Drinking Beer on "The Summit"

[skiguy]

OK I'll admit it. I am on a couple of the Social Media Hiking pages and must say it seems as if there is a major increase in the amount of "Summit Beer Photographs". I drink Beer but I am not a proponent of it while actively hiking and usually wait for Après participation. I feel safer having my train of thoughts about me while hiking especially if an incident occurred that needed my full cognitive ability. How do others feel about this activity? Also, if an incident were to occur where a rescue was involved, and the use of alcohol was determined to be a factor. It seems as if it could get ugly. As of note I posed the same question on a FB Group and the administrators of the page deleted it. My only guess is they thought it would be too controversial of a subject. Any thoughts?

 

[maineguy]

Remember that guy who (I think it was in winter) got drunk on Jack Daniels at or near the Imp Shelter and had to be carried out? I believe that he was fined, but I don't remember if he was charged for the "rescue". I think anyone who injures himself while hiking under the influence (HUI?) should be charged for any rescue regardless of having a Hike Safe Card. IMHO that would constitute reckless behavior.

 

[skiguy]

Remember that guy who (I think it was in winter) got drunk on Jack Daniels at or near the Imp Shelter and had to be carried out? I believe that he was fined, but I don't remember if he was charged for the "rescue". I think anyone who injures himself while hiking under the influence (HUI?) should be charged for any rescue regardless of having a Hike Safe Card. IMHO that would constitute reckless behavior.

Good point. Although The Hike safe Card covers you if you are negligent but not reckless it all becomes a moot issue if it is determined alcohol was involved. In other words the Hike Safe Card does not cover HUI.

 

[evilhanz]

Remember that guy who (I think it was in winter) got drunk on Jack Daniels at or near the Imp Shelter and had to be carried out? I believe that he was fined, but I don't remember if he was charged for the "rescue".

It was October 1988. A 30-year old hiker from Georgia was in the middle of a flip-flop hike. He made it to Maryland, then took a bus to Maine and was working his way south. He didn't like the cold, so when he reached Gorham he bought some vodka to "keep warm". He was found by other hikers heavily intoxicated and crawling around in the snow on Moriah. After his rescue, he was charged with reckless conduct. He pleaded guilty and was fined $500 with $250 suspended. It was the first time F&G ever charged someone for their behavior leading to a rescue, but it wasn't the last time a drunk hiker was rescued.

 

[sierra]

I've never had the urge to drink while hiking. People on social media are drawn to what's "in", look at all the Tick Tock challenges. Personally, I could care less what anyone does on any summit, they can down a fifth for all I care. Your focusing on a non issue, it's not your porch.

 

[Tom Rankin]

We have a beer rarely on the summit, mostly for a celebration of someone's finish.

Of course when you get married at the summit, there might be some beer! https://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?16702-Wedding-Bells-An-Invitation!&highlight=whiteface

We usually wait till we're at the brewpub. (See sig)

 

[Rhody Seth]

Doesn't bother me. I mean, I wouldn't down a couple of barleywines and try to run down the mountain but to each their own.

 

[dug]

I can think of one time we had a couple of beers on a summit, or close by. We were out for the night near Edmunds Col and had no plans to leave until after sunrise. We actually drew a few comments and stares as we wandered about in flip flops with a beer in hand while hikers streamed by. While I love beer, I am not a fan of warm beer so the effort to keep it cold (it can be done) along with the wasted 16 oz of weight makes it not worth it to me. I do love one in the parking lot I de-boot and work my feet over though.

I don't see a single beer having a big impact. Beyond that, with with many situations that could be deemed reckless, it could be dangerous for others you encounter.

Now, many years/decades ago, three of us we were resting on the summit of Jennings Peak for the night and ran out. After losing a best of three rock/paper/scissors, my buddy sprinted out to the car to get the rest of our beer for the next day and came back. He earned the extra one that night for sure.....

 

[maineguy]

Come to think of it, I once had a beer at a summit...Fuji. It was very expensive as I recall but with the exchange rate I really don't remember the amount. Then, we descended the "slide" (think South Tripyramid) very rapidly. I think that route has long been closed as it was a little dangerous, but it sure was quick

 

[Rhody Seth]

Now, many years/decades ago, three of us we were resting on the summit of Jennings Peak for the night and ran out. After losing a best of three rock/paper/scissors, my buddy sprinted out to the car to get the rest of our beer for the next day and came back. He earned the extra one that night for sure.....

A true hero. I probably would have drank half of it on the way back up. A service charge of sorts.

 

[JoshandBaron]

When doing the 48 I had a beer on every summit. There was a time when I would carry an obscene amount of beer into the backcountry for a weekend. I've been on trips where beer runs were made. No one died. These days it's maybe a 4 pack that sits in the river for Saturday night on lazy fishing trips. I was sure happy I had a cold beer when I broke my foot in the Great Gulf. Recently while hiking in Vermont, I was chased from a shelter by a group of weirdos for even having beer in my possession.

 

[peakbagger]

I remember a hot 4th of July where several of us tried to drink from a mini keg of Heineken on the summit of Mt Franklin that Mats had carried from Appalachia on a Presi Traverse. Unfortunately its was mostly foam, but A for effort.

 

[Rhody Seth]

Recently while hiking in Vermont, I was chased from a shelter by a group of weirdos for even having beer in my possession.

More info needed.

 

[dug]

A true hero. I probably would have drank half of it on the way back up. A service charge of sorts.

Worst part? By the time he got back I think I had one and then went to bed. Not the brightest decision all around

 

[jfb]

Beer and wine are sold at Bascom Lodge, on the summit of Mt. Greylock. It's possible that hikers and drivers might consume the beverages before heading back down.

 

[peakbagger]

Same with Killington. I wonder is the Cog is looking for liquor license for the new accommodations adjacent to the Mt Washington summit.

 

[JoshandBaron]

More info needed.

Early one spring afternoon, a friend and I showed up to a shelter on the AT/LT already occupied by 3 people and a couple dogs enjoying their day listening to celtic punk and, ironically, smoking cigarettes. There were still several bunks available so we unpacked our things, including 4 beers and went outside. We were hanging out at the picnic table, smoking a bowl and petting one of the dogs that had approached us, when one of the folks exited the shelter. He immediately scolded us for paying any attention to his dog and began harassing us about how he doesn't want to be around people drinking or smoking cannabis, accusing us of being drunks. No one had had anything to drink at this point, mind you, the beers were still inside the shelter. He was assured that 4 beers wasn't getting anyone drunk at which point he made a bunch of veiled threats. We packed our things up from the shelter and moved to a nearby tent pad.

 

[sierra]

Early one spring afternoon, a friend and I showed up to a shelter on the AT/LT already occupied by 3 people and a couple dogs enjoying their day listening to celtic punk and, ironically, smoking cigarettes. There were still several bunks available so we unpacked our things, including 4 beers and went outside. We were hanging out at the picnic table, smoking a bowl and petting one of the dogs that had approached us, when one of the folks exited the shelter. He immediately scolded us for paying any attention to his dog and began harassing us about how he doesn't want to be around people drinking or smoking cannabis, accusing us of being drunks. No one had had anything to drink at this point, mind you, the beers were still inside the shelter. He was assured that 4 beers wasn't getting anyone drunk at which point he made a bunch of veiled threats. We packed our things up from the shelter and moved to a nearby tent pad.

You should have shot him, threw his crap in the woods and adopted his now homeless dog. Good thing, I wasn't with you. F'n hippies.

 

[skiguy]

You should have shot him, threw his crap in the woods and adopted his now homeless dog. Good thing, I wasn't with you. F'n hippies.

But it’s not your porch.

 

[Rhody Seth]

F'n hippies.

Hippies don't pass on grass. These were celtic punks - the most ornery of all the punk species.