http://www.timesargus.com/article/20090720/NEWS02/907200332/1003/NEWS02

HUNTINGTON — A backcountry rescue team helped a group of hikers down from Camels Hump on Saturday after the ill-prepared trekkers took a wrong turn in nasty weather conditions.



Upshot is, they went up the easy trail as the storm was coming in, with no wet weather gear, no lights, no food, and very little water. Storm gets to the top of the mountain the same time they do. The screw up, take the hard trail down, and eventually call 911 in the dark.

I'm not sure I oppose fining these guys. You see storm coming as you leave the parking lot... hmmm....

Having had the hard side of Camel's Hump beat me and a friend this spring (we could handle the snow, but not ice with a skin of flowing water on it), and having taken the Hump both ways before, I can't imagine NOT having gear with me on it.