Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 12:26:28 GMT -8
I was proofing a book my wife wrote when I came across this passage she had written:
"And I had carried a whole lot of weight by my lonesome for four days before that. Not just the weight of the equipment, but the weight of being alone, being responsible for my own safety and navigation.
I had led a few coworkers up to the top of Chicken Head peak in Joshua Tree, out of Indian Cove. We were lounging around at the top when I noticed a fellow coming up the route we had just finished. The fellow had on shoes and shorts. His skin was lobster red as he huffed and puffed up the way. When he caught up to us, his first words were, "you got any water?"
I handed the fellow a quart bottle, which he drank in, what seemed like, one gulp, and then he started talking. He talked about how he saw us leave the camp site and he started following us as we went into the canyon. He talked about how he had been tring to catch us and then asked "you got any more water?"
One of the other people moved to give him a water bottle, I said no. I told the fellow to hide out here, pointing to a spot out of the sun, and stay there whiles we go back down and get help from the Ranger Station. He did not want to stay but we took a route back that was neigh impossible for him to take.
We moved quickly, with the goal of getting to the Ranger Station as fast as possible. After getting to the Ranger Station, we told our story and a short time later we watched, on top of Chicken Head