Encouraging novices and rescues

[Lophophaps]

My path to bushwalking was fairly conventional. Easy day walks, base camps, easy weekend walks, harder walks, longer walks, and now solo. It took a while to understand fitness, stamina, gear, navigation and the like. Some people want to compress this, to start on harder walks. For example, they may choose the OLT non-guided as their second overnight walk. I recall a thread here about a person who attempted the AAWT with a very heavy pack, and lasted only a few days.

Some agencies and commercial groups are encouraging people to do harder walks without undertaking what I call due diligence, seeing if the person really has the bush creds to manage safely. Or maybe the walk is just there and the person attempts it, coming to grief. This happened on the KNP Main Range a few years ago, and I believe that the body is not found.

Is anyone aware of a causal relationship between encouraging people to do a walk and there being adverse incidents? This need not be in Australia or NZ, can be anywhere. Links to websites would be valued. TIA.

[wander]

After keeping an eye on the Helicopter Rescue thread I'd say my view is there is not a strong correlation between a walkers experience and need to be rescued.

You could trawl thru the thread to come up with some numbers.

[Gadgetgeek]

I agree with wander, the inexperienced walker is going to likely abort the trip sooner than a person who has some more experience, and when it comes to evac, anyone can fall, anyone can get bit, anyone can get trapped. As long as no one is looking at doing off-track stuff for their early walks before learning Nav, or trying to Solo stuff with a medical condition (all things people will do anyway) they should be on the right path, but the fact is, lots of people never seek advice, and those will get in trouble not matter what anyone else does.

[Strider]

I agree with wander, the inexperienced walker is going to likely abort the trip sooner than a person who has some more experience

I don't agree with this. Sometimes newbies don't know they need to abort until it's too late. Knowing when to turn back comes with experience.


Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[neilmny]

I...... or trying to Solo stuff with a medical condition ............

Depends on the condition really. If someone has a known condition and it's ok to pack carry and overnight with their doctor or specialist then there is no reason why they can't solo.

[Gadgetgeek]

Neilmny, I agree, I was more thinking the guys who have a condition they are either unaware of, or don't want to be aware of, if that makes sense. I've met more than a few people who will swear up and down they are healthy, but its obvious their prime days are behind them (and its not just old guys)

Strider, I think there is a window, where a lot of the rookies bail out way too early, then those with a little experience push way too far, and then they find where the line is. But I guess it comes down to shared experience. But as to the question, I think its more a case of those who seek encouragement will also tend to seek advice. those who have a goal in mind and are self-starters are often the type who don't seek advice, those who have to make the mistakes themselves. I've met those folks, never want the "easy" way, and frankly they are the ones who need rescue. But they are going to out doing dumb stuff regardless.

[north-north-west]

I think it tends to be the same with many fields - those most at risk are generally those at the ends of the spectrum: The least experienced, because they don't know how to assess potential dangers; and the most experienced, who can often become blase.

[wayno]

theres a causal relationship with people doing trips recommended by publicity, advertising, word of mouth and dont do due diligence on the track, happens regularly in NZ.
they see photos of a place in fine weather... and dont check the forecast or what gear is required or how long it will take, amazing how many people set out on day walks in the afternoon and run out of daylight and have no torch or spare clothes for dropping temps...
someone will tell someone else how they did a track and how easy it was... the weather would have been good, then the other person goes and does the track with little experience and concern for safety issues , and then you hear about them on the news, hardly a week goes by in NZ when you don't hear about an incident like that on the news.. bad weather or snow and ice conditions put the track way beyond the peoples level of ability... happens repeatedly on Mt Ngauruhoe and the tongariro crossing. and Mt Taranaki. and various other mountainous parts of the country to a lesser extent..