|
Post by cweston on Mar 23, 2020 11:42:23 GMT -8
It's an interesting question we'll eventually face.
Let's say that by June, the worst of the COVID 19 pandemic has passed in the US, for better or worse.
Would it be a reasonable and prudent thing to do, at that point, to travel to another state in order to backpack?
I don't mean in terms of my own health, I mean in terms of the potential risk that I would carry the virus to a place it had not already reached.
Given any thought to this? My earliest definite backpacking trip is the end of July, but I'd certainly like to plan something earlier than that if possible. Of course, I'm not going to do anything irresponsible.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Mar 23, 2020 11:50:46 GMT -8
My first thought would be the method of travel. A personal vehicle with stops just for gasoline directly to the trailhead or a trailhead adjacent campground would strike me as a responsible activity, made even more ideal I’d think if a multi day travel was performed in a self contained manner such as an RV or travel trailer so avoiding even restrooms.
As long as the destination trip wasn’t of the sort risking the need for a SAR response and adding that burden to small locale response services. So that would eliminate high elevation over snow routes which many June-July routes entail.
On top of the usual: you’ve no symptoms, you’re not Covid19 positive, you’ve not been in contact with anyone Covid19 positive within two weeks or anyone who has been in contact with someone Covid19 positive within two weeks.
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Mar 23, 2020 12:04:44 GMT -8
As long as the destination trip wasn’t of the sort risking the need for a SAR response and adding that burden to small locale response services. So that would eliminate high elevation over snow routes which many June-July routes entail. That's an interesting angle I hadn;t really thought of: many/most of my trips are of the type that the prospect of a SAR is higher than it would be for someone just hiking a trail. It's never happened yet, knock on wood, but this would not be the time to press one's luck, for the reason you mentioned.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Mar 23, 2020 12:14:18 GMT -8
Yes there was a rescue in the news late last week of a one day solo three peak attempt in Vermont into the teeth of a snowstorm. Distracting a lot of resources at the current time shifts that from personal choice of the level of challenge to irresponsible imho. And getting this lucky isn’t a guarantee either. Getting injured within range of a railway that can mobilize a rescue train? www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/03/23/hiker-falls-200-feet-during-mount-washington-descent-is-rescued-by-cog-railway-trainAnd that list of the otherwise needed resources (dozens of rope team members) is informative. “ Due to the steep, icy, terrain and remote location, the Cog Railway prepared a train to retrieve Furness. In the meantime, a rescue belay was set up with ropes and other gear to hoist Furness up to the tracks. The train reached her and returned to a waiting ambulance at the base around 11 p.m. Sunday. “Without the use of the train, we were looking at a potentially all-night rescue scenario which would have included calling in several dozen additional rescuers and technical rope teams just to get the injured hiker down the mountain safely,” Ober said.” ETA: and sometimes things mostly just happen. www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/mount-washington-hiker-rescued-after-snow-obscures-trail/article_1f4a36a8-f7c7-11e7-957b-1fb6062fe3b6.html
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,876
|
Post by zeke on Mar 23, 2020 12:25:08 GMT -8
I have 2 trips planned for Aug, to a NP, that I am keeping in place for now, as well as a kayaking trip also in the same month. All of them require me to do some driving, and we'll see how that goes.
|
|
jazzmom
Trail Wise!
a.k.a. TigerFan
Posts: 3,059
|
Post by jazzmom on Mar 23, 2020 13:58:07 GMT -8
When you say "OK to travel for hiking", are you differentiating it from other forms or purposes of travel?
I've been noticing that even with all the social distancing protocols in place, there are a lot of reports, photos, etc. of big crowds at National Parks. I feel like outdoor activities have this immovable place in many people's minds as being "healthy" and are being treated as somehow exempt from the current situation.
Me, I'm thinking in terms of "traveling", period, and not differentiating for "hiking". In large part because one of my closest friends is one of the higher ups at UMich hospital and I'm seeing the burden of being responsible for the care available to a community, even for those who shouldn't be there. I really don't want to be that person who takes limited resources away from somewhere I don't belong, in this climate anyway. I know hikers don't ever plan to be a burden but accidents do happen and they're called "accidents" because you don't plan for them...
I think most places will be pretty proactive in announcing when they're ready for visitors. I guess I'm going to wait until I'm "invited", so to speak.
