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When one can't continue?
- Thread starter TedV
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2006
- Messages
- 123
This is a pretty open 'what if' scenario, and as stated above everything depends on the specifics of each situation.
I've done similiar walks along coastline in some pretty rugged places. Three points;
1)I've always found that, since I mainly hike without tracks, somehow following a track is a sure fire way for me to get a little lost! I find that when going overland without a track you navigate fastidiously to always know exactly where you are. When following a track the temptation is just to walk and not really navigate - except for a few cursory map-to-ground observations every hour. What happens then is if you're not careful you can easily lose track of exaclty where you are. Which is okay unless the weather closes in or something else 'exciting' happens.
2) Often these coastal tracks look 'easy' on the map since they generally don't go up or down very much. However, the country you'll be going through looks like the track is at the bottom of steep slopes. What this means is that the track may actually go over lots and lots of smallish stones that have rolled down from the heights above... Suddenly this neat little flat track on the map takes on a rather tedious aspect; when carrying a pack this sort of walking can become very very slow as it's quite difficult to weave your way up and over all of these little stones because you're always trying not to have a fall and spraining your ankle- so I'd suggest allowing twice as much time for every leg than you might think necessary.
3) I've carried people solo across country and it can be very very hard depending on what the footing is like (see above), your fitness and strength, and *also* how tough the person on your back is; if they are in pain and complain a lot it's hard to ignore and makes life harder for you (you tend to wish that they were unconscious...
). Also, even a totally uninjured person can find it hard work just to be carried!
All in all I'd say your best options are to;
Given the distances involved a man jogging without weight on his back could make it out of there very quickly; the trail that took you a day to hike with your pack will only take you an hour or two if you are unladen. So, if you think you can make it out in one day dump excess food and stoves etc, take bivvy bags or tent with you and gget going! Best option is, if at all possible, make the patient walk and support them as best you can.
If he can't be moved then stabilise patient. Put them in shelter and fix them up with enough supplies etc so they will survive and make sure you know exactly, exactly, exactly where they are.
PS; my favourite saying is; "adventure begins when things go wrong", and we all like a bit of adventure right?? So don't stress when things go wrong, just view it as a new problem to solve.
I've done similiar walks along coastline in some pretty rugged places. Three points;
1)I've always found that, since I mainly hike without tracks, somehow following a track is a sure fire way for me to get a little lost! I find that when going overland without a track you navigate fastidiously to always know exactly where you are. When following a track the temptation is just to walk and not really navigate - except for a few cursory map-to-ground observations every hour. What happens then is if you're not careful you can easily lose track of exaclty where you are. Which is okay unless the weather closes in or something else 'exciting' happens.
2) Often these coastal tracks look 'easy' on the map since they generally don't go up or down very much. However, the country you'll be going through looks like the track is at the bottom of steep slopes. What this means is that the track may actually go over lots and lots of smallish stones that have rolled down from the heights above... Suddenly this neat little flat track on the map takes on a rather tedious aspect; when carrying a pack this sort of walking can become very very slow as it's quite difficult to weave your way up and over all of these little stones because you're always trying not to have a fall and spraining your ankle- so I'd suggest allowing twice as much time for every leg than you might think necessary.
3) I've carried people solo across country and it can be very very hard depending on what the footing is like (see above), your fitness and strength, and *also* how tough the person on your back is; if they are in pain and complain a lot it's hard to ignore and makes life harder for you (you tend to wish that they were unconscious...
). Also, even a totally uninjured person can find it hard work just to be carried! All in all I'd say your best options are to;
Given the distances involved a man jogging without weight on his back could make it out of there very quickly; the trail that took you a day to hike with your pack will only take you an hour or two if you are unladen. So, if you think you can make it out in one day dump excess food and stoves etc, take bivvy bags or tent with you and gget going! Best option is, if at all possible, make the patient walk and support them as best you can.
If he can't be moved then stabilise patient. Put them in shelter and fix them up with enough supplies etc so they will survive and make sure you know exactly, exactly, exactly where they are.
PS; my favourite saying is; "adventure begins when things go wrong", and we all like a bit of adventure right?? So don't stress when things go wrong, just view it as a new problem to solve.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2000
- Messages
- 1,289
Well, thanks for all the tips. I've kept them in the back of my mind during the trip.
The trip went great of course. Sunshine all over the first day. The second day however we decided to take a different route back (12km wind/rain in our back instead of 24km with wind/rain in our face and two climbs)
which meant we ended up at a remote hotel about 50km from our car.
Talk about bad bad wheather - we were totally soaked when we got at the hotel. Even with gore-tex jackets & boots and all. We got back to the car with a bus and a taxi.
Some shots as promised
View of the Black Cuillins mountain range from Elgol.
Sunset at our campsite the evening before.
Sign at the start of the route
Approaching Loch Coruisk (you can't see it yet)
At the lake there were about 8 red deer coming up very close (20ft)
Start of the 2nd day with bad wheather already visible.
No more shots of the 2nd day, because my camera would have been ruined in the rain.
The trip went great of course. Sunshine all over the first day. The second day however we decided to take a different route back (12km wind/rain in our back instead of 24km with wind/rain in our face and two climbs)
which meant we ended up at a remote hotel about 50km from our car.
Talk about bad bad wheather - we were totally soaked when we got at the hotel. Even with gore-tex jackets & boots and all. We got back to the car with a bus and a taxi.
Some shots as promised
View of the Black Cuillins mountain range from Elgol.
Sunset at our campsite the evening before.
Sign at the start of the route
Approaching Loch Coruisk (you can't see it yet)
At the lake there were about 8 red deer coming up very close (20ft)
Start of the 2nd day with bad wheather already visible.
No more shots of the 2nd day, because my camera would have been ruined in the rain.
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2006
- Messages
- 123
nice pics mate- might have to revisit my scottish roots soon!
Nordic Viking
BANNED
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2000
- Messages
- 11,379
:thumbup: Nice pics , so did you have red deer for supper? 
Beautiful area for a weekend trip, and gorgeous photos, Ted!
Did you bring anything along on your trip with which to capture and cook one of those people-curious red deer? If one of your party had been injured, and would have to possibly stay in-place longer than your food supply would last, having a red deer for additional food would come in handy...if you had a way to smoke- or salt-cure it, or otherwise preserve it.
For the heavy/long duration rains that you experienced, you might want to bring rain ponchos along next time, and/or ordinary large plastic garbage bags, to put over your outer clothing. Specifically with the rain poncho, it can double as a field-expedient shelter. If you have a couple of obliging friends along, they can lift the front corners of the poncho upwards and outwards, to the level of your head, to temporarily give you a photo-taking shelter.
Your photos are the next best thing to being there!
GeoThorn
Did you bring anything along on your trip with which to capture and cook one of those people-curious red deer? If one of your party had been injured, and would have to possibly stay in-place longer than your food supply would last, having a red deer for additional food would come in handy...if you had a way to smoke- or salt-cure it, or otherwise preserve it.
For the heavy/long duration rains that you experienced, you might want to bring rain ponchos along next time, and/or ordinary large plastic garbage bags, to put over your outer clothing. Specifically with the rain poncho, it can double as a field-expedient shelter. If you have a couple of obliging friends along, they can lift the front corners of the poncho upwards and outwards, to the level of your head, to temporarily give you a photo-taking shelter.
Your photos are the next best thing to being there!
GeoThorn
- Joined
- May 26, 2005
- Messages
- 567
Beautiful pics. I'm sure they only give a hint of what a great trip it was. I guess some rain and discomfort are all part of the deal and help make the adventure more memorable in the long run. Its always good to be prepared but great you were able to continue! I really enjoyed the thread. Thanks for sharing.