[pct-l] I'm Fine--Lost PCT Thru Hiker is FOUND

[Reinhold Metzger]

Bob,
I don't know about you, but I would not heap praises of skill, 
confidence and determination on a hiker who foolishly ventures into the 
snow covered Cascades as winter is approaching without a map or compass, 
gets lost in a blizzard for a week or so, but somehow survives...most 
likely by sheer luck.

In my opinion a skilled hiker is prepared for the conditions he may or 
is most likely to encounter.
I think Ian was rather foolish or naive to be hiking in those conditions 
without a map or compass and very lucky, "Thank God", to have survived.

I just hope that this will be a lesson to other hikers about the 
importance of being  "PREPARED"  for the conditions you may or are most 
likely to encounter, rather than a reinforcement of the naive thinking 
among some of our hikers......"Ooohhh...don't worry...you don't need all 
that stuff, and if you do get into trouble, you can always call 
911....and don't worry about the cost of the SAR....it's all part of the 
cost of government."
No wonder SAR costs are going through the roof!!!

Geee,....I'm only surprised that we don't have more fatalities on the 
trail....probably because of  "Good Luck",.....good  "SAR teams"....and 
a  "Surplus Budget".

Be like Switchback,...He carries everything he may potentially 
need....from  "hand free umbrella"  to "solar powered fan"  to 
"reflector tape"  and  "fuzzy pink camp slippers".

Like Ground Pounder  says...."BE  PREPARED"

JMT Reinhold
Your prepared trail companion
---------------------------------------------
Rick Wrote:
Not to mention the cost of a search and rescue and the danger to the 
team....mother nature is nothing to    fool around with. She deserves 
the highest respect
---------------------------
Andrea wrote:
Ian left our place on Oct 17...last seen on the 19th. Average 5 days to 
Stehekin. He was lost in a blizzard and by the time he got to Stehekin 
he had been out on the trail 19 days and out of food for 5 days. When 
the snow starts up in the N. Cascades it can dump a foot at a time. Day 
after day of that and you don't have a chance. I am hoping to get the 
Snohomish County SAR to attend the Kick Off and discuss the reality of 
surprise snow storms up here. SAR folks were on their second day of 
having 3 helicopters flying rescuers into the last place he was seen to 
search for him. They were afraid that they would not find him alive 
after being out there so long without food, maps, compass or GPS. 
Remember, Mother Nature is a lot tougher and a lot meaner than any 
human. And besides a hiker getting hurt or loosing their life.....what 
about your family and friends. Think what you are going to put them 
through if you are lost or die.
PCT MOM
--------------------------------
Bob wrote:
/And this shows what skill, confidence, determination, and a smidgen of 
luck//can do for a hiker.//
That said, very few hikers have those attributes in both the quantity 
and //quality that Ian has exhibited. //Bottom line: Never let your ego 
write checks your body can't cash. //
Corollary: There's always next year. The trail isn't going anywhere. ///