I agree that the comment was a bit off-putting. In addition, the assumption is that you're camping in an area where the area itself is inhospitable to life. Th

I agree that the comment was a bit off-putting. In addition, the assumption is that you're camping in an area where the area itself is inhospitable to life. There's a ton of camping and hiking opportunities on the east coast, and unless you break a leg or something, you can pretty much just pick a direction and walk ten miles and end up in somebody's back yard. You should be able to walk through the woods for a few hours without having to gear up at the local outdoor's shop. (Of course, that's not to say that there isn't a lot of damned good reasons to tool up, or that folks don't get dead even on the east coast. There's just a level of awareness that's involved in being outside that shouldn't come as a surprise to most. Our species is bred to be outdoors. Take it slow. Pay attention. It'll work out.)