Stupid Hikers you've seen

[JCavSD]

Last weekend I was on a hike with about ten others at the Mud Caves in Anza Borrego. About half were experienced cavers, while the rest were noobs (like me). While climbing out of a cave one person slipped and went sliding back down, scraping up her arm pretty good. When I pulled out my little first aid kit to clean and patch her up everyone was like, "Oh wow, you're super prepared." I was the only one with a small first aid kit! I had to suppress the urge to smack the snot out of the dude who was leading the group. Maybe it's just me, but is sure seems like climbing in and out of caves all day calls for some basic first aid supplies.

 

[dextersp1]

Cody is someone who I can guarantee knows a touch more about hiking, suvival and the outdoors than a good 90% of the people here could ever dream to. As far as cancer, a hat ain't gonna prevent it. However, I have this cool stuff called "sunscreen" that does a much better job of blocking UV and I can just toss it in my pack.

Also, how does putting something on your head, where heat is released from the body, keep you cool? I have lived in TX for 26 years now and have yet to see wearing a hat, even though I own a few, as an effective cooling method...If it does "cool" you, it isn't a very apparent change in temperature, certainly not one significant enough to make the claim that those of us who don't wear hats are "idiots."

FAIL. Welcome to the ignore list.

A hat keeps is good because it helps to avoid sunburn; direct sun rays that cause sun burn on your scalp (hard to get sunscreen there if you have hair) and heat you up. Buy the proper hat and you will be better off. Have you ever wondered why for thousand of years people in the desert areas of northern Africa have worn head coverings when outside?

A hat and sunscreen is the best combo.

You might want to read this.
http://www.skincancer.org/sun-protective-clothing.html

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=466606

 

[Helle]

A hat keeps is good because it helps to avoid sunburn; direct sun rays that cause sun burn on your scalp (hard to get sunscreen there if you have hair) and heat you up. Buy the proper hat and you will be better off. Have you ever wondered why for thousand of years people in the desert areas of northern Africa have worn head coverings when outside?

A hat and sunscreen is the best combo.

You might want to read this.
http://www.skincancer.org/sun-protective-clothing.html

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=466606

Thanks for the links.

I wear a wide brimmed hat when outside for extended periods now. It took knowing two people that had cancer cut out of there inner ear to convince me I don't want the problem later in life. I guess if you have hair you may be OK.

Back on track with the op,

While camping on the Na Pali Coast trail I witnessed three teens come down the first section of trail and cross the river in the dark with dieing flashlights. We were camped by the riverbank. I watched in disbelief for hours. If you've seen the trail or been there just thinking of this will leave you shaking your head. Steep, wet, rutted, and muddy are the norm.

 

[flipe8]

When I've been down to Mt Washington/White Mountains winter climbing, I've seen a few dummies at times, but two parties come to mind in particular. Once a came across a couple where the guy was fully kitted out with what appeared to be the needed gear for being in the alpine zone in January, but his g/f was wearing a pair of duckie boots and those light-weight ice-grippers for walking along streets in the winter. We were a patry of four and questionned her choice of footwear but the b/f was quite defensive/dismissive about them. In the end, they kept on plugging away but I don't know if they made above treeline. Another time we encountered another pair of climbers whom were clearly unprepared for the biting cold with their mid-weight gear and nylon pants. They didn't even know ther was a weather station at the base(eventhough they got dressed in the basement of the building), but were determined to get to the top. While we were on Lion's Head, I simply said something like "It's really, really cold above tree-line guys", and kinda suggested they just get to the top of Lion's Head and call it a day. They were like , "maybe that's a good idea", but one was still very keen until we were taking a break and they asked one of my buds why he was donning ski-googles as he didn't see any of us with skis. My bud responded in a matter-of-fact kind of way saying something like "Cuz I don't want to go blind and die! WTF do you think!?" That was enough to send the two back down.

 

[RescueRiley]

Not to divert topics but I see a dermetologist every 6 months.. and have had several precancerous "anomolies" removed...the prime culprit according to the dermetologist with 20 years of experience and a doctorate.. exposure to the sun... his advice... where a brimmed hat.. so take that as you want...

as far as talking about stupid hikers... I've made many stupid errors when learning and contiune to make new mistake all the time as I never stop learning, and everyday is a new opportunity to make a new mistake.... I will echo Magnussen here when I say we should take the time to educate rather than admonish..

Dougo.. Comparing yourself to Cody lundin???

 

[Harayasu]

This year I was with two friends in Norway and I am always surprised to see what shoes and other clothing some people use on hiking. I remember we were making a hike on the Jotunheimen plateau and there we met a group of people, tourists just like we were, who were dressed as if they had just left the office. Nice clothing and city shoes.

