I'm a big hike your hike guy. If you want a true wilderness experience...whatever that is, go for it. I have "true wilderness" experiences all the time on trail that have hundreds of people on them during a weekend day, just by leaving early or late and returns via ridges and drainages. Wilderness is what you make it.
I'm a big don't count on technology to make up for a lack of skill guy. A SPOT is not going to save your ass, if you are in John Muir Wilderness and that device says you are in the Alabama Hills...this did happen a few years ago. However, knowing how to read a map will and use a compass with that map will.
Have a good map...not something masquerading as a map like many short cutter use to save a few pennies, compass, altimeter and most importantly skills. Before you go out to a place you have not been study the map so you know what to expect. The first time I did Mt. Whitney there were no surprises because I knew what to expect and when...just by studying the map.
Last edited by wbtravis; 05/18/14 08:20 AM.
