Subj : 10 things to remember

A list of ten items related to backcountry has been prepared,
based on various threads.  The viewpoints expressed are those
of a greybeard, with grumpy old man appearances, but with a
genuinely warped sense of humor.

1. Don't do stupid things.

2. Don't pee in the stream.  WHATSAMMATTU! Geez! Come on guys!
   It doesn't matter about biology--it's just not the thing to
   do!

3. Don't mix bears and pepper spray! Protect yourself against
   bears (and other critters) by learning about them, and
   referring to item 1 above.

4. Don't take your pistols backpacking for "bear protection".
   See 1 and 3 above.

5. Don't wear a baseball hat backwards! (For you beach cities
   types, backwards means with the bill in the back!)
   1. IMYLFS! (It makes you look stupid)
   2. You end up with a half moon spot sunburned into your
      forehead such that everyone knows you are stupid.

6. Don't wear short-shorts over your leotards or spandex/lycra/etc
   shorts.

   IMYLFS!
   The longer stuff goes on top!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   (Stallone started the trend in "Rocky", but "Rocky" was so
   punch drunk, he forgot that the shorts go underneath!)

7. There is nothing wrong with a clogged filter!  Would you prefer
   to drink that crap, or clean it out of your filter!
   (By the way, the Katadyn is a great filter!)

8. Don't cross the double yellow lines while driving in the
   mountains!  In California, it is conventional for the "inside"
   car on a turn to make way, so that the "outside" car can
   straddle the double yellow line while rounding the turn.
   Don't do it!  See 1 above.

9. Don't take your damn dogs backpacking.  There is no reason
   that I should be attacked by a Doberman in Dusy Basin, just
   because the poor thing needs fresh air and exercise. (Ok, so
   the owner did keep him 50 yards from the National Park
   boundary.  Big deal.)

10. Don't run around legal campsite areas "nekkid"!  Although, I
    did enjoy striking up a conversation last summer with two nude
    beautiful blond German chicks at Lake Ediza, my wife informed
    me that I violated rule number 1.