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Even with the comparatively small distances involved, there are plenty of Brits (and I assume Europeans more generally) who set off for an ill-prepared hike and end up getting saved by mountain rescue because they decided to walk up a mountain in clothing more suited for a walk to the shops.
However in the UK you are less likely to find someone hiking with a crossbow, flares, military rations and some vitamin pills, and still get lost at the car park.
Lol, too funny, but you're both right. I'm still surprised at how many people die each year on the Nevis range. And I have personally seen people (Londoners, natch) on a hike up Ben Lomond in cycling shorts and a t-shirt, just as the weather started to set in...
In America, like you said, far more danger await the unsuspecting and distances are generally far greater.
Anti American sentiment is getting a bit old (saying this as a Belgian)
Although if he was 50 miles away from the trail he was planning on, I'm not sure how much he was really relying on the phone either.
It does smell to me more of something I see a lot "outdoors" that isn't uniquely American though - the idea that you just need more kit to solve problems. Knowing how to use it is unimportant, planning ahead is unimportant, being more prepared simply means buying more Stuff.
Isn't that reasonable? If you want to cut food, or do something that requires precision, you don't want to use a machete. If you need to bushwhack and clear some brush, you don't want to use a small cutting knife.
Obviously, if you're a visitor on a public trail, you shouldn't have a machete.
But there are corners of my property where a machete wouldn't hurt. Sure, New England forests often have open understories. But if sunlight can reach the ground, they can also be nearly impassible.
Weight of machete on hike >>> equivalent weight of water on hike, seems like a much better idea.
The only time I bother to bring a knife is if I'm doing multi day backpacking in bear country. Of course I have bear spray and bells and everything else you should have to deter a bear in the first place, but the last resort option feels nice to have.