tho i haven't had the experience of need while hiking, i do carry cash ($40) and my credit card # written down in my journal. i figure i don't need to carry the actual plastic card. anyone have a problem with just giving your #?

i have had a problem while car traveling- places that don't take plastic. where i live you can buy anything with plastic, and my life has been simplified by using plastic rather than cash. that habit got me into trouble in rural areas where the store/gas station does not take plastic. therefore, if i'm traveling into a rural area, and i know i'll need to buy something (food, gas, etc) i take what i think i'll need plus an extra couple hundred. now, that's a wad i wouldn't want to have to carry backpacking!

what about traveler's checks? any problem using them?