I would rather insure myself against the "imaginable"(that which is likely to occur) rather than the unimaginable. Therefore I find mundane items like a FAK, extra clothing, and even a climbing rope (depending upon terrain) to be more useful. Most fatalities in the woods are related to bad weather or falls.

Don't get me wrong. I have used firearms since I was a kid, both in the military, as an enthusiast, and in the NPS. There have been occasions when I felt very happy to have my S&W M28 riding on my hip. It is, in fact, one of my most cherished possessions. But venturing into outdoors in the lower 48, there are many far more useful items which claim space in my pack.

Have we touched on anything in this thread which hasn't been mentioned before in other gun threads? We all get to choose what we carry, so let's make our choices and hit the trail.