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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hiking alone along the PCT in 1974 was a pivotal
time in my life and I do not regret it. I am a different person now than I was
then because of it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>However, after many SAR call-outs here in Lake
Tahoe, many of which were hikers and skiers in distress, we, as Wilderness
Skills Trainers, do not advocate it at all. Yes, Colin Fletcher did it a lot and
everything worked out for him, but that doesn't mean that it will for you in the
circumstances that will challenge you.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Let's take the last two SAR calls, one for an
"experienced snowshoer" and the other for a backcountry skier caught in an
avalanche last weekend. The first became lost and hypothermic and called for
help. By the time we got into his area in a snowstorm, we could not find him,
just his pack, misc. clothing items, and one snowshoe with boot. A week later we
have not been able to find him, even with dogs. He was in his early 50s, alone,
his cell phone worked, he was only 4 miles from a major road, and now his family
mourns.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The skier was caught in an avalanche, but he was
not alone. Per backcountry safety standards, he was the only one in the
fall-line, so his partners were able to search for him after the snow stopped
sliding. They found him with Avalanche Beacons, probes, and shovels and were
able to breathe life back into him after clearing his airway of snow (very
common). He had been pretty beat up be trees, rocks, and debris in the
slide, so he had to be flown out by CHP helicopter. If he were alone, he would
not be alive today.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ned Tibbits, Director<BR>Mountain Education<BR>1106A Ski Run Blvd<BR>South
Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150<BR> P:
888-996-8333<BR> F: 530-541-1456<BR> C:
530-721-1551<BR> <A
href="http://www.mountaineducation.org">http://www.mountaineducation.org</A></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=seanstaplin@gmail.com href="mailto:seanstaplin@gmail.com">Sean
Staplin</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=ks1007@aol.com
href="mailto:ks1007@aol.com">ks1007@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=cdt-l@backcountry.net
href="mailto:cdt-l@backcountry.net">cdt-l@backcountry.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, December 01, 2010 10:24
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Cdt-l] Fwd: hiking
alone?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV> Thanks for responding and not deleting my post. I am not
young (50 actually), and have also done many foolish things. But luckily was
spared to live and learn. I guess my feelings on the subject are that to me
one of life's little pleasures is that self reliance that you experience when
hiking alone in remote places. Places where no one else may go for weeks or
longer. The feeling you get when you watch every step, where you stop before
looking around. Where you test and and back off, leaving the route for another
day when conditions improve. In Goatman's case he decided to include a SPOT.
His choice, and one that worked out well. My style of hiking would have left
me lonely and possibly cold, hungry and in pain. I would still have the
contents of my pack. Like most of us I do give a plan to a trusted person.
There are always possible scenarios where severe injury or death is a
possibility. Those are also a possibility at any time in life, and I believe
no more likely on the trail than any where else. These are my feelings at this
time in my life. Feelings which can and do change. I hope this clears up how
my post may have been perceived, as I see it could easily have come off as
being flippant. Sorry if I came off that way, and thanks for the opportunity
to respond. I am more of a live and let live kind of person and try my best
not to be judgmental. <BR>Cheers,<BR>mtnrat<BR><BR><BR>On 01/12/10 7:03 PM, <A
class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated href="mailto:ks1007@aol.com">ks1007@aol.com</A>
wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid:8CD5FDC321C55D6-1DA8-55F9@webmail-d052.sysops.aol.com
type="cite"><FONT color=black size=3
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I at first deleted your
thread mtnrat - even went to a different site but something tugged at me to
answer you - I did a lot of foolish things (not saying you're foolish) when
I was younger - you think that you are indestructable when younger - I'm not
saying that hiking is foolish - I can build my own self reliance right here
in my community - so, what would you do in goatmans case? he couldn't move
cuz he was in such pain - after having been in a war and worked in a prison
it's always nice knowing someone has your back<BR><BR>
<DIV style="CLEAR: both"><FONT color=black size=3
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><FONT color=black
size=3 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><FONT color=black size=2
face=arial>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>el coyote</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Keith and Mary</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Trail Angels</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Deming,
NM</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV><BR><BR>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">-----Original
Message-----<BR>From: Sean Staplin <A class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E
href="mailto:seanstaplin@gmail.com"><seanstaplin@gmail.com></A><BR>To:
ks1007 <A class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E
href="mailto:ks1007@aol.com"><ks1007@aol.com></A><BR>Cc: cdt-l <A
class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E
href="mailto:cdt-l@backcountry.net"><cdt-l@backcountry.net></A><BR>Sent:
Wed, Dec 1, 2010 6:40 pm<BR>Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] hiking alone?<BR><BR>
<DIV id=AOLMsgPart_1_30c71123-9e2b-4305-a86f-a4af1f13e3b4>For hiking a
partner is not necessary...ever. --it can happen anywhere anytime. I prefer
to hike and scramble alone for the reason of self reliance. Something that I
feel is in short supply in all facets of life these days. In fact it can be
safer to be alone.<BR>Cheers,<BR>Mtnrat<BR><BR>On 01/12/10 9:01 AM, <A
class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated href="mailto:ks1007@aol.com"
moz-do-not-send="true">ks1007@aol.com</A> wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><FONT color=black size=3
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
<DIV>yes, I'm not a hiker but I feel that I must weigh in on this thread -
I'm sure that hiking alone has its' merits but I think there are times
