They didn't even have flashlights????

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/14298127/detail.html

I wonder what else they didn't have

Blitz

Their brains, obviously.

Quite right!!

Left their common sense at the door...

and close enough to have their cell phones work...

Teacher

PS things that are simple, light and cheap that would have likely made all the diference:

1. flashlights
2. map/ compass
3. gps*
4. well, that should about do it

* ok not cheap.

Leaving at a reasonable time, so you don't risk the dark would have done wonders too. Not to mention rain gear and a couple of sweaters.

Things in my bike saddle bags:

* compass
* folding knife
* flashlight (lights on front/back of bike as well)
* rain poncho
* biking gloves
* small FAK
* hand sanitizer
* 2 trash bags
* sunscreen
* spare inner tubes
* water bottle
* power bars
* multi tool for bikes
* sm pr of binocs
* sm towel
* usually a map of the area

I like to think I'd be OK in a situation like that.

There were four separate groups in all that required rescue in the same area. A little more information:
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?...fd-5bc082bc8354

"'The common theme was a lack of flashlights,' said Fish and Game Lt. Todd Bogardus... 'They had underestimated the length and conditions and were not equipped,'"

"They had learned about the trail on an Internet search that described it as "suitable for children". (Yes, I AM laughing out loud... aren't you?)

"'They thought they could do it, but they set off late, about 3:40 p.m., and were very ill-prepared,' he said. "The clouds were rolling in at the time. They had never hiked the trail before, and they had no map, no compass and no rain gear. They were wearing jeans, cotton shirts and sneakers.'"

Another rescued group: "... were clad in shorts and T-shirts and had little other equipment."

Please note the comment to this article at the bottom of the page. She said it all.

Sue

Sunset data for Franconia, NH for Oct. 9, 2007, the sun will set at 6:14pm. If you leave at 3:40 you have 2 hours 34 minutes to get up and down the trail. The data is availible at most weather websites, along with the weather, which you want to know before you leave, right? We talk about how knowledge is the most imporant equipment, well it took me thirty seconds to find out that piece of reasonably critical information. These people are just accidents waiting to happen.

Maybe they just didn't realise that it gets dark in the countryside. A surprising number of people don't know potatoes have to be dug up from underneath the ground and that bananas don't grow on trees.

More proof that Darwin was wrong....


I tip my hat to the ladies and gentlemen of the local SAR, but is there anyway they could have neutered the individuals before releasing them into the general populace again?

"Stupid is as stupid does"

Fortunately, such mistakes carry minor consequences. The outcome could've been a lot worse.

Natural selection once again thwarted by the dedication of SAR.

Seriously, after much soul searching (13 years of taking care of people who are at times hell-bent on self-destruction) I've come to the conclusion that we survive as a species because we do take care of each other (even the idiots).

It's in our nature to go to the aid of another human being no matter how stupid s/he is.

As an animal, we're slow, weak, got no fur, no claws, no armor, nothing. This big magnificent brain of ours isn't worth a hill of beans one-on-one with a cave bear.

Now you factor in some buddies willing to stick with you through thick and thin and they're relatively intelligent, the cave bear's got problems.

I have to keep reminding myself that by taking care of the self-destructive idiots I'm perpetuating the very trait that enables us to survive as a species.

Some days it's easier than others, and some days I want to say the heck with it and stand aside and let them destroy themselves.

But every so often, one claws himself out of the hole he's made for himself and straightens his life out.

Maybe one of these dingbats that got lost will pull their heads out of their rear or their kids may think, "dad's a dufus and I'm not going to get stuck like that again", and work to become a preparedness master and teach others.


I know, I'm the token idealist here, but it's a dirty job and someone's gotta do it.

mountain rescue in britain say with 9 out of 10 people who need rescuing it's because they had no lights.
simon

A few years back a friend from London and I decided to head into the hills for an overnighter after he had once stated there were no Mountains in Scotland.

The further we drove north into Glen clova the more nervous he seemed to get. The idea was to walk half way up Jocks road in Glen Doll, make a detour via Loch Esk where we would camp overnight and then return to the car park via Glen Clova.


Jocks Road



Bachnagairn, at the top of Glen Clova showing the difference between Summer and Winter.

Some of my friends comments after a successful trip was how dark it became during the night. Something he was totally unaccustomed to. (During the summer months it doesn't get dark until 10-11pm and then gets light again around 4am. During the Winter months it gets dark around 4:30 pm and does not get light until 8:30am.)

A lot of inexperienced walkers get caught out simply because

a) they not do plan well ahead of time to complete there route whilst taking into account their navigational and physical abilities.

b) do not know the sunset time and that it can vary by so much during different times of the year.

c) actually do not realise that it gets so dark that they are not able to see their hands in front of their faces.

So common sense and how the urbanite views the machinations on how the world works can sometimes be at odds with each other when the urbanite is put into a different environment. It's just that urban living gives some kind of disconnect to the natural world. I don't think we should really be surprised.

Sweet Mother that place is gorgeous!!!

Wouldn't mind "getting lost" in that area (properly prepared of course).

Hi Samhain

I've picked out a few more photos from flickr which are a bit more picturesque.

Hope you like them.

They are mostly within a hundred miles radius.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=666746390&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=235375990&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=5076517&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=369297629&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=393055292&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=713725604&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=457331652&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1192221677&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=685777334&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=356895467&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=305269621&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=480451996&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=406975593&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=534202698&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=394133734&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=707586068&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1507738933&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=663137644&size=l

Speechless.


Thanx for the pics.