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Re: [at-l] GSMNP Proposed Itenerary redux



-----Original Message-----

>--- Coosa <coosa@fox21.net> wrote: you all know my adage "Take No
Unnecessary
>> Risks and There are No Necessary Risks" about says it all.
>### sloetoe teases the Coosa with:
>I need help here, Coosa: it's a risk driving to the backcountry, it's a
risk
>to set foot on the trail, it's a risk to camp, it's a risk to... so just
>where do you draw the line between what *you*choose* to recognize as a
risk,
>and what you don't? Take water as an example....
>
SloeyToey, UNNECESSARY RISK is what can seriously hurt you, like walking up
to a rattlesnake and trying to shake hands, or walking to the edge of a
cliff and leaning way over, or free-climbing a boulder if you're not
skilled, or running over wet rocks near a waterfall.  It is NOT necessary to
do any of those.

Educated Risk is driving a car on a country road at dusk or when the deer
think it's okay to cross in front of you.  You KNOW that could happen so you
plan for it.

If YOU are prepared for the ultimate consequence of death, or are willing to
hike out and not use the cell phone to call in a helicopter to rescue you --
maybe Risk isn't in your vocabulary.

Take water -- I have FMS as you all are tired of hearing -- I won't take the
risk of playing with iodine in my body, so I carry a filter.  I filter ALL
my water, again, because of the FMS, but I'd do it anyway.  If YOU are
prepared for Giardia or worse -- then you may take the risk of drinking
directly from the watersource.  Your choice as to the degree of risk.  If
there was a dead deer laying in the water, would you then just scoop it up
and drink freely?  If not, then you are not taking an UnNecessary Risk.  If
so, then you get the results of risky behavior.

Water isn't water -- I'd suggest that the purity of water today vs 50 years
ago isn't comparable -- leeching, acid rain, fertilizer runoff, etc, ad
nauseum.

You can take the risk if you're willing to accept the ultimate consequence.
I prefer to reduce the chance of the ultimate consequence occuring before
I'm finished living by not taking UnNecesssary Risks.

YMMV, HYOH, TYOR,
Coosa




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