Hiking Risks and Preparation

Yeah, not much detail there, but probably more snow than he’d bargained for. It’s hard for people traveling from the hot lowlands to believe that there’s enough snow up there to require what amounts to winter equipment. You can post info and conditions, but you can’t make people read it and change their plans after coming so far to do a particular hike. I think one of the hardest things must be to make a last-minute change in itinerary. Limited permits in popular areas make it all the more likely that people will proceed when they shouldn’t, because they can’t just switch over to another trail nearby. Not sure what the solution to that is, other than for myself, staying away from areas that are that hard to get permits for (I’m not saying that was what was going on in this case, but it’s a pretty safe guess).

When individuals don't take the time to research their destination, then they've chosen to be ignorant. All the information those guys needed to ensure a successful hike was available on line. Short term weather, long term weather trends, current conditions and feedback from others who have just been in the area can all be found. You can tap into government or private weather monitoring stations. Using apps like Weatherunderground you have access to thousands of online stations across the country.

Whether the issue was experience, ability or preparedness, we really don't know.

Amazing that he survived the fall (thus far). That is a LONG ways to tumble.

That hike looks spectacular based on some GIS. Under dry conditions, it is very likely at class I jaunt. But put snow and ice on it, and the game changes. Lots of snow left up high, and someone coming from another continent could easily be unaware.

But true wisdom is knowing what you don't know. Checking trail conditions in advance in the high country is always a "must do."

^this.

Which is why microspikes/crampons can be a very mixed blessing. They’re a self arrest prevention tool. Once off your feet and sliding the training is keep those spikes WAY off the snow or risk getting flipped into the air to start a really injury generating pinwheel down the slope. A self arrest is initiated by gradually applying the ice axe.

That’s why I’ve never liked the Trail Crest snowchute on Whitney: the runout is straight into a huge amount of boulders. The glissade is tempting given the tedium of the 99 switchbacks but especially with the debris embedded along the surface from higher freeze thaw getting tripped and starting a long uncontrolled fall into rocks just hadn’t ever seemed worth it. Possibly also as other than once I’ve always exited there from a long ways off so I was benefiting from trail fitness and a relatively empty pack as the majority of my good was gone.

Dayhikers tend not to be in the same situation and that can lead to trouble. Overall the Tetons are a great place, so much terrific landscape within relatively close range. But that’s also it’s peril.

That last paragraph is why I’m usually amused by people who insist “groups are safer” for backcountry travel. That’s igniting the reality being pointed out: blindly following a “leader” is a very sure way to get in trouble. The more experienced in s group are s great resource: but often those attracted to groups are of the passive inclination who just want yo follow, and won’t exert the effort to extract knowledge from others in the group.

Groups are imho far from any guarantee of safety. Just like solo isn’t a death wish.

There are two ways to learn....from others, or from experience, otherwise known as "the school of hard knocks"

If you don't learn one way, you WILL learn the other way, and for some that lesson comes at a cost.

I can attest to the “stupidity” of a low lander taking risks he shouldn’t. Several years ago, my family and I were hiking the Siyeh Pass to Sunrift Gorge trail. We made it to the Pass with no issue, had lunch and then weather in the distance sent us on our way. Moments into our descent, with thunder in the distance, we hit a snowfield covering what should have been switchbacks. I made the decision to continue down. No ice axe or crampons, just hiking poles and digging in. My wife was unsure of my decision. At the time, my boys were 13 and 11. Visibly scared, they followed my footsteps and we weaved our way down the snowfield. Probably not the best decision, but it’s one of our most memorable hikes! Yeah, stupid is as stupid does!

Why did I do it? I didn’t travel all that way to turn back. And, I have an overly confident personality. Aside from the slick, icy snow patch, rocky patches were visible. I thought any slide would be short and I believed the snowmelt wasn’t deep. Would I do it again? I’d have to consider all variables, but most likely, I would proceed to cross.

Tragic story for the guy. I hope he recovers from his injuries.

This is a shot of what we were looking at. 

Where is this?