I have a rig for my pistol that slings it on the underside of my pack allowing me to draw it nearly as fast as hip holster. These are my opinions on defensive eqipment. Pepper spray- Would probably work on an aggro animal. You're essentially using the same defensive strategy as a skunk or a bombadie...

My choice would be a .45 ACP Kimber ProEclipse 2 with an extra magazine. Not too much extra weight and .45 ACP is devastating to humans and aggro wildlife. ( God forbid that I would ever have to shoot either.)

Good point Montezuma......Thanks for the pep talk. I should be heading out in a couple of weeks to get started.

Same here....I'm a freelance digital artist so I sit on my ever growing rump for most of the day. It's high time I got off it and got re-aquanted with nature.

I did manage to go horseback riding in Flagstaff over the weekend and oh dear god am I sore.

Oh, I fully expect a whole new world of pain and suffering since I have to shed about sixty pounds from my once lean but now rather pear shaped physique. I Imagine I'll start with some simple day hikes and work up from there.

Haven't been hiking or camping in quite a while and I'm looking to get back into it. Just wanted to stop in and say HELLO!