The reality is that year after year people underestimate the wilderness and go into it unprepared and untrained. Each year some of them die and some are hauled out by SAR. Even with training we are human and do make mistakes. That's why improvisation, perseverance, and backup plans are so important.

What it shows me is that our basic Outdoor Education System is either broke or non existent. Basic navigation and survival training seem to be taken for granted and often people that are totally unprepared and undertrained are considered "experienced" because they read a book or watched survivor man.

I think we need to do a lot more to increase the amount of general outdoor education taught in school's, and to youth groups. As well we should also state that without basic outdoor education you are endangering yourself if you travel into the wilderness. Remember that the most common reason that someone does not carry a map and compass is that they do not really know how to use it properly or at all.