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[pct-l] Re: pct-l Digest, Vol 25, Issue 39



I don't think it was overdone at all.  Matt was responding to Rudy's
account of a thru-hiker on Baden-Powell who very nearly fell to his
death because he wasn't prepared for the conditions.  If that's not
dangerous, what is?  Matt's suggestion of a safer alternate route was
very appropriate.

I'm all for "go where you damn well please" and "hike your own hike" in
most cases, but there comes a certain point where extreme risk-taking
doesn't affect just you, but potentially a lot of other people who have
to go slogging around in those dangerous conditions looking for your
body.  I haven't seen the current conditions on Baden-Powell with my own
eyes but from all accounts it sounds to me like anyone who tries to
cross it now without proper mountaineering gear and skills is just being
downright irresponsible.

As I said in my previous message, part of the "deal" of the lightweight
philosophy is that you have to adapt to the conditions, not just ignore
them and hope for the best.  When faced with a large, steep,
snow-covered mountain, a thru-hiker has a couple of reasonable choices:
either start lugging some heavier gear (and know how to use it) or find
an alternate route.  Anything else isn't fair to the Search and Rescue
teams.

IMHO, of course.

Eric