Besides the fairly obvious "failings" leading up to the photographers' rescue, I was struck by something this event has in common with the couple recently rescued in the Waterton Lakes National Park area (BruceZed's Sept. 9th post:
31 Hours Stranded on Akimina Ridge).
A quote from that narrative:
"I had foolishly taken out my fire starter the night before to start a fire where we were camping and had not put it back in my pack."And similarly, the photographers
"...accidentally left their camp stoves in their vehicles."And the missing couple mentioned towards end of photographers'-rescue article:
"The couple were well equipped, but didn't have a map or compass." Strictly speculation: How did authorities know this information? Did they find the map and compass left behind in hikers' vehicle? If so, suggests this gear might have been forgotten. Most seemingly-experienced hikers wouldn't have left behind on purpose.
Consider aviation's all-important preflight checklist to ensure all is as it should be and that nothing is overlooked prior to take-off ... all in the interest of safety.
The importance of a pre-hike checklist can't be stressed enough.
In regards to the missing couple, it appears it is only speculation about the no compass or map. There is a local forum here that has seemingly more info then the press does. One of the SAR people has posted info along with one of the missing females' friend.
The police nor SAR have not directly said the couple did not have a map or compass. The police (with permission from family) entered the missing man's apartment to see if there was any helpful clues as to the gear they had taken and perhaps more detailed info on their route. Given the time elapsed, terrain, weather, we may never know what exact gear the couple took....or did not take. I would not be surprised if the official search is called off tomorrow.
This photo was taken in the same area and on the same day the missing couple started their hike. The person who took the photo did not see any other hikers in the glacier area nor down back to the trailhead. However as the photo shows, in that terrain it would be very easy to miss someone if they were not close by.
Xbanker is absolutely right about the need for a pre-hike checklist. I always carry the same base PSK gear, however any other terrain/weather specific gear required is written down dwell beforehand and is checked off as it is put into the backpacks or the trunk of the car.
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