If not for all the attention in the media, I probably wouldn't have become so interested in the outcome of this unfortunate incident. Outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who prefer adventures that are more extreme, are at risk every time they do what they are compelled to. Much of that has to do with the unpredictable temperament of Mother Nature, which is beyond the control of anyone. These risks are known and understood by those who take them, and often understood and accepted by friends and family members. What concerns me most is the potential for unnecessary restrictions and regulations that could be forced upon those who live their lives to the extreme.
I grew up in the mountains of Northern California, I have family up and down the Northern Pacific Coast – I consider the entire area my playground. I am not a climber (mountaineer) but I have many friends who are. I am a hiker, mostly day hikes, in my youth I fancied myself a backpacker often taking longer journeys, the longest of which was 16 days (Ice House – beautiful!) Regardless of what type adventure one chooses, every trip still requires careful planning, but no matter how experienced or prepared someone might be, the potential for the unanticipated unknown (freak incident/accident) is still there.
In high school, I was one of 11 girls snowed in at a cabin near Squaw Valley for 11 days – our ski trip was supposed to be only four days. There were provisions left in the cabin that made our extended stay more bearable, and other than a lot of arguing and cat-fighting (read: cabin fever) we all survived and were never in any real danger. Our families were terrified until we were reunited (as anyone would expect), but I learned something very important from what happened when we all came home. Most parents’ first instinct would be to protect their children from any potential threat in future and some might choose to prohibit their child from any future participation in risky activities. I am grateful that our collective families decided upon an alternative – 2 weeks after the incident, we were sent back to the cabin for a 3 day ski trip, and that time nothing out of the ordinary happened, we all had a great time (no cat-fights). All of us, parents & children, faced our fears and used our experience as a means to better prepare for future ventures should the unthinkable happen again.
These three men and their families were well aware of the risks. The posts of other seasoned climbers on this forum also indicate how intense the planning and preparation is beforehand. Some people might choose to bring cell phones, GPS locators, etc. Others feel that such devices defeat their purpose of “getting away from it all” and would rather go without. I hope that the choice will remain left to those who climb. I see it like this: some choose to camp in the wilderness without anything more than necessary, others prefer taking the Winnebago (satellite TV, air conditioning, etc.) and securing a campsite with amenities such as public toilets and electrical outlets. We could argue all day over who is really “camping”, but it is all about personal preference and perception. The choice to RV, or not to RV, should be left to the individual camper.
I have always been interested in mountaineering and am a bit envious of those with the guts to do it. I just don’t have it in me, but I enjoy listening to the stories and seeing the breathtaking pictures brought back by those who made the climb. I have wandered (German: “Wandern”) the base of the northern mountains (well as far up as I could get on my own two feet – hiker NOT climber) in absolute awe and if not for climbers sharing their experiences I would never have gotten to see the beauty of everything higher than I dare venture.
These three men are not the first to have been lost in the mountains, and sadly they likely will not be the last – unless the hysteria surrounding this leads to outlawing mountain climbing. And that would be sadder still and a much greater tragedy. It’s all about freedom – and these men are/were FREE. Let that be their legacy…
(Now that I have found this remarkable forum, I will be lurking! I would love to hear of more adventures and see more pictures! You all really know how to LIVE!)