The nearest parking place where those people could have left their bus or cars was about an hour away. I suppose these tourists were making a bus trip through Norway, visiting cities and other interesting places, so I can imagine they didn't have outdoor equipment with them, nothing wrong with that, but then I think their guide was very irresponsible. The guide shouldn't let those people walk away so far from the bus or the cars.

The weather can change rapidly in those mountains and walking an hour in the cold and the rain without proper clothing is no fun and can even be dangerous.

 

[k_estela]

How about everyone who posted here make a resolution to volunteer to teach a course or take a noob in the woods for the first time? If we are able to criticize, we clearly have a level of skill to demo hiking safely.

I'm with Rick and John on this one.

 

[wwilson]

+1 on Kev!

 

[dextersp1]

or take a noob in the woods for the first time? .

Do we have to take them back out also? There are a few people I know I would like to stay there.

 

[PropThePolecat]

How about everyone who posted here make a resolution to volunteer to teach a course or take a noob in the woods for the first time? If we are able to criticize, we clearly have a level of skill to demo hiking safely.

I'm with Rick and John on this one.

+2:thumbup:

 

[flipe8]

How about everyone who posted here make a resolution to volunteer to teach a course or take a noob in the woods for the first time? If we are able to criticize, we clearly have a level of skill to demo hiking safely.

I'm with Rick and John on this one.

Not a bad idea, but my experiences guiding and instructing for the past decade or so bring me to the conclusion those whom seek out instruction aren't likely the ones we see on the trails/mountains/rivers/oceans doing really questionable things. Yes, we all make errors out there and will continue to do so, but telling someone they're in over their head once they're already there is probably too late. Perhaps some will seek out instruction after a close call, but many don't see themselves' as needing instruction. Just my opinion, though.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I've never left anyone stranded anywhere, woods, city streets, I did leave my little brother locked in the bathroom once though.

I try to teach a little somethin' to everybody I know or meet but sometimes you occasionally run into that one arrogant son of a gun who knows everything and ya can't teach 'em anything, all ya can do is make note of where and when you saw them so you can relay that info to SAR later.

 

[dougo83]

Dougo.. Comparing yourself to Cody lundin???

Since that ain't what I said, I guess the answer is "no." I just think that if someone is going to go around calling other hikers "idiots" because they don't wear shoes, they should probably pull their head out first and look around.

 

[Horn Dog]

Well, well. It seems there is an entire cult of barefoot hikers (didn't find any flip flop hiker cults). A couple of sisters hiked the whole AP up and back barefooted. I guess if you can take thorns and stickers and such, not to mention ice and snow without hurting your feet, then you have some seriously tough feet, my friend. I meant no offense. I was completely unaware of the barefoot hikers thing. My daughter walks in flip flops in winter, but winter here is mild. In fact, she is out camping tonight. And yes, she took her flip flops and no hat. Maybe I should just get off her case and let her do it her own way. I would not try it myself, but I am old. Sorry to tick off an entire group of hikers that I was totally ignorant of. Honestly, I figured hiking boots were minumum equipment. I learn something new every day, even at my age.

 

[sodak]

I've seen a LOT of stupid things over the years, let me tell you about one that really surprised me... Here in Colorado, we have a lot of mountains over 14K ft, we call them 14'ers, and love to hike them. My wife and I have done over a dozen, and will hopefully do a dozen more before it's too late...

There's a lake outside of Alma, CO, called Kite Lake. You can camp a short distance from it, and get an early start, as there are 4 14er's around it. That's right, you can bag 4 in one day. We've done it a couple of times.

One time that we did it, about half way up the first one, a guy who looked in his 50's, bald, wearing a t-shirt, nylon running shorts and running shoes passed us on the way up. He had a small butt pack with 2 one-liter water bottles, and a German Shepherd. He also had quite a pot belly, and we were all wondering if we would have to carry him off the mountain. Well, by the time we got about 2/3 the way up the first, he bagged it, and was down halfway between the first and the second on the saddle. When we got to the top, he was headed towards the third. By the time we got to the second one, he was on his way down from the fourth.

It took us about 6 hours total, he and his dog did it in under 3. If he had pulled out a pack of smokes, I wouldn't have been surprised. He blew everyone on the mountain away. I have no idea who he was or how he did it, but it sure humbled me that day.

Sometimes, people surprise you.

I still wonder if he wasn't some famous runner in his youth, and still had a great circulatory system or something...

 

[tonym]

Look at this freaking wierdo..



and don't even get me started on this reject..

 

[XMP]

OK probably time to let this one die; some of the contributions are a little heavy handed.