Off the Grid

I don't carry anything that I don't use on a weekly, if not daily basis. So no, I don't carry a gun. I don't even carry a knife. They just aren't usefull items. "What-If" isn't a reason to bring things on the trail. That mentality leads to packs that weigh 40 to 80 pounds. Yes, I did meet a guy with an 80 pound pack. Needless to say, he's isn't hiking anymore.

However, if I did feel the need to carry a gun, this is the one I would carry the Ruger .380 LCP.

The reality of the situation is that we live in a country where citizens are not allowed to carry firearms. Sure, I've got the right to buy a gun and keep it locked up in my house, but I can't take it anywhere. Hiking along the east coast with a firearm entails walking through some of the most restrictive jurisdictions in the country. No thanks. If it comes down to it, I'm a fairly big dude, so I guess I'll just have to go ape-shit on whatever's trying to kill me.

As far as knifes go, follow the lead of trappers, the ultimate woodsmen. A trapper carries a super-sharp knife for dressing animals. Sharpness is the key. A simple fixed blade is the way to go. It's not as much about the kind of knife as it is about how you take care of it. That way when you need to shank a mo-fo you get a clean kill. Every once and a while I consider adding a sharp fixed blade to my pack, but then I remeber I've hiked 3000 miles without one, so it'd just be unnecessary weight.