Water! It's all about the water...

[trtlrock]

...sigh...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/us/02hikers.html?src=recg

If only this seemingly basic concept could be imprinted into everyone's DNA.

[mule ears]

trtlrock you beat me to it.  Good article on "A Hiker’s Plight: How to Help When Water Runs Low"  a 13th person dies in the Grand Canyon this year.

It is always a difficult call on when to share and when to save yourself.  Fortunately I have never had to make the call.

One reason hikers say they help strangers is that they never know when they might find themselves in distress. And despite that kindness-to-strangers philosophy, there is still plenty of grumbling among veteran hikers about the novices who trek beyond their abilities, not to mention their water supplies.

[Al]

QS, this is not directed at you.  You push the limits knowingly. 

This post brought this video to mind:



Might seem a bit out there but he's only driving home his point.

Al

[rauburg]

I can't remember exactly how it goes but the gist of it is, a son asks his dad what is the secret to success. The dad says good judgement, explaining that good judgment helps you to make the correct choices. The son then asks his dad how he learned good judgment and the dad wryly said, by making bad choices.

One thing that I love about backpacking in addition to the beauty and solitude is pushing myself. I am not a daredevil but to me, if I am not being pushed it isn't worth doing. And being challenged carries with it a degree of risk.

Al backpackers have stories of bad choices; running out of water, a freezing night, losing the trail, and a slip or fall to name a few. But we keep our stories to ourselves. It's kind of like the sex life of 15 year old boys, everyone has one but no one want to talk about it.  Quicksilver has been willing to open up and admit his mistakes. Many others have done the same, including me. We do it not to beat our chests and boast of beating the odds. No, we do it to caution others; to show how a bad decision can quickly escalte. We offer up these error with the hopes that others will not make the same mistake that we did.

We can develop good judgement from the mistakes of others or we can learn the hard way. I appreciate the admissions, cautions, and good advice given from this fantastic group and I try my best to take them to heart.

I will never view the mistake of someone from this group as stupid. Rather I will always rember but there but for grace go I.

Randy

[bjbriggs]

Last year I was hiking out of the Grand Canyon from phantom ranch up kaibab trail.  I meet this guy going to Phantom Ranch,  He was dressed in a Black Cowboy shirt and pants wearing cowboy boots, carrying a suitcase and 1-16 oz bottle of water.  It was hot that day.  I asked him if that was all the water he had, he said it was.  I told him he's going to need more water.  He said that was going to be enough.  Sometimes you just can't fix stupid...

[Al]

The only reason I mentioned QS is because my post followed his.  I wanted to be clear my post was directed toward the people in the NYT's article.  Anyone who heads out into the desert without enough water to either return to the trailhead or get to a known source of water is either stupid or ignorant.

Assuming the latter, once they realize they don't have enough water if  they don't turn around in time is just plain stupid.  I would have to think twice about sharing my water if they weren't headed straight for the nearest water source.  Have you ever noticed that sometimes what you think is an act of kindness only encourages/reinforces bad behavior?  I have.

Al