when a partner is necessary - case in point - "goatman" dan johnson slips
and fractures his ankle and leg in the gila's - he is the second to last
nobo and the last nobo aussie dave isn't taking that route - goatman was
lucky that he had a SPOT with him and that's what saved his life - if he
would of had a partner they could have gone for help - I know that hikers
are doing the trail because of the solitude and not having to keep a
schedule - even though you may not like it, when you get to NM the
trail angels keep track of you - one of the other things that may have
saved goatman was that he called julie the night before - if he wasn't
there in 3 days from emory pass we would have discussed what to do which
most likely would have been to call out SAR </DIV>
<DIV>you never know when something may happen<BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="CLEAR: both"><FONT color=black size=3
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><FONT color=black size=3
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><FONT color=black size=2 face=arial>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>el coyote</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Keith and Mary</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Trail Angels</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Deming,
NM</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV><BR><BR>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">-----Original
Message-----<BR>From: Jim and_or Ginny Owen <A class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E
href="mailto:spiriteagle99@hotmail.com"
moz-do-not-send="true"><spiriteagle99@hotmail.com></A><BR>To:
brianle <A class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E href="mailto:brianle@nwlink.com"
moz-do-not-send="true"><brianle@nwlink.com></A>; cdt-l <A
class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E href="mailto:cdt-l@backcountry.net"
moz-do-not-send="true"><cdt-l@backcountry.net></A><BR>Sent: Tue, Nov
30, 2010 5:17 pm<BR>Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] trail partnership: all or
nothing?<BR><BR>
<DIV id=AOLMsgPart_2_30d99347-b22a-4935-9b01-7dee61d2a440>
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Brian - <BR>The main reasons for hiking together are for safety in
bear country or because you just like <BR>hiking together or for
navigation purposes (4 eyes are better than 2 eyes). Being joined at
the <BR>hip is a good idea if you're a married couple or looking for
"safety" in "bear country" or partners <BR>who want to hike together,
because there are a number of places where a wrong turn could <BR>send you
in different directions and leave one or both of you kinda "floating in
never-never land". <BR> <BR>Note please that hiking "together"
in bear country means EXACTLY that. It doesn't mean hiking <BR>5
minutes - or even 30 seconds apart. If you're that far apart, the
bear considers you to be alone. <BR>And you are. <IMG
style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; VERTICAL-ALIGN: text-bottom; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none"
title=Smile alt=Smile
src="http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr04/ltr/emo/smile.gif" width=19
height=19 moz-do-not-send="true"><BR> <BR>Truth is that "bear
country" generally isn't nearly as dangerous as most people think.
But I don't <BR>try to convince people of that - they have to
discover it for themselves. Just keep in mind the rules <BR>for not
irritating (or attracting) the bears and don't get overconfident.
<BR> <BR>But if you want to hike together sometimes, and apart
other times, I'd suggest hiking out of <BR>town together, separating at
some point on the trail and then meeting at the next town. You'd
<BR>probably want to decide on a specific motel or restaurant for your
rally point in that next town. <BR>Our website generally doesn't
give that kind of information, but Yogi's book probably does.
<BR> <BR>You could, of course, hike part of the day together and part
alone. Just don't count on sharing <BR>gear or food in that
case because then getting separated leaves on of you a little short
of ....<BR>something, be it food, water, shelter,
fire.....whatever. Keep in mind the words to the song -
<BR>God bless the child who's got his own. <BR> <BR>Have a
great hike,<BR>Jim<BR><BR><A href="http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/"
target=_blank
moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/</A><BR><BR><BR><BR> <BR>>
From: <A href="mailto:brianle@nwlink.com"
moz-do-not-send="true">brianle@nwlink.com</A><BR>> To: <A
href="mailto:Cdt-l@backcountry.net"
moz-do-not-send="true">Cdt-l@backcountry.net</A><BR>> Date: Fri, 26 Nov
2010 13:41:29 -0800<BR>> Subject: [Cdt-l] trail partnership: all or
nothing?<BR>> <BR>> Consensus is that if you don't want to hike the
CDT literally alone, you<BR>> start with one or more partners and you
stay close together the whole time.<BR>> I like the fellow that I plan
to hike with a lot, but I've also quite<BR>> enjoyed weeks of hiking
alone on both PCT and AT, and even when hiking with<BR>> one or more
partners I've often hiked much of a given day alone, joining<BR>> back
up at lunch and at night. I realize that the CDT is different in
this<BR>> way, that you have to stay close to stay together at all, but
the idea of<BR>> being joined at the hip to anyone for months of hiking
concerns me a little.<BR>> <BR>> What I've not seen anyone suggest
is the idea of periodically splitting up<BR>> for a while and agreeing
to meet back up at or near a particular trail town.<BR>> This seems
like it would be a good compromise on the CDT to me, i.e., have a<BR>>
trail partnership, but have some significant "alone time" stretches.
I<BR>> suspect that both of us would appreciate some time apart, and
enjoy each<BR>> other's company that much more when we
reconnected.<BR>> <BR>> The only downside I can see would be if one
person ended up waiting quite a<BR>> while for the other, and perhaps
not being 100% certain that (for whatever<BR>> reason) they're actually
going to show up. I suppose another downside is<BR>> the risk that, for
whatever reason, the designated reunion spot wouldn't be<BR>> a
good/pleasant/safe/whatever place to hang out for the needed amount
of<BR>> time. Have any past CDT thru-hikers tried this approach ("meet
you at<BR>> this particular motel in a week or so"), and any
observations if so?<BR>> <BR>> TIA ---<BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
Brian Lewis / Gadget<BR>> <A href="http://www.postholer.com/brianle"
target=_blank
moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.postholer.com/brianle</A><BR>>
<BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
_______________________________________________<BR>> Cdt-l mailing
list<BR>> <A href="mailto:Cdt-l@backcountry.net"
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