[MtnGoat]

From my perspective I see them as examples of the outliers with respect to the statistical spread of human behaviors, rather than new standards. There's nothing new about them, for one thing. Acceptance that we cannot change human nature is the first step to grappling with that reality. Non acceptance of it won't eliminate these folks either, they will always exist and regardless of how many hoops we jump to help them, they will still exist, and the nature of their choices and mindsets will lead them to precisely the places they gravitate now for the same reasons. Places they're hard to find, hard to help..this is why they are there. Try to help, sure. Expect it to change things, no. The best that can be done is minimizing the harm without expecting a solution.

[DigitalJanitor]

JMO: we can expect this problem, along with many other interlocking rings of problems, to get worse before they get better. And having spent a little time sitting down and listening to homeless people: they were very often 'us' once. I'm convinced that's why people treat them so badly. If they're 'us' instead of 'other', then it can happen to 'us' too, and that's super duper scary. Better for our ego to deny it and keep our superiority intact.

[Vertec]

Check these out:

and this (five months ahead of local coverage):

The first video listed above is kinda weak compared to the second one. For example I'll post a quiz: How many individual doses can be taken from three grams of heroin? This question is kinda important because possession is not prosecuted in Seattle/King County for less than three grams. Think about that after you find the answer. The answer is in one of the above videos, but not the other. So which one can be considered fake news? I had an encounter on Pilchuck that very well could have ended like the AP trail incident. Yes the person was using. Don't think it "can't happen here". Pontification will not solve these problems. But speaking of pontification, were the AP hikers carrying Bear Spray?

[Vertec]

As stated in so many other threads here, I will continue to keep my skunk on patrol. Proven to work more often than.... Well let's just say my skunk carries: Ear Plugs

[Sky Hiker]

Now that's just plain funny there

[natural_log]

More on the victim and what happened: Army veteran killed on AT A woman played dead to save herself from an attacker on the AT Condolences to all that had to experience this tragedy.

[Randito]

Another update with a few more details. https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/slain-hiker-identified-details-emerge-appalachian-trail-attack/

[Vertec]

I'll share this: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30151096622&searchurl=tn%3Dcontact%2Bweapons%2Blethality%2Band%2Bdefense%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title1 Good read. Describes the stakes involved.

[Cyclopath]

Hiking is dangerous. Mount Si is the only safe trail. Don't ever go anywhere else.

[Vertec]

[Tom]

Please check the gun discussion and politics at the door.

[Randito]

Bear spray works on a range of "wildlife".

[Backpacker Joe]

[Vertec]

[Anne Elk]

Washinton Post profile of the deceased hiker. RIP. Bear spray definitely could have prevented the incident.