My wife and I hike a lot in the area where the Bryants were murdered. There are an awfully lot of remote places out there where skulduggery would be extremely easy. Also, there are Wiccans, Satanists and druggies who hang around in these woods for their own various reasons - none of them wholesome. We completely avoid the area in the days around Halloween (we have seen clear evidence of rites).
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I would be less afraid of a wiccan or even pagan rite as opposed to satanist or some pervert.
Absolutely. Wiccans harm no one.
Satanists and druggies are a different animal entirely.
Never never hike alone. And even when going in in small groups make a plan, mark a map, and leave it with the rangers at the ranger station with your in and out plans. That way, if you dont show up on time, they automatically launch a search.
When we hike, at least two of us pack heavy hitting handguns. They are in our packs, but readily avaliable, only to be revealed in case of emergency. Screw the laws, I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.