naw, seen me a big cat also…
Does S&W make any flutes? Sounds like diane might look at their line before she goes traipsing off into Not-Kansas.
Bigfeet, eh? Seems I remember dating a girl like that in the seventies. Hairy, too. 
The large critters haven’t been a problem on the trail.
Unless you come around the same corner from opposite directions.
Do hang all food, well away from camp, in something rodent proof though.
but real friendly?
In summer, even big bears aren’t so much of a concern, as they really have better things to go after, nuts, berries and all.
Big-foot looks rather friendly, too, if not downright scary, but maybe looks aren’t everything, eh?
It’s those come-from-behind cats which cause concern, frankly.
And, you’ve seen cats up north?
Whoa!
yep…they’re shy though!
I came over a wee shoulder, there was a stream in the next section. Big cougar having a drink. I told her how pretty she was, undid the pack belt and waited for her to move off. She looked at me for a bit and wandered off down stream, through the campsite where we spent the night.
oh, yeah…and waited for the rest of the party to catch up 
“Smith, Wesson, and me,” and thanks, Dirty Harry!
Just to be sure, however, try this: http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAFamily?type=Rifle&subtype=Single%20Shot&famlst=42 and here the nod goes to the No. 1 “Tropical” model in “blue” steel and as chambered in .375 H&H Mag, which is proven as being able to take down ANY predator on the North American continent, with the exception of corrupt politicians. BTW, these, as chambered, are also endorsed by many African hunting guides. And, black and blue shoulder comes as a standard feature, too. 
Now, that’s a flute!
Not that you could ever need such a thing, eh?
I don’t really need a flute or whistle, either. But it looks to be a nice gun. Truth be told, I haven’t fired at anything more dangerous than a paper target in decades. When I hunt, it is with a large camera (white lens, though).
Most critters will give you leeway when they can unless they are hungry, injured, or ill. It’s those accidental encounters that get most people hurt. From the description that Diane gives of the route, she could be quite a ways from help if anything bad happened. That would be my biggest concern.
there is a lot of traffic on the PCT
But if you drop it in the stream, at least Delrin will sink!
OK, seriously, perhaps the odds of anybody encountering any real trouble out there, on the trail, could be somewhere between slim and none.
Over here, on the East Coast, for instance, we have black bears, which pose no real threat to anybody, and about the worst hazard could be deer, and sometimes moose, in or crossing a road. Watch out!
However, considering that one could get hit by the proverbial truck while crossing a road, perhaps going out into the wilderness could not be risk free, eh?
For instance, are you aware that flute playing can attract snakes? That’s a fact.
PCT…too bloody high for snakes…dang cold in winter
most of the way down on the east side, yeah, snakes
there aren’t than many paved passes
camp deer can be annoying
Don’t forget the big cats… Lot’s of mountian lions… (they hate to chew on delrin!)
I second the delrin idea, a little heavier, but some times you need to pound in tent stakes. I’m off to the continent soon with my Jon C. delrin in the pack.
The worry of wildlife is far over-blown. I nearly get creamed every day on my way to and from work and I have been attacked/harassed by humans and dogs many times in town.
In the wilderness I’ve only ever been attacked by wasps and a dog, and I still hiked out 7 miles after the dog bite.
As for being far from help, I have several vials of medications to tide me over and the trail itself is not unpopulated. There will be lots of nice people on the trails. Mostly only nice people go that far from civilization. Mean people are weak and wimpy and have to stay near their fast food and cigarettes.
There’s a trick to avoiding wildlife. They like us because of our food. So they go where we congregate. To avoid them, don’t sleep where you eat and don’t sleep where everybody else does.
I think I’ll bring my Tipple, a penny whistle and my strumstick. At the first or second resupply, I’ll send home or send ahead whatever I don’t use. The strumstick actually seems like the best option because I could strum while I walk. So far I’ve been unable to play a wind instrument and walk.
hard to mind the foot falls, innit!
You sure about that? I went outside and played my flute. All I attracted was the neighbor’s ire.
No Fife and Drum for you!
Ya gotta learn to glide and roll when you walk.
Take a good look at any USMC band on the march. They know how do do it.
Cats won’t chew Delrin but they will swack at it if the flutes hanging of the edge of a low table.
Good thing they are rather shock resistant.
True!
You’ve heard of whistling in the dark, Diane? Well, it seems there is some truth to such an idea.
That is, if you find yourself in an area having “blind” turns in the trail, then simply sing a song, nice and loud. You’ll be heard, and you’ll be avoided.
Yup, a simple song could be a defensive tool.
Believe it or not, it works!
sure…on level ground without a pack
not much of a challenge there, eh?
oh, yeah…near sea level where there’s Os in the air…
whimps!
I believe there is no such word to the Corps.
Solider first, Musician second.
They’ll hump full combat gear up 20 miles, engage the enemy and then play Stars and Stripes on top of them without missing a beat.
OOOO-RAAAH!
Aanvil, Not A Marine But I Play One On TV, Aanvil