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Mar 23, 2020 14:29:14 GMT -8
When you say "OK to travel for hiking", are you differentiating it from other forms or purposes of travel? Only from the assumption that other forms of pleasure travel (hotels, airlines, etc) are beyond the pale for the foreseeable future. But it seems that a trip that involves only driving in the car and camping in the wilderness will become reasonable and prudent before some higher-impact, higher personal contact forms of travel will.
|
|
|
Post by hikerjer on Mar 23, 2020 14:45:22 GMT -8
As long as the destination trip wasn’t of the sort risking the need for a SAR response and adding that burden to small locale response services. I've wondered abut this. Even the mere act of traveling, especially by automobile, puts an individual at serious risk. far more probably, than hiking, providing , of course, that one is prudent. So, if driving is more risky, it stands to reason, IMO, that we shouldn't go hiking simply because it's too dangerous getting there. An accident could easily overburden local medial facilities - probably more than an a back country accident.
|
|
|
Post by absarokanaut on Mar 23, 2020 16:01:44 GMT -8
Living in a Resort/Outdoor Mecca we have a great...but tiny hospital. Right now I'm thinking Jazzmom has it right and believe me, when we get back to some normalcy WE WANT YOU BACK! You drive our economies and are lots better looking than gas or oil wells. From what I've heard we're supposed to have a "boomerang" come September. If that's the case I don't know the Science some of you do so I'll wait for informed leadership wherever it comes from.
|
|
balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
Posts: 4,474
|
Post by balzaccom on Mar 23, 2020 16:11:45 GMT -8
^^^ This. I tend to think about this in the same terms that I think of the rest of regulations concerning our parks. I believe that I am a very responsible and safe person in those parks. But I also recognize that many of these rules are in place because of the wide range of visitors who visit them--many of whom would fall into the category of not responsible or safe. And if the parks let ME in, then they also have to let those other folks in. Just in case you're wondering...here's a sign in the campground shower at Mesa Verde:
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Mar 23, 2020 16:34:53 GMT -8
Yikes, I knew there was a reason I avoided those! Plus Canyon de Chelly had closed a popular overlook due to a recent spike in vehicle breakins before the entire place was shut down by the Tribal Council. Humans..... /?d=n
|
|
ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
Posts: 9,850
|
Post by ErnieW on Mar 23, 2020 17:31:28 GMT -8
There are a couple of things for me: If you have been infected and recover showing at least two clean tests do you now have immunity and can't be reinfected? Or for that matter not continue infecting people. Will there be one or more therapies to treat symptoms of COVID-19? This could reduce stress on hospitals, lower fatality rates and maybe allow for loosened restrictions. And of course if a vaccine or vaccines are developed. Of course very unlikely for this summer here in North America. But I think treatments are likely. If they can bring the fatality rate down to flu levels and the curve is flattened enough restrictions should ease. Also if you get immunity then as more people get it the more the herd immunity will climb. Again restrictions on the general population will lift but the vulnerable will still need caution. I am hoping in a way they figure some way to prove you had immunity. Go get certified as immune and you can go out in public all you want.
Sorry if your question was more on the ethics. I am thinking more whether the lockdowns would allow you to go.
|
|
Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,952
|
Post by Westy on Mar 23, 2020 17:47:08 GMT -8
Salt Lake is positioned well, for access to a plethora of hiking opportunities. Many are very popular and many are way out of the way. Postponed AT until next year, very likely to seek solace in a remote area, supported by my Subaru Outback. The Wah Wah'sHopefully, the world rebounds and I won't have to cancel my flight to Butte, MT on June 28th. The Bob awaits. Key factor will be trail town input.
|
|
bcpete
Trail Wise!
There's cool, and then there's me.
Posts: 489
|
Post by bcpete on Mar 23, 2020 18:01:45 GMT -8
Salt Lake is positioned well, for access to a plethora of hiking opportunities. Many are very popular and many are way out of the way. Same for me here in central BC. A extremely busy trail around here is if one vehicle is already at the trailhead. My big problem will be the early season trips we take in Jasper NP. Getting there and only having to gas up via pay at the pump is easy ... but if they shut down the entire park to all activity (no matter how remote we go), then that will suck. Finding dry ground in May & June is a lot easier there than the mountains closer to home in BC.
|
|
|
Post by hikingtiger on Mar 24, 2020 5:52:14 GMT -8
I'd think that by June you'd know if you have Covid-19 or not (presuming you stay home like we're all supposed to do.) If you do, then you're staying home because you're sick. If you don't, then you're not spreading anything. I have plans for early June. Holding everything in place until the last second as some slots were difficult to get.
|
|