Laura Stiles- Research

While researching for my paper, I found an interesting study that surveyed visitors of the appalachian trail and asked them how secure they felt. Of day hikers, overnight hikers and section hikers 63% reported feeling very safe on the trail, while 74% of thru-hikers reported to feeling secure. While you may think thru 0hikers must just be more trusting people, get this. When asked how secure they felt in town surrounding the trail, day hikers, section hikers and overnight hikers dropped to 50% feeling very secure while only 26% of thru hikers felt a high level of safety. It my opinion that those safety numbers don't drop solely because some mountain town people are crazy. Most of it has to do with the fact that thru hikers become so comfortable and trusting of one another on the trail, they only feelin insecure when others are added into the mix. These feelings are most liekly brought on by good old communitas.