[pct-l] Another missing hiker found

[Andrea Dinsmore]

Wally..........maybe I was being a little too emotional when I wrote this.
Had been dealing first hand with the hikers who were going out of my home
into terrible conditions with most of them so unprepared and zero
experience in the snow. It was a lot of the "smart ass" attitude from some
of the guys who had gotten snow shoes, trying to drag (talk into) a group
of hikers with no winter supplies, not enough food and not with the
clothing to get them and their gear dry for hiking in deep snow. This year
we saw more of this irresponsible behavior than ever before. Last year I
felt everyone but one geared up and tried once then returned. Ian was out
19 days with no food for the last 5. He was my last hiker of the season and
almost died.

This year I was prepared for packing 9-10 days of extra food for each hiker
heading north along with revamping their plan on keeping everything dry. We
had groups 10-20 hikers we did chats with on what they were hiking into and
the safety extras they needed to take. We kept them updated on what was
going on with the guys who had gone out before them and succeeded or
failed. We offered known reroutes and places to escape if needed. I know
from watching them this year I need to get a loaner plan for snow shoes,
more rain gear and a bunch more food. We have been collecting extra food
for the end of season for the last couple years. I'm also looking into the
possibility of joining with a PLB outfit to get a loaner plan going for
emergency conditions. Was contacted by Everett Mt. Rescue to help with an
idea of reminding the hikers as they head north when the snow is going to
hit. The kids just aren't prepared for the shocking weather that usually
dumps on us up here. I want them to go through and finish their complete
hike. It almost killed my heart last year coming so close to loosing Ian.
This year, Taka. I get emotionally involved with the safety issue partly
because I end up spending a good week with each hiker. You develop this
Mom....kid relationship of love and worry. A lot of crying goes on from
each side as they leave. Attitudes from a few is what makes me so anger.

Take care,

Andrea......maybe a silly Mom that worries and loves too much.


On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 5:19 AM, Wally Neal <wallyneal at gmail.com> wrote:

> "...  They go out into what SAR agencies consider hazardous weather
> conditions just because they have this personal need to finish ... if the
> rest of us don't like what you are doing then we can stuff it ...
> HYOH......just don't ask anyone to risk their lives to come get your silly
> ass. Just HYOH on your own ... YOU PAY FOR THE RESCUE"
>
> Andrea, I agree, basically, with this post and your others ... except ...
> you need to consider what we all know is likely true - every single person
> these people know or have encountered since deciding to hike the PCT have
> told them "That's crazy ... stupid ...dangerous ... You could die ...
> Others
> have died ... You can't do that" - over and over and over. Yet, there they
> are just 100 or so miles short of their 2650 mile goal. And they got there,
> especially those hiking a long distance for the first time, largely through
> sheer persistence, stubbornness, and determination, including a lot of
> painful miles through ice, snow and cold ... much of it "hazardous" ... and
> none of it requiring SAR. All those months and months of negative words,
> followed by triumph, have produced a very effective mental filter of "I
> have! I can! I will!" ... and, yes, "I must!"
>
> I can't think of what words you might use to get through that mindset and
> communicate that "this time, it's different" ... but that mindset, which
> produced success to the point you are talking with them, is the problem ...
> not "personal need".
>
> -Walljito
>
>
>
>