make us think that minorities are race classes, but your race affiliation is just one of countless details about you as an individual, every member of these so called racial minorities doesn’t necessarily all that much in common with each other outside this one detail we are linking them all together with. Every person should be considered an uncountable and unequal distribution of minority features. We do not necessarily all share these features to some degree, some of us in some ways, in fact all of us probably, are a minority of one. The entrepreneur takes the thing that makes them a minority of one and markets it, and then it becomes a minority of multiple people.
>>2879958The capitalist lives their truth, in the process creates value, jobs, opportunity to take part in the creation of value. Civilization is literally generated out of this. The problems come from government, this is where the ability to take advantage comes from. The wealthy elite are always fearing replacement from nouveau riche, new entrepreneurs taking away everything they built, so they become conservative, and put every effort into continuing the status quo. This leads to government taking control of the money supply, which leads to inflation and civilizational collapse.
