Some of you may have seen this, but I just had to post it.

http://www.wtop.com/209/3244604/40-hikers-rescued-lost-on-mountain

Briefly, a group of 40 college students set off on a hike in the Kentucky mountains, on a defined trail. They had basically no equipment, were not dressed for the weather, got lost, and called for help using their cell phones. (I have to assume nobody thought to use a GPS tracker on their phones, either).

I am stunned that out of the 40, apparently no one was prepared. At least some had a flashlight. . .I suppose that is something.

When you're in college, you're indistructable. I know I was. I mourn for those days, but glad I survived them.

Well, they set off for adventure ... and found it.

There's often a "groupthink" phenomenon in situations like these. With that many people all together, everybody assumes that somebody else is handling the details. And there's peer pressure to not be the "negative nelly" in the group.

However, a stern wag of the finger at the three staff members on the hike who were, I imagine, responsible for the safety of the group.

That, I think, is what makes us different.

I am sure they were fully prepared; they probably had Monster drinks . . .

"Never hike alone. You are safer in a group." How many times have we heard this? Well, it depends....Not all groups are well prepared at all. I suppose at some time a "group" becomes a "rabble" or a "mob." There is a big difference.

At least the cell phone made a big difference in enabling the SAR group to respond effectively.

Two years of scouting and twenty merit badges should be required for high school graduation.

This was a planned trip, organized in advance by three leaders.

True, it was.

IMO, this raises even more questions/concerns. How much trust/faith should a person put in the folks organizing such trips? Should we not take the same precautions/preps that we would take if we were going alone? I don't know. But I have found over the years that Mr. Murphy is always watching me and has a sense of humor. That is, when I depend on others, it turns out I shouldn't have.

What might be interesting to discuss, if you were the leaders of this group, what instructions should you have given them about what to bring with them on the trip? For example, I think I would have told them at least something to the extent that "weather in the mountains can change quickly-- please bring a warm sweater, and a light rain jacket, preferably with a hood-- if you don't have this bring a jacket and a dollar store poncho and warm hat.-- also, try to wear warm/water proof shoes/boots, or bring a change of shoes and socks."

It seems, at least for this group, hypothermia was the biggest risk. My old NCO training convinced me it was my duty as a buck sergeant to try to watch out for the guys under me. While I think there was a lot of failure to go around, the group leaders should know better.

Even with that said, my belief is that we are all responsible for ourselves -- if we are in trouble, we can't help those who are.