If you wish to converse with more fellow hikers on the trails then the right tool for the east side of the Sierra's will cost you $20 with free shipping during the holiday sales:
Cabela's Blaze Orange fleece vest which includes four pockets and so is relatively cheaper than blue or brown fleece which do not have pockets.
We normally wear Blaze Orange during deer gun season in Iowa while hiking and are unnoticed in the sea of humanity trying to avoid being an accident statistic. Fall hiking travel preparation always includes a Google search of gun seasons and so we carry Blaze Orange when needed (Iowa gun season is in December). Google reported a late September and early October California deer gun season and so packing for hiking the east side of the Sierra's included two matching Blaze Orange vests, the only identical clothing we own. Our trail conversations increased dramatically:
- State non-hunting residents most confused by Blaze Orange: California
- State non-hunting residents most familiar with Blaze Orange: New Hampshire (on the trails)
- What emergency/rescue are you handling?
- Those are "extreme sports" enthusiasts making it back (explanation given by campground host).
- Are you looking for animals (scouting) here? (asked in NF wilderness, said with a large frown)
- Most hunters are up in the "State of Jefferson" (said by an ideological backpacker from Mississippi)
- Aren't we visible (said by three backpackers each carrying bear spray, number of bears seen: zero, number of hunters blocking the trail to Dragon Lake that day: 2)
The most common question on a NF hiking trail in late September/early October: Is it gun deer season?
The number of trail conversations more than quadrupled while wearing Blaze Orange compared to previous west coast trips. I like the four pockets, but is it safe to wear Blaze Orange the rest of the year?
Cabela's Blaze Orange fleece vest which includes four pockets and so is relatively cheaper than blue or brown fleece which do not have pockets.
We normally wear Blaze Orange during deer gun season in Iowa while hiking and are unnoticed in the sea of humanity trying to avoid being an accident statistic. Fall hiking travel preparation always includes a Google search of gun seasons and so we carry Blaze Orange when needed (Iowa gun season is in December). Google reported a late September and early October California deer gun season and so packing for hiking the east side of the Sierra's included two matching Blaze Orange vests, the only identical clothing we own. Our trail conversations increased dramatically:
- State non-hunting residents most confused by Blaze Orange: California
- State non-hunting residents most familiar with Blaze Orange: New Hampshire (on the trails)
- What emergency/rescue are you handling?
- Those are "extreme sports" enthusiasts making it back (explanation given by campground host).
- Are you looking for animals (scouting) here? (asked in NF wilderness, said with a large frown)
- Most hunters are up in the "State of Jefferson" (said by an ideological backpacker from Mississippi)
- Aren't we visible (said by three backpackers each carrying bear spray, number of bears seen: zero, number of hunters blocking the trail to Dragon Lake that day: 2)
The most common question on a NF hiking trail in late September/early October: Is it gun deer season?
The number of trail conversations more than quadrupled while wearing Blaze Orange compared to previous west coast trips. I like the four pockets, but is it safe to wear Blaze Orange the rest of the year?
