[pct-l] Lost Hiker

[wandering_bob at comcast.net (Bob Bankhead)]

I could not agree more with Greg.

Know your limitations. Be prepared to turn around and retreat or find an 
alternate route if your inner voice tells you something is wrong.  It does 
not make you any less a man or woman, and it could keep you alive and your 
loved ones at home happy. The mountain and/or trail is not going anywhere; 
it will be there for another try later. Fear is a survival tool; use it.

None of us were borne with hiking skills; we all learned them over the 
course of years of study in the School of Hard Knocks. One of those lessons 
was (or should have been) pre-planning. That includes researching weather, 
trail conditions, routing, emergency bail-out points and  alternate routes 
BEFORE YOU GO.

Unless you are very comfortable (and truly competent) with route-finding 
across miles of unmarked or buried trail using maps and a compass, STAY ON 
THE TRAIL. If weather or terrain conditions warrant, GO IN A GROUP, not 
alone. If visibilty drops to near zero, STOP, make camp until it clears. 
Even Daniel Boone can be in the wrong spot at the right time and then it's 
really nice to have someone there to help you out of whatever situation 
you're in, or to go for help.

Catch a clue - use your common sense, folks. That's the wilderness out 
there - not the city park. If it's really nasty or dangerous, just how many 
other fools do you think might be out there besides you?

Wandering Bob





----- Original Message ----- 

> If conditions warrant in the mountains of Sth Calif. and/or the Sierra,
> simply start later or consider a SoBo hike instead.  Hikers simply should 
> not
> attempt to travel in snow conditions unless experienced and equipped. 
> Ultra-light
> does not compute in snow conditions, for the most part.
>
> Whether any of this has contributed to the recent missing hiker situation 
> is
> yet to be seen.  It may turn out that circumstances not yet considered may 
> be
> at work.
>
> IMHO,
>
> Greg