Brainless Hikers !

[dipbait]

Ive been lost several times. Luckily ,around here theres no mountains and a road every mile.

 

[fujita yuji]

Rick, that phrase was spoken by a skillful climber I've accidentally met in a vertical ice fall.
At that time, I was just a beginner of ice climbing.
He told me how to sharpen an ice ax, saying it must be shaped sharp and thin to penetrate ice.
Then he added; "But thinner is not always better. You know, ice axes are not condoms".

 

[Maqua]

I'll wager 'shrooms, LSD, or meth played a role.

 

[revhard05]

Looks like there should be some sort of basic skills training requirements set before newbs should be allowed to set out into the wilderness.

that's all we need is some more laws and regulations that says who is qualified to be in the woods?

 

[KuRUpTD]

that's all we need is some more laws and regulations that says who is qualified to be in the woods?

No, we definitley have enough laws and regulations as it is ... who follows them anyway ?

There have been countless stories of casual hikers getting lost or stranded
who were totally unprepared for any what if scenarios. I'm all for people hitting
the trails, but if they've never done it before it would behoove them to do some
research on the subject or to take some sort of basic course before venturing out.
That's the point I'm trying to make. It could save their lives.

It's like the tourists who go to Spain and think it would be a fun idea to run with the bulls and wind up injured or DEAD .

 

[Rick Marchand]

I'll wager 'shrooms, LSD, or meth played a role.

I'd feel better if it did.


Rick

 

[333rm]

I hear these stories more and more of irresponsible people going off into the outdoors and setting off their GPS becon for a rescue because they drank some water that tasted funny?!?!?!? True story!!! We have went from the greatest generation of WWII to a society of me first, no responsibility having people. I have to stop now before I offend someone.

 

[Mountainman38]

A buddy and I had just hiked to the top of a small mountain near Spokane, and were sitting enjoying the sweeping views over the surrounding farmland and valleys. There was a large rock formation near us, and we were idly talking about the possibilities of climbing it someday. (Sorry for the cell phone picture quality):

My friend, who is a hunter, pointed out the sound of a deer snorting, and we could tell it was around the other side of the rock somewhere. Next we started hearing voices, and pretty soon three very excited guys popped up on top of the rock. They'd come up the front side, and were high-fiving and hugging and shouting at each other about how awesome they were, and how much love they had for one another due to this awesomeness, etc., etc. My buddy and I laughed at their exuberance, then waited to see how there were going to get down.

Seems getting off the rock wasn't a skill set they'd developed yet. After the euphoria of summiting wore off, they started looking around for the path down. Turns out there wasn't one -- just some nice vertical cliffs. They had a rope, but no idea how to use it.

After they'd gotten themselves stuck on a ledge, I felt I had to go over and help talk them down. I just wouldn't feel right seeing a life flight chopper heading out of the canyon, knowing I could have offered some advice. I've been hiking and climbing for almost 40 years, and have done a lot of technical climbing, so I couldn't just stand by.

Cruel though it may have been, I had to get my phone out and take a picture of their predicament. Here are the three amigos in action (or rather, inaction):

I was able to ascend the from below and help them use their rope to lower down to a ledge. They (or someone) had tied a bunch of knots in their climbing rope, which made it easier to hold onto while climbing down. This is something you would NEVER do with a rope actually used for rock climbing, but it worked here.

After 20 minutes of talking the first two members down, we felt like the situation was under control. The largest member of their group had a lot of trepidation about his weight/the height/his knees/etc, so we left his buddies to talk him down and went on our way.

Would they have fallen on their own? Probably not, as they had a few basic climbing skills had made it up on their own. I just felt like the risk of them getting hurt was too great for me to stand by and do nothing.

Plus, it was pretty entertaining.

 

[Bushman5]

I hear these stories more and more of irresponsible people going off into the outdoors and setting off their GPS becon for a rescue because they drank some water that tasted funny?!?!?!? True story!!! We have went from the greatest generation of WWII to a society of me first, no responsibility having people. I have to stop now before I offend someone.

amen. And those people allow themselves to be led like sheep. They rely on others to tell them what to do, how to do it, and to not question anything. Be good little tax slaves.

Personally the end of the world cannot come soon enough for me. I'm seriously going to lose it if i encounter one more cell phone yakking idiot drone or another 30 y/o store clerk that cannot count out proper change.

 

[dawsonbob]

Bushy, please don't get me started on cell phones.

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

That story tells us very little about the ordeal they went through. What if one was injured, or perhaps one fell and the other went on to help. I dont see enough info to make a judgement...or atleast not to call them "brainless"
I think that its becoming a trend here to call everyone not "perfect" an idiot...and we all should know by now that "SH#T Happens". Just my 2 cents...and I know you experts dont wanna hear it.
And dont get me going on the rescue charges again...thats just more ammo for a political argument, and they dont belong here.

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

I'd feel better if it did.


Rick

So would the "stranded"

 

[forcedestrike]

Natural selection? I just find it humorous to be honest, when faced with these idiots you have to ask "What did you expect?"!

Oh well, now they have learned their lesson.