[pct-l] Yuppie 911

[ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com]

This season wasn't the first time that hikers have attempted the Crest and 
expected aid when things went a little south. As the Mags-quoted article 
said, hikers are buying PLBs like insurance, calling for Search and Rescue 
over fear or inconvenience.

I have now finished a two-month training academy for the Douglas County, 
Nevada, Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Unit and you can bet that the 
first time I have to risk my team's life and limb for someone who "cries 
wolf" - when it is obvious they could have planned, prepared, or trained 
better before setting out - I'm going to be pretty upset.

Sure accidents happen, but you need to consider in advance what the hazards 
may be so you can plan and be ready for them, be careful and not temp their 
fate by doing things rash, stupid, or impulsive, all the while knowing that 
you are far from home/help and need to learn how to think ahead, maybe even 
take responsibility for your actions and not expect others to come at great 
risk to your aid.

We teach our students, here at Mountain Education, that the sense of freedom 
in the mountains is earned through such applied virtues as forethought, 
respect (of self, others, and the wilderness), self-reliance, practice, 
trial, and testing.  Such things build maturity in folks, sadly not taught 
often nor learned well in modern society. However, the mountains do not 
tolerate fools and some people need to learn the hard way. Freedom and 
independence are not free. We are so careless that we don't even notice how 
we abdicate them away. So, like little children, choosing to be unaware of 
consequence for our actions, we go skipping down the trail, expecting 
someone to come running when we "cry wolf."

If you want to know and live the "freedom of the hills," then fill your 
quiver full of the knowledge and skills needed to hike the high country 
without anyone else's help, come "hell or high water," and earn the 
privilege to hold your head high.

Mtnned
Mountain Education


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Magnanti" <pmags at yahoo.com>
To: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 3:14 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Yuppie 911


> Whatever may happen with all these PLB and SPOT stories, I am gleeful with 
> the
> phrased use in the articles "Yuppie 911".
> (  http://www.dailycamera.com/get-out/ci_13639265    from an AP report )
>
> What an awesome phrase.
>
> Let's face it...many people buy these totchkes
> without the requisite outdoor experience and knowledge. Their local REI
> sold that to them as part of the outdoor lifestyle package (TM).
>
> Where as before they would not have ventured beyond their comfort zone,
> now they play Bear Gryls (minus the staged shots, camera crew and
> hotel stays. :D) , try to "conquer" the mountains
> and snivel when the water is too salty (yes; that's an actual Yuppie 911 
> call
> from many of the articles floating around).
>
> More calls like this will happen in the future.
>
> Yuppie 911 indeed.  What  wonderful, descriptive phrase.
>
> Accidents do happen...salty water ain't one of them. ;)
>
>
>
>
>
> ************************************************************
> The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust
> caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
> --Thoreau
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> http://www.redbubble.com/people/pmags/art
> http://www.facebook.com/pmags
>
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