Relying on other Hikers for supplies
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Hi Im new to the forum,
My question flows on from the previous post about being unprepared and I mentioned something in response to another hiker that prompted me to want to ask this question.
On my first hike on the overland Track, I packed what I would consider a moderate IFAK. Hub and I have experienced a number of injuries, one fairly serious. These incidents were complete accident and not unavoidable nor could they be predicted. On the occasion I packed a moderate FAK, I used all my supplies prompting another hiker to offer me some of his. I have huge moral issues with this and therefore declined his generous offer. I dont agree that I had the right to take something someone packed and was properly prepared for given they may need to use it themselves. I believe that my Dh and I must be self sufficient and appropriately prepared for all weather or emergencies. If we dont have it, we go without! We also always pack a PLB. Previously we hired them. With that said, I have no issues with an offer of general help or helping others.. I just dont agree on using other peoples supplies esp because pack weight is a really sensitive issue.. It doesnt apply to just to fAks. On one overland track hike, a couple of fenatical lightweighters preaching to us how to lighten our packs failed to pack sufficient cannisters, food, clothes and bog rolls/clothes. Now I think about it, they didnt even have a tent bc they had to race between huts.. By their fourth day they were going around asking other hikers for anything they could get their hands on to get them through the rest of their hike in the way of cannisters and bog rolls. We gave them a cannister, other hikers gave them dribs and drabs of toilet paper. I dont know what they did with the food issue or clothing issue but im guessing they would have froze a bit in their already wet clothes esp bc it was due to snow the following day.
Ive noticed a big trend with americans and lightweight fenatics of packing merely a few bandaids and molskins as their first aid gear and bare bare basics, minus spare clothing as recommended here in Australia. Im assuming this is where that couple picked up their trend with all the bragging about their 10kg pack weight to anyone that would listen. Im not suggesting all lightweighters/ultralighters are like this but it did leave a really bad impression sorry to say.. ...Most of us tuned out btw with the bragging and a lot of the other hikers who grudgingly gave them stock ups let their unhappiness be felt among the other hikers who also helped them out. Thats one thing about the hiling community though that I love. They WILL help you out, even if your a twat so it seems. But I also think perhaps, going on from what others said, we should have all banded together and told them no. To teach them a lesson. It was just difficult to do that because they were not in a position to necessarily simply turn around. It then became an issue of Duty of Care in effect and a lot of hikers do tend to help each other out and look out for one another generally.
Im curious to know where some hikers sit on this issue? To me its an interesting moral issue and one in which some of you have probably come across personally. I realise that in mine and DHs case, that just because we have moral issues using other peoples supplies that some of you may not.
My question flows on from the previous post about being unprepared and I mentioned something in response to another hiker that prompted me to want to ask this question.
On my first hike on the overland Track, I packed what I would consider a moderate IFAK. Hub and I have experienced a number of injuries, one fairly serious. These incidents were complete accident and not unavoidable nor could they be predicted. On the occasion I packed a moderate FAK, I used all my supplies prompting another hiker to offer me some of his. I have huge moral issues with this and therefore declined his generous offer. I dont agree that I had the right to take something someone packed and was properly prepared for given they may need to use it themselves. I believe that my Dh and I must be self sufficient and appropriately prepared for all weather or emergencies. If we dont have it, we go without! We also always pack a PLB. Previously we hired them. With that said, I have no issues with an offer of general help or helping others.. I just dont agree on using other peoples supplies esp because pack weight is a really sensitive issue.. It doesnt apply to just to fAks. On one overland track hike, a couple of fenatical lightweighters preaching to us how to lighten our packs failed to pack sufficient cannisters, food, clothes and bog rolls/clothes. Now I think about it, they didnt even have a tent bc they had to race between huts.. By their fourth day they were going around asking other hikers for anything they could get their hands on to get them through the rest of their hike in the way of cannisters and bog rolls. We gave them a cannister, other hikers gave them dribs and drabs of toilet paper. I dont know what they did with the food issue or clothing issue but im guessing they would have froze a bit in their already wet clothes esp bc it was due to snow the following day.
Ive noticed a big trend with americans and lightweight fenatics of packing merely a few bandaids and molskins as their first aid gear and bare bare basics, minus spare clothing as recommended here in Australia. Im assuming this is where that couple picked up their trend with all the bragging about their 10kg pack weight to anyone that would listen. Im not suggesting all lightweighters/ultralighters are like this but it did leave a really bad impression sorry to say.. ...Most of us tuned out btw with the bragging and a lot of the other hikers who grudgingly gave them stock ups let their unhappiness be felt among the other hikers who also helped them out. Thats one thing about the hiling community though that I love. They WILL help you out, even if your a twat so it seems. But I also think perhaps, going on from what others said, we should have all banded together and told them no. To teach them a lesson. It was just difficult to do that because they were not in a position to necessarily simply turn around. It then became an issue of Duty of Care in effect and a lot of hikers do tend to help each other out and look out for one another generally.
Im curious to know where some hikers sit on this issue? To me its an interesting moral issue and one in which some of you have probably come across personally. I realise that in mine and DHs case, that just because we have moral issues using other peoples supplies that some of you may not.