Events like this almost always inspire discussions of exactly what kind of gear they should have brought along - in addition to what they already had in their packs. Remember, there is always a delicate balance between having a light pack and the proper gear. Proper gear for a night out in the snow is full size tent, sleeping bags and cooking gear - a bit too cumbersome for your average day pack.
Well said. I've addressed this many times over the years in many venues. If you knew you were going to get into a gunfight at McD's tomorrow, the wise man would just stay home! And if he had to go he'd have a rifle and body armour!
Monday morning quarterbacking aside, you have make a realistic assessment of the risks to decide what to take. The biggest weakness in the human cognitive process has to be dealing with extraordinarily unlikely events that, if they do occur, carry catastrophic consequences. Y2k, 2012, Presidential elections- many people assume that the vanishly small chance that these changes will result in catastrophe warrant going to BATTLE STATIONS. Of course, people very used to dangerous events err on the other side. Who from Kansas, Minnesota or Wisconsin, if visiting the coast, would consider a Hurricane Party to be a good idea? There, repeating a state of high alert with no "true" danger creates a dangerous complacency.
They had some bare minimum nescessities and made VERY good use of them. Kudos for that - and for their training and attitude.
Absolutely true! Just the fact that you're an ETS member probably means you've "wargamed" this scenario repeatedly after reading this post.
Man, I'd have carried X,Y, &Z! Well, more gear would have been helpful and maybe they just got lucky. But they wouldn't have had time to get lucky if they hadn't kept their wits and known what to do.
A character in a favorite film of mine said, "Luck will often save a man, if his courage holds." I firmly believe that's true.
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