albee said:
What is the point of these threads again?
Are we supposed to discuss what they did wrong, so we learn from their mistakes? Are we supposed to discuss the officer's comments?
Or are we supposed to snigger at their misfortune while reclining at our computers - smugly assured that something like that would never happen to one of US?
1. It points out that
all day hikers should probably be prepared for an overnight in the woods.
2. It shows how easily,
especially for new people who I think come to this site looking for information, that an unintended overnight can occur or how a simple day hike can go wrong. How information like staying together in this case might have made a difference. It should also point out that it could have gotten much worse than that. Like the tib/fib fracture scenario. No need to prepare for locust as they are food so no worries there. Snow, rain and sleet on the other hand is something you might want to prepare for depending on how high on the mountain and the time of year. It is not uncommon to have beautiful morning followed by tremendous lightning and downpours in the late afternoon. Is that worth knowing if you are unfamiliar with mountain weather? It also should point out that in other incidents people have been fined or made significant monetary donations for being unprepared. Again, if that points out the need to be prepared so you don't need a
needless rescue, that is a good thing also. It also points out that there are areas where you won't get a cell phone signal. If that is your primary method of getting help you may want to plan for an alternate. If you get yourself off trail how will you behave? This rescue should be making people ask very good questions. This is something that could happen to just about anyone so the questions asked should be pretty far reaching.
3. No one is sniggering, (I think you made that word up by the way
) at the misfortune of a 63 year old woman that I can see. I know I read it because I train people in Search and Rescue and also do rescues and secondly I know that it could occur to me. That is why I want to know if the packs that I carry i.e. daypack, 48 hour pack, camping pack, etc. I want to know if my pack (and requisite knowledge) would get me through this type of situation if I was the victim or if I was a rescuer would I have had what I needed to help this victim and would my teams?
4. I suspect that we will list whenever someone is lost and/or rescued on this site. At least I hope we keep doing it. I know that I will read it to try to learn from it. If it really disturbs you it may make sense to not read it. I mean the thread clearly states "hiker rescue". What did you think the thread was going to be about?
Just my $.02,
Keith
