Rescues over the Weekend 11/30/15

[halhiker]

Seems there were three rescues over the Thanksgiving weekend.

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/201 ... /76544090/

[Wildhorse]

Interesting article, even while it seems to merely state facts. No water, cold, and lost. I also noticed that the writer never used the word "hikers" to describe the people who were rescued. So, the take away is this: no hikers were rescued. They had water and layers of clothing, and if they got lost, they yet found their way - or else they are still out there somewhere.

[cynthia23]

Thanks for posting, Hal. What I find so odd is how frequently, now, local people get rescued off Skyline. I tend to have the feeling that the out of town hikers are more upscale and educated people (the kind of people who have the time and money to travel and have hiking 'bucket lists') and that translates into people who are used to researching things before they undertake them. It seems a lot of the locals just spontaneously decide to try Skyline without doing any research or preparation, maybe after hearing about it from friends on Facebook or something like that. Or maybe after having a few beers.

I'd be curious to hear from older locals if my perception is true--did locals use to (i.e. ten or more years ago) get rescued this much? Of course, few people used to hike Skyline at all, so maybe it's simply a question of larger numbers.

[Wildhorse]

Cynthia, you mean, like, Facebook is not research?

I find myself more skeptical of tourists than of locals. The adventure tourists I have known, all with advanced degrees, professional licenses and money, have generally been clueless. (BTW, yesterday NPR had an interesting story about the foolish confidence of people who believe they are experts.)

Your question of old-timers is interesting. My theory is that Facebook and cellphones, as well as the larger numbers, have something to do with the increase in rescues, whether the people rescued are local or adventure tourists.

Not at Skyline, but in Peru, I know a young adventure tourist who was recently hauled down the mountain on a mule. I guess no helicopters were on standby.