3 rescues in High Peaks over weekend

[Puma concolor]

4 of us climbing Marcy one day. Zero visibility and snow, heavy wind.

Everybody has a different risk tolerance, but as a solo hiker, these are conditions I will not head UP into. Even with a compass bearing, you can still quickly hike yourself onto very uncomfortable terrain when above treeline leading to a higher potential for injury. Just a bad habit to get into as a soloist, where you are your own safety net. Kind of like sticking your head in a lion's mouth ... sooner or later, he's going to bite.

 

[Nessmuk]

Carl, agree with you comments.
Above the treeline, though, in bad visibility and high wind, it's hard to use a map, even a small one. Good trick is to do your map homework at home and tape the various compass bearings( up and down) on the back of your compass. Just flip the compass over, dial in your 'up' or the bearing back to where you entered the treeline and bad visibility and roar of the wind plays a much lesser role in getting back to safety.

I absolutely agree. I have solo bushwhacked for many years, mostly through dense cover of the western Adirondacks rather than treeless summits. If there is one thing I have learned, it is to do my map study homework first at home. At least in my head I keep the approximate compass direction from various landmarks. In the current situation, if I were to recognize that "hey, this is the head of Panther Gorge", I would be able to not only recognize it, but also to know which direction I needed to go next. This has kept me out of trouble many times.

 

[Peakbagr]

Thats why I do my map homework the evening before, any season, trail or 'whack.

 

[David Metsky]

I've seen it happen. People allow themselves to be pushed up hill with the wind rather than push into it to stay on the right direction when they are out in the open and the visibility is diminished.

Edmands Col is notorious for that. Approaching from the Rt 2 side the winds push you into the Col. When it's time to head back you might be going into the teeth of the wind, and the only "easy" way to travel is down into the Great Gulf, which is generally the wrong thing to do.

 

[John H Swanson]

Oh man that's alot of Ranger overtime.....I could "get lost" for them if it helps pay the bills.

I must admit when I read that 3 rangers were breaking trail on skis up towards Indian Pass (assuming at time and a half)...I was thinking now that's a sweet job.

Then I noticed that they feed and cloth the lost people.... I started wondering what type of food are we talking about here? Is it an old cliff bar or some quality homemade leftovers they grabbed from the fridge on the way out. This could influence my "calling for help."

Seriously, I appreciate their efforts and I'm glad they're there when needed. It would be easy to monday morning qb the cases....I'll leave that for another thread.