It's ironic how we prepare for wilderness emergencies in an ever shrinking world. We do everything to reconnect with our own. Now there is the real chance who we reconnect with is more dangerous than the noises outside our signal fires <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />! The outdoor recreation industry creates bright flashy clothing. You look good on the slopes and S&R can spot you better. Irony is, so can badguys. So we adopt some surplus kit and wind up looking like the bogeyman we all worried about to begin with. It's not unwise to scan your surroundings, sounds,smells,anything in binnocular range. This includes looking behind you-not a bad idea for navigation anyway. This isn't paranoia, just good fieldcraft. I was hiking Santa Cruz when the 'Trailside Killer' was active. I had a sidearm. I instinctively knew I was being followed. That night I pitched my small camp and deployed a perimeter line of paracord hung with a few rockfilled cans. I get woken up by this horrific clatter, turn on my torch/flashlight, throw off the Hi Power's safety. I have this GreatfullDeadhead scared to (greatfull)death. He was lost, saw me and decided to follow me out. I asked him where 'out' was. You know, OUT! Oh, that out. Well, I'm heading IN. IN? Yes, the great in of ins, that has no inner. Oh wow man, this is so cool, want some acid? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />