sierra
Well-known member
I'll refrain from referring to the latest tradgedy ( out of respect for the hikers) to make my point. First off, you may discuss training, signs, classes, insurance, web sites and experience in all epics events and they all have their place, but at the end of the day commen sense and sound judgement are what means the difference between a bad day in the mountains and a tragic one.
We all start out as beginners, there is no way to start out with all the usefull knowledge and equipment we all throw out there after a tradgedy. So what gets you past the point of vulnarabilty to the point of a well versed mounatin climber? your judgement, period. I have turned around so many times in adverse conditions in the last 25 years, I couldnt even guess the number.
When teaching inexperiened hikers and climbers through my years, I have always tried to explain that a mountain is a funny thing, it has none of the fine qualities we humans do, ie.. remorse, tolerance and a willingness to cut some slack. When the weather turns bad, it does not matter if you forgot your compass , not familier with navigating in a whiteout? to bad, the sun went down to fast? doesnt matter, nature will envolope you with crulety at any time.
The list of deaths hanging in the Sherman Adams building if anything is a testament to the above, young woman, old men, strong tough men, they have all at some point been beat by the mountain and the mountains to thier credit dont know or care. The most important piece of advice you can hash over at any tragic event is, at what point did poor judgement take over.
There are also times where fate as crueling as it may be, just dictates the outcome of your time here. Avalanches on a low warning day, a storm front envelopeing you when clear weather was garanteed, rock fall, a simple twist of the ankle in the wrong spot. I believe in fate, Ive survived in some cases ie. buried in a avalanche, showered in rockfall, and a broken leg 12 miles and 2 major peaks from the road alone by shear luck, Im just me, Im not that good, not to get to wierd but I believe its my god protecting me ( to each his or her own on that subject).
The mountains are the most beautifull place to be for me and many others, but make no mistake, its not bowling, winter climbing is dangerous and the cost for those vistas can be high.
Use your heads out there, you cant beat a mountain and no mountain is worth dieing for, its not romantic to die in the mountains. When given the chance to teach or advise people, knowing when to say when, might be the best lesson you can offer.
God bless and be safe.
We all start out as beginners, there is no way to start out with all the usefull knowledge and equipment we all throw out there after a tradgedy. So what gets you past the point of vulnarabilty to the point of a well versed mounatin climber? your judgement, period. I have turned around so many times in adverse conditions in the last 25 years, I couldnt even guess the number.
When teaching inexperiened hikers and climbers through my years, I have always tried to explain that a mountain is a funny thing, it has none of the fine qualities we humans do, ie.. remorse, tolerance and a willingness to cut some slack. When the weather turns bad, it does not matter if you forgot your compass , not familier with navigating in a whiteout? to bad, the sun went down to fast? doesnt matter, nature will envolope you with crulety at any time.
The list of deaths hanging in the Sherman Adams building if anything is a testament to the above, young woman, old men, strong tough men, they have all at some point been beat by the mountain and the mountains to thier credit dont know or care. The most important piece of advice you can hash over at any tragic event is, at what point did poor judgement take over.
There are also times where fate as crueling as it may be, just dictates the outcome of your time here. Avalanches on a low warning day, a storm front envelopeing you when clear weather was garanteed, rock fall, a simple twist of the ankle in the wrong spot. I believe in fate, Ive survived in some cases ie. buried in a avalanche, showered in rockfall, and a broken leg 12 miles and 2 major peaks from the road alone by shear luck, Im just me, Im not that good, not to get to wierd but I believe its my god protecting me ( to each his or her own on that subject).
The mountains are the most beautifull place to be for me and many others, but make no mistake, its not bowling, winter climbing is dangerous and the cost for those vistas can be high.
Use your heads out there, you cant beat a mountain and no mountain is worth dieing for, its not romantic to die in the mountains. When given the chance to teach or advise people, knowing when to say when, might be the best lesson you can offer.
God bless and be safe.