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Post by cweston on Jun 30, 2017 6:23:45 GMT -8
...that genius has it's limits. (Einstein)
A SAR guy in Crestone, CO told me about a guy who died in the vicinity of Milwaukee Pass about a month ago. His body wasn't found until a couple weeks later because sane people weren't traveling in that area at the time he died there. (I was planning to cross Milwaukee Pass this week, but had to retreat due to sickness. I was solo, and I knew from past experience that that route ain't no joke, so I made a conservative decision to scuttle.)
So, this guy apparently went (alone) up Sand Creek. There are about 10 crossings on the lower Sand Creek trail. As of a couple days ago, they were about knee to mid thigh depth and running fast--not particularly dangerous but not easy either. A month ago, they were probably much more dangerous. So, after surviving that, this guy sets out on a very exposed high country route to the pass. There is an official trail that is well-constructed--it's not particularly difficult, but very exposed. More often than not, on the last mile or so to the pass, a fall would be calamitous. I'm not overly timid: I've done some pretty extreme off-trail travel: but I absolutely would not attempt this route with any significant snow.
I know I sound like "get off my lawn and pull your pants up!", but I just don't understand the insufficient respect some people have for the ability of the mountain terrain/weather to kick your ass.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2017 8:56:34 GMT -8
I've been told there's a fine line between a genius and an idiot.....
All I can say, is there's a lot of "near genius's"....
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Post by cweston on Jun 30, 2017 9:21:43 GMT -8
I know it's somewhat common for people to not realize how much snow is still in the high country in late spring, or how high/fast the creeks will be running, but most people would at least have the sense to turn back at some point when they see the conditions on the ground.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jun 30, 2017 9:32:14 GMT -8
Cold, mild altitude sickness and fatigue sometimes lead to poor decisions.
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Post by cweston on Jun 30, 2017 9:53:16 GMT -8
Cold, mild altitude sickness and fatigue sometimes lead to poor decisions. True. When I'm solo, especially, I try to have some benchmarks set ahead of time, so that I don't have to trust my own (possibly compromised) judgement on the ground. Here was my thinking on this recent (aborted) trip: 1) had to be over Milwaukee Pass by noon 2) therefore, had to be camped in upper Sand Creek Basin the night before. 3) had to be in position to cross the pass on day 3 of my 4 day loop (so that, if necessary, I could wait for bad weather and cross the pass on day 4 and still make it to the car that night. When I'm with a partner, I might extend the trip by a day if weather or whatever dictates it. When I'm solo, I will go to great lengths to ensure that that does not happen, unless not doing so would be dangerous. (My thinking here is that not hearing from me until a day late when I'm solo would be too excruciating, for my wife, to risk it unless it is simply unavoidable.) |
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jun 30, 2017 10:14:58 GMT -8
How much snow is up there now?
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Post by autumnmist on Jun 30, 2017 11:51:43 GMT -8
Some people just like to push themselves, some are completely unrealistic, and some have mental issues which cause them to believe they can perform grandiose feats. Or they lack a common sense of fear. I'd class the "barrel over Niagara" in this category. On the opposite end are people who are so fearful (not always logically) that they're literally constrained by anxieties.
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daveb
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Post by daveb on Jun 30, 2017 12:08:13 GMT -8
Of course there is ignorance. |
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Post by cweston on Jun 30, 2017 12:31:40 GMT -8
How much snow is up there now? I don't actually know--I turned around well before that elevation. From the valley floor, though, I'd say that there probably isn't any in the Sand Creek basin, except on the steep, wooded slope leading up to the lower and upper lakes. I'm sure there's probably still a good bit of snow in the upper Cottonwood Creek basin (the other side of Milwaukee Pass, below Pico Aislado), though. I got good views of Kit Carson's south face--looks like there was still some snow/ice on Kit Carson Avenue. |
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Post by absarokanaut on Jun 30, 2017 12:57:18 GMT -8
You got to Willow?
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Post by cweston on Jun 30, 2017 13:02:28 GMT -8
No--I attempted the loop down the old Liberty Road and up Sand Creek to Milwaukee pass, but had to turn around due to being sick. |
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Post by cityman on Jun 30, 2017 15:58:27 GMT -8
Sometimes ignorance is bliss, sometimes it has to high a price attached to it.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Jul 1, 2017 7:06:25 GMT -8
Turning around and giving up on your goal is very hard for some.
I have had a number of experiences where the little voice inside saying maybe we should turn around gets drowned out by let's keep going and see how dangerous it is then maybe turn around. This results in getting yourself deep into dangerous. I for the most part got lucky but one little thing going wrong when deep in danger could escalate to disaster.
Now if I even hear the little voice whisper turn around I try to listen.
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Post by cweston on Jul 1, 2017 7:20:32 GMT -8
Turning around and giving up on your goal is very hard for some. [snip] Now if I even hear the little voice whisper turn around I try to listen. Yes, that is definitely true--I experience a deep, deep sense of disappointment when I have to turn back. I live in Kansas, far from the mountains, and every trip is a major undertaking. (It's kindof like wooing your beloved for months, but then, when the time finally comes, your "little buddy" lets you down.) But, of course, I also enjoy being alive. And, I enjoy being married (for the most part). If I were to make a poor decision that led to catastrophe, it could easily jeopardize one or both of those things that I enjoy. |
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 1, 2017 8:34:55 GMT -8
But, of course, I also enjoy being alive. And, I enjoy being married (for the most part). If I were to make a poor decision that led to catastrophe, it could easily jeopardize one or both of those things that I enjoy. So you're saying that if you get yourself killed out there, your wife will leave you? Actually, that sounds about right  |
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