New York City man rescued twice in 2 days on Arizona hikes

gchappel · 03-08-2022, 02:18 PM

https://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/york-city-man-rescued-days-arizona-hikes-83316951

So an unprepared, inexperienced hiker takes off in the snow to hike Humphrey's Peak.
He gets lost and calls for help. Is rescued by rescue squad and tracked vehicles. The experienced people that rescued him, recommended he wait a few months to try the ascent.
He tries again the next day. This time he has to be rescued by a helicopter.
He will bear no expense for the rescues- this is paid by tax payer dollars.
It is doubtful he actually learned anything- he did learn you can go anywhere unprepared and if you get in trouble just call for help.
I have helped troubled hikers in the past.
I feel sorry for them, but they are so unprepared- they don't even know how unprepared they were.
gary

Arizona_928 · 03-08-2022, 02:32 PM

Noice

herr_oberst · 03-08-2022, 03:19 PM

Sunday on Mt Hood two very experienced climbers fell during an ascent of one of the couloirs, both severely injured; sadly, one ended up dying on the mountain as all of the local rescue and climbing clubs attempted to rescue the pair in abysmal conditions - steep route, 70mph winds, pitch dark...
The route scares me just looking at the map and the potential pitfalls. It's considered 'intermediate'.

My point is:

I have all the admiration in the world for mountaineers who attempt difficult climbs within their abilities, and an equal or greater admiration for the people that will volunteer to rescue them when things go pear shaped.

I hold absolutely no truck for foolish people that think that strength of will and determination will see them through something hard that they have absolutely no business doing, and jeopardizing others when things go pear-shaped.

https://www.summitpost.org/leuthold-couloir-annotated/971417

speeder · speeder's Garage

That guy should be pimp-slapped in the public square. Repeatedly.

Evans, Marv · 08:21 AM

Decades ago when I worked in the Sierras, I saw plenty of unprepared people. One comes to mind once when I spent a night on the top of Mt. Whitney. Usually a bunch of people spend nights there during the summer, since ther is a spring near the top, and the top is a large mostly flat, inclined area. A guy made it to the summit in light boots, jeans, a leather buckskin jacket, carrying a two-burner Coleman stove, and a paper thin sleeping bag. He planned on spending his time living off the land. We all tried to convince him otherwise. The thing that convinced him was the fact he froze in his little sleeping bag that night and left back down to Whitney Portal the next morning. There are lots of pretty strange people.

Bill Douglas · 03-09-2022, 08:32 AM

It happens often here in New Zealand. We have a number of dedicated helicopters specifically for rescuing foreigners who underestimate what it's like to climb mountains in this country. And yes, us tax payers pay for it all.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

My nephew is regular Jeremiah Johnson type. No doubt he can survive anywhere he goes.

He was walking along a trail near his house in Tabernash, CO looking for a good hunting spot and saw a backpack on the trail, but no person in sight. He knew something was amiss. He started looking up and down the mountain and saw a man sitting down in the snow with his back to a tree.

He grabbed the guys backpack and went down to him. The guy was very dehydrated and super cold and just delirious. My nephew started a fire with the stuff he carries on all hikes. He got the guy to start drinking water and warmed him up. He learned the idiot has set his backpack down to go off trail to take a dump, and got lost and could not find his backpack. He did have a sleeping bag and some food, so my nephew made a camp and they had to spend the night out there as the guy recovered his strength. My nephew led the idiot back to civilization and the guy was very thankful. He almost surly would have died from lack of respect for mother nature.

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Well, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again! Local SAR may want to be ready, just in case he tests the third-time's-a-charm theory.

Superman · 03-09-2022, 01:31 PM

I am no mountaineer but I do enjoy backpacking. When I go out, I am over-prepared.

herr_oberst · 03-09-2022, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman

I am no mountaineer but I do enjoy backpacking. When I go out, I am over-prepared.

Me too. I'm in the process of preparing my get-kit for the summer. Fire, shelter, food, purifier, first-aid, dry sox/hat/gloves, in the smallest pouch possible, to be taken on even the easiest day hike.

(Edit. I realized recently that I'd better pack a pair of cheaters with the map because I can't read the small type anymore!)

Superman · 03-09-2022, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Me too. I'm in the process of preparing my get-kit for the summer.

I'm thinking of warm sunshine on my face, sweet smells, beautiful vistas and hearing the sound of my boots crushing pine needles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

(Edit. I realized recently that I'd better pack a pair of cheaters with the map because I can't read the small type anymore!)

/the devices which make reading possible.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

They should have left him out there the second time.

flatbutt · 03-11-2022, 06:03 AM

I thought people had to pay the cost for their rescue,

gchappel · 03-11-2022, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I thought people had to pay the cost for their rescue,

The one article I read specifically said he would incur no cost, as it was covered by Arizona tax payers.
I would hope he was responsible for all costs, but it doesn’t seem like he is.
Gary

flatbutt · 03-11-2022, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gchappel

The one article I read specifically said he would incur no cost, as it was covered by Arizona tax payers.
I would hope he was responsible for all costs, but it doesn’t seem like he is.
Gary

That's a pity. I've long felt that being stupid should hurt.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Stupid does hurt. It just does not always hurt the right people.

john70t · 03-12-2022, 05:49 AM

https://allthatsinteresting.com/mount-everest-bodies
There have been over 200 climbing deaths on Mount Everest. Many of the bodies remain to serve as a grave reminder for those who follow.

Seahawk · 03-12-2022, 06:31 AM

I got to do the mountain SAR course at Fallon during operational test of the HH-60.

The HH-60 was basically an empty Seahawk and was replacing reserve Huey's in the Navy.

I would have love to have gotten a mountain rescue...there is a lot of acquired skill in mountainous flying that is a hoot.

LWJ · 03-12-2022, 01:25 PM

There should be a “stupid tax.” A thought.

Here in Oregon, we have lots of people falling off trails and similar. Maybe our gravity is stronger? Not sure.

Best memory? I am fishing with my son on Mt. Hood. We drive around a corner and there is a guy with the most pained look I have seen holding a pack bigger than my 12 year old son. We pick this fool up. He was attempting to walk around the mountain and live off the land. He intended to make a video about it. He had maybe 20 lbs of batteries and a rifle. Pack was easily over 60 lbs. he was out of water and completely spent on day two.

And we picked him up next to a stream.

Some folks are just born dumb.

KNS · 03-12-2022, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I thought people had to pay the cost for their rescue,

In Arizona, most helicopter rescues are performed by Arizona Dept. Of Public Safety (Arizona's Highway Patrol). If in the city of Phoenix then they might be a Phoenix PD or Phoenix Fire helicopter. Tax payer funded.

Arizona does have a "Stupid Motorist" law: If you purposely drive into a flooded stream and get swept away - you pay for the rescue.