Yet another rescue of Skyline

[guest]

From what little info I have at present, another person had to be "assisted" off from 6,400 ft.
Hmmmm, it was 111 in PS today!
Need I say more.

[Cy Kaicener]

The Desert sun had this small piece of information.
http://thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... E/70715003
outdoorsclub.org had a group leaving at 3 am this morning, but I dont think it was theirs.

[magikwalt]

Opps

[magikwalt]

From the sounds of things it must have been more than just the heat. This sounds a bit more like someone hiking down from Desert View or Caramba Camp.

http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.d ... 60316/1006

[Hikin_Jim]

Michiko and I went over to Desert View after the festivities. We didn't see anything unusual, but then there's a lot of territory over there and we weren't looking for anyone. I'm surprised that if there were a person missing for three days that they didn't have a sign up in the tram station, at the ranger station, or something. I'm glad they all got out OK.

[Cy Kaicener]

I read on the outdoorsclub.org message board that it was indeed one of their group. No details were supplied.

[guest]

It appears from this link, the way I interpret, that the person who invited anyone who wants to go on Skyline in 110 degree weather, was glad they called rescue.

http://www.outdoorsclub.org/forum/displ ... Position=1

Now, if I'm understanding this; Put a severe hike in severe weather on a local hiking message board, basically just tell them to brings lots of water, (yes, the profile of the hike was included), and when thinks go bad, just pick up the handy cell phone & say help.

My friend had just finished a very tough physical ordeal when he got called out to go out in these conditions, (luckily, they were called off, after he rearranged everything).

State park personal & a helicopter, both which were called away from their normal posts & duties, had to respond in this type weather, (a danger in itself).

If this is not the correct story, someone please set the record straight. Otherwise, explain to me why this lack of respect for this hike or the professionals who bail them out, happens, (again & again).

Folks, don't believe for one minute this won't have repercussions on all of us regarding this great hike eventually, if not very soon, there's serious talk already about it.

ss

[Cy Kaicener]

That was very well said. I couldnt agree with you more. Thank You.

[Hikin_Jim]

I hear you ss. There are a lot of people who don't know what they're doing who are hitting that trail. How people can read 8000' of gain and not react is beyond me.

I'm not here to sing the praises of the Sierra Club, but they do have requirements (experience, training, time in the club, etc.) for leaders and do screen participants on the more hardcore outings. Maybe I'm ignorant, but it doesn't seem like the Outdoors Club has requirements for leaders and it doesn't seem like they're doing much screening. No offense intended to Donnie here or other OC leaders who are good leaders and do screen out people who really shouldn't be on some hikes. I hope the OC doesn't get sued some day or even worse have some kind of disaster like the '73 ('71?) Sierra Club disaster on Ritter where 3 (4?) participants died of hypothermia which in part resulted from some bad leadership decisions.

why this lack of respect for this hike or the professionals who bail them out, happens, (again & again).

That's huge. The SAR folk keep repeatedly getting called out. This time two of the Rangers apparently got stuck. It turned out well -- this time. I hope I'm really really wrong, but it sounds like a receipe for a potential tragedy -- a chopper crash, multiple fatalities, something like that. Again, I totally hope I'm wrong, but if you go on missions enough times in hazardous conditions ... well, you catch my drift.

don't believe for one minute this won't have repercussions on all of us

That's the down stream consequence, isn't it? Because of the irresponsible, the responsible will be restricted. Losing "the freedom of the hills" is a high price to pay.

[halhiker]

Some people just don't listen.