Always good advice.

Well, there's no one in my household but me and I'm well versed in gun safety so I'll take my chances. Some folks are "gun people" and some are not, nothing wrong with that. I have a hard time imagining going hiking or camping without a firearm! Just how I was raised, I guess.

I am so sorry guys, my intention was not to start this debate, but to illustrate that what one person deems unnecessary, can be primary by someone else, except two cases of pop on a portage trip. LOL! You know what, I expect that good old Darren was probably much happier carrying that heavy cooler on that trip than he would have been without. He'd have been a bear without it and heck, I didn't have to carry it.

We can be pretty judgey around here sometimes. Personally, I've thoroughly benefited from your advice over the years. I used to be the Queen of over-packing, and though I still usually pack more than I need, I am much more focused and realistic about it. My pack weight has reduced significantly and my back thanks you for it!

I'm often questioned about my lack of a firearm. Gear lists always get questioned about it. I've even been called irresponsible by internet people not of our ETS family, for taking my kids hiking and camping without a gun. Some of you wear your guns like underwear, and probably put your gun on first, but that's just not something I understand. Canadian and American societies are very different in some respects, and I try to respect that.

I have to say though, the guy in that Sootch video called Doc something or other, had guns and ammo but no FAK in the BOB for himself and his 4 year old daughter. I think he said his wife didn't have food in the BOB for her and their 8 year old son, but guns and ammo were there for sure. That makes me scratch my head. FAK is at the top of my packing list for emergencies. I know nothing about guns or gun ownership, but don't ya'll usually have some sort of trauma kit in your range bag?

Furthermore, there's a scene in The War of the Worlds movie with Tom Cruise, when a panicked crowd steals his minivan and threatens his kids that scared the crap out of me. It was a pretty far fetched movie but that scene was something that I can envision happening very easily should TS truly HTF.