ketch Posted August 20, 2004 Posted August 20, 2004 So Yesterday afternoon I walk out of the Heliotrope ridge trail with some newbies in tow after a day practiceing on the lower Coleman. As I start to load gear into my truck this guy walks up and asks if I saw any kids up there. Turns out that day before he had let four high school guys head up on there own. No experience, no guide, very little gear, "but they had gone and rented those spike things that go on your shoes." He says there plan was to climb to 9000 ft camp then after the summit they would be backout about 12:00. My first thought is tell him "your'e a stupid shit for lettin em go", but, instead I assure him that they probably won't really be at the trail head till closer to 4:00 and yes I did talk with some of the climbing rangers before they left for the summit that morning. So they will probably be alright, just wait. What do tell a guy waiting out a bad plan? Quote
catbirdseat Posted August 20, 2004 Posted August 20, 2004 Yes, it reminds me of Makalu Gau and the 1996 Taiwanese Everest team. How many of them died that year on Denali? Quote
eternalX Posted August 20, 2004 Posted August 20, 2004 How old were the kids? I bet alpinfox's parents didn't know what he was up to at 16! Quote
ketch Posted August 20, 2004 Author Posted August 20, 2004 ya, it's a way to figure out what your doin to just do it. I understand that they were all four spaced from 15 - 17 I don't know how many of which. I was a bit peaved rembering the chat with the ranger (Kurt I think). He was hauling out someones summit pack that had thawed out of the Coleman. A little while back he was just below Colefax and met four college kids all in jeans and tennis shoes and all were cold and wet. It was all good after they got down but it just seems like maybe theres a better way. But then again props to the kids that summited in tennis shoes, I've never tried that for a challenge. Quote
Szyjakowski Posted August 20, 2004 Posted August 20, 2004 How old were the kids? I bet alpinfox's parents didn't know what he was up to at 16! yeah i can't believe alpinfox's parents dropped them off at garden of the gods... i hear that place is some-what chossy. as drul said people have the right to be stupid...good 'ole free will. Quote
Alpine_Tom Posted August 21, 2004 Posted August 21, 2004 My first thought is tell him "your'e a stupid shit for lettin em go", What do tell a guy waiting out a bad plan? In fairness, he may well not have known what was involved. As a teenager, I did things my parents "sort of knew about" that were way outside what they'd have allowed, had they been aware of what was involved. I suspect most members of this board could say the same. I imagine a conversation something like: "I don't know, son, it doesn't sound safe to me." "Relax Dad, Mike has done it before, and he knows how to be safe." (Actually, Mike just saw Vertical Limit on cable last month, and thought it looked pretty cool.) It does seem proper to touch the potential hazards, that "most people have no problems, but..." and suggest that if sonny Jim is still interested after he gets home, he might look into some classes. Quote
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