I dunno, I don't like passing judgement on such things. Were it me, I would've either planned to go up earlier, got more suitable transportation for those conditions, or bought a tree downtown. It seems like the father was stupid, lazy, cheap, and a little too egotistic. That he risked such an act with children without a back-up plan is reprehensible. I would encourage parents to take their kids into tough situations, but with the understanding that if things don't go as expected, then there should be an out; some alternative to recover the situation effectively. What he did is incompetent and he ought to be treated as such, not rewarded for being lucky.