On a 4000m high glacier in sneakers and jeans

www.facebook.com/soccorsoalpinocnsas/photos/a.309109365918058/1141673282661658/?type=3&theater

The picture featured in the link above is making the rounds of social networks and online newspapers in Italy.

To translate and summarize, the picture was taken two days ago by a group of climbers at 4000 metres of altitude, in the glacier of the Breithorn, an alpine peak on the border between Italy and Switzerland.

The climbers met a lone hiker dressed in tennis shoes, jeans and a hoodie. We are in the middle of a heat wave here in Italy, but at 4000 m on the Alps, the mean daily temperature is still about 0°C, not counting the effects of wind.

The climbers and other hikers who met the lone person along the way tried to convince him to back off and return to a safer altitude, but apparently the guy ignored them and went on with his "excursion".

The picture was posted by the Soccorso Alpino, the official SAR outfit responsible for rescue operation on the Italian Alps, as an example of the increasing number of loons who adventure in difficoult terrain without any equipment and preparation.

Not sure that this is really all that new. In my experience, the woefully unprepared (no gear, knowledge, or skills) were quite frequent. We rarely had a victim who had experience and was decently equipped. We did have victims with lots of gear and no ability to use it properly.

Had friends found a random cyclist(?!) on a glacier. Give him a improvised harness and had him roped up with the group to get back to safety.

I seem to relearn the drawbacks of blue jeans every decade or so.

Also have hiked with Italian friends in the Alps who work only swimsuits and uggs. they did however bring a large jug of chianti.

Sad, True and getting worse and worse