Missing hiker search July 19

[AlanK]

It's always sad to hear that someone has passed on and their family is feeling the pain of loss.

Maybe we should be very careful about posting trip reports on desert hikes during the hot weather, as the reports might encourage hikers that are not acclimated to the heat to head out hiking in the desert on a hot day.

This is a perfectly reasonable suggestion. On the other hand, in the past, there have been many suggestions that we not post reports of winter trips because the reports might encourage hikers that are not experienced with winter mountaineering to head up the mountain. At some point, we will be asked to forgo reporting any trips.

So, where do we draw the line? Do we just discuss hiking in small groups of approved individuals? Do we speak freely and insist that people need to take responsibility for themselves? Is there a sensible in-between position?

I have my opinion, but I'll stick to the questions for now.

[Perry]

He's got a bit of chopper / harness experience!!!!!

True. My climbing partner disappeared on me in the dark. I declined the helicopter the next morning but RMRU insisted, so I cooperated. A SAR team could see me as a potential liability, but with a partner and radios, I believe I would be an asset instead.

[Perry]

Regarding the outdoors in general, I see it as mostly a positive thing. Hikers feel good about themselves and are more likely to treat others in a respectful way, so society slightly benefits. Mentioning hiking actually shows people that there is more to life than impressing others with money, looks, fake personality, etc. and that there is something real out there and friendships that actually mean something.

I do think that how we write our trip reports influences what other people do. If somebody says, "this is the ultimate challenge..." and talks about how tough and amazing they are, yeah that will cause other people to hike skyline in the heat. Or if somebody says they did it in the summer but they don't mention their early start time, the huge quantity of water they brought, all the food they took, how much hiking they do on a regular basis, the fact that they live in the desert or Inland Empire and are used to heat, then a reader might think it's not that dangerous to try.

[Marknhj]

Maybe we should be very careful about posting trip reports on desert hikes during the hot weather, as the reports might encourage hikers that are not acclimated to the heat to head out hiking in the desert on a hot day.

I agree with Kathy, specifically regarding hiking Skyline in the summer. Many people inevitably read these boards without either registering or ever posting; we don't know about them until they appear on the trail, are being rescued, or worse... It's my belief that reading TR's of summer Skyline hikes could lead a few out-of-towners to believe they are fit and prepared enough to do it, without fully understanding the dangers of this hike.

I'd caution everyone doing Skyline in July/August that writing a TR could encourage others who are not as prepared to try it too...

[FIGHT ON]

Maybe we should be very careful about posting trip reports on desert hikes during the hot weather, as the reports might encourage hikers that are not acclimated to the heat to head out hiking in the desert on a hot day.

I agree with Kathy, specifically regarding hiking Skyline in the summer. Many people inevitably read these boards without either registering or ever posting; we don't know about them until they appear on the trail, are being rescued, or worse... It's my belief that reading TR's of summer Skyline hikes could lead a few out-of-towners to believe they are fit and prepared enough to do it, without fully understanding the dangers of this hike.

I'd caution everyone doing Skyline in July/August that writing a TR could encourage others who are not as prepared to try it too...

I think it's a good thing to post all trip reports on skyline with as much info as possible. With the idea of showing how much preparation was taken to do it. The more info the better.
This way people can see what is needed. And they have something to ask questions about. Ultimately people make their own choice in the end. Nothing better than sharing personal experiences so others have something to ask questions about.
Now on the other hand posting trs about snow creek w/o doing a superman route is something I think is a bad thing. normalizing breaking the law I believe tends to encourage others to do the same.

[Zé]

I.....agree with Fight On?

[FIGHT ON]

I.....agree with Fight On?

PROVE IT! cut that stuff off your head!

[Marknhj]

I think it's a good thing to post all trip reports on skyline with as much info as possible. With the idea of showing how much preparation was taken to do it. The more info the better.
This way people can see what is needed. And they have something to ask questions about. Ultimately people make their own choice in the end. Nothing better than sharing personal experiences so others have something to ask questions about.
Now on the other hand posting trs about snow creek w/o doing a superman route is something I think is a bad thing. normalizing breaking the law I believe tends to encourage others to do the same.

How many warnings, reports of deaths and rescues, are on here and other sites already? There are warnings about doing Skyline in the summer and winter all over the internet, that people researching the route almost certainly have seen. Yet, people still think they can make it. In my opinion the more TRs of summer hikes, the more likely some who are not prepared will think they can make it.

[zippetydude]

There have been many postings about signs, warnings in person, etc. Limiting our postings fits in the same vein.

To me, a word to the wise is sufficient, but a person not only will do what they want to do, but they have the right to take chances at the level they see fit.

Anybody here ever been to Kern River?

http://www.kget.com/mostpopular/story/K ... J6NoQ.cspx

I'm a cautious person, as you could probably tell from my earlier post. But I've been in that river anyway, a bunch of times and have yet to kill myself. Yes, it's sad about the 246 that didn't make it out alive. But, like Perry mentioned, life is a risky business.

Desert travel, including Skyline, is risky. But people are going to do it. I applaud them. I hope, because I care, that they will take precautions and be ready for the challenge. Some will not. But life doesn't stop for everybody because some run into misfortune. That may seem hard, but the alternative is to have "Big Brother" make our lives "totally safe". No risk, no danger, no fun, no point in living.

Sorry, that's a very long answer to a brief question. No, I don't think even a careful balance or happy medium is required when posting - post freely and speak the truth. People will do what they will do.

z

[KathyW]

I do think that how we write our trip reports influences what other people do. If somebody says, "this is the ultimate challenge..." and talks about how tough and amazing they are, yeah that will cause other people to hike skyline in the heat. Or if somebody says they did it in the summer but they don't mention their early start time, the huge quantity of water they brought, all the food they took, how much hiking they do on a regular basis, the fact that they live in the desert or Inland Empire and are used to heat, then a reader might think it's not that dangerous to try.

Exactly - I don't think it's bad to report on hikes, but one must be careful on how they do it.