High Sierra Topix

whrdafamI wrote:How many on here can TRULY say they have "always" done it right, have never F'ed up and are always perfect?

I don't think anyone is claiming perfection. People are just concerned, most likely because we've found ourselves in scary situations due to lapses in judgement. And I think maybe we read a bit of bravado into the post that may or may not have really been there on the trip.

[quote="AlmostThere"]I'm glad for the clarification, but everything I said stands - get mad all you like, but, it is irresponsible to not talk about mistakes and reducing risk. if you think anyone is pretending perfection you need to learn to read.

I didn't pick anyone out in particular as saying they were "perfect" and I can read just fine. I just think that when someone posts a TR on here and then gets singled out for not having done it right after admitting he hadn't is BS. Maybe you should re-read the TR and see what you missed.

My 2 cents after reading it was that it was entertaining to read, but yes, I cringed at some parts due to concern, especially the part about not bringing a map and going off memory (if I read that part correctly as it was a bit ambiguous).

I bet your buddy always brings the right shoes now.

i think the point Mav was trying to make is don't go injured. If injured, come out fast.

It was a good TR. we've all had our failures. Most of us admit them in our TR's. That's what helps everyone else.

Like Marks latest 2nd degree burns on his ankles because he wears shorts in a raft. Troutdog with what seems like AMS. Me when i twisted an ankle a couple years ago out of the dinkeys. OR asked me if he should press the spot button. No, as I had done this before at Virginia in Yose and knew i could get out.

The point is, make the decision quickly, and be precise on your decision.

When new people show up here, ask them about their gear, documentation of their trip, etc. It helps shape the trips they are embarking on.

Rlown wrote:
i think the point Mav was trying to make is don't go injured. If injured, come out fast.

Yes, that was my main point Russ. No where was any criticism intended, no one felt or
got disrespected, and no need for any apologizes. Looking forward to reading the OP's
next adventure.





Way to go Netherlands!!!!!!! They will win the World Cup this time around.

whrdafamI wrote:

AlmostThere wrote:I'm glad for the clarification, but everything I said stands - get mad all you like, but, it is irresponsible to not talk about mistakes and reducing risk. if you think anyone is pretending perfection you need to learn to read.

I didn't pick anyone out in particular as saying they were "perfect" and I can read just fine. I just think that when someone posts a TR on here and then gets singled out for not having done it right after admitting he hadn't is BS. Maybe you should re-read the TR and see what you missed.

I read and write for a living, read the TR, and understood that no one was being singled out just from Mavericks's post - so sorry, no problems here. I didn't have the point fly by me.

The TR reads like many stories that end with a SAR - only like so many others it did not. we can make the same mistakes over and over yet only pay the price once - the last time. Thus it is important to talk about mistakes for what they are before they become a real problem.


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AT wrote:
Thus it is important to talk about mistakes for what they are before they
become a real problem.

Exactly, and some of us here feel that if we did not, then we would be part
of the problem.

Personally I am proud to be part of community that has members that will point
out or address issues that could lead to serious repercussions in the future. To me
it is a sign of compassion and caring for each others well being, having each others
back.

There are plenty of other forums which you can find the exact opposite, where
drama, name calling, and other attitudes rule, which personally I want no part of.

AlmostThere,

I tried to send you a PM, but you have that function disabled on your account. (I don't blame you-I get some nutty PMs from some members.) That being the case, I will just post here. I wanted to say how well written and well reasoned your posts in this thread are and how strongly I agree with everything you have said, not only in this thread, but others similar to it over the past few months.

Tom

+1 mav, the calm respectful attitude is why i enjoy this forum. I dipped low and said some rude things to tom and AT on a similar discussion. AT, I tried to send you an apology via PM when that went down but your pms are turned off. After I re-read what I wrote I realized a big mistake on my part...slinging personal insults.
I just deleted my entire part of the discussion.

I have a completely different view on this that i will just keep to myself.

Thank you for the further details. Nobody here needs to dramatize a trip or feel the report has to be funny or entertaining. The less drama on a trip, the better in my opinion. I like to read ALL trip reports. Nobody is a "bad writer" in my opinion. No reports are boring. I post trip reports so that others can gain some knowledge of various areas I backpack. We all post photos, no matter that most of us are not professional photographers. I enjoyed reading about your route, but cringed at parts that you probably embellished for drama and humor.

As for "the most challenging trips being the best", that depends. I would say that challenging trips that go well and that I have met the challenges, are some of my best trips. However, a challenging trip gone wrong, to me, is a miserable trip (I have had my share!).

I am amazed that the ranger did not discourage you from "bailing out" via Avalanche Pass. There is little to gain an a lot more logistical problems that are caused by this bail out. If I had sore knees and feet, I would rather go uphill and longer distances than do that elevation drop from Avalanche Pass. Most backpackers do not pay enough attention to planning for emergency, bail-outs, or retreat. A lesson to be learned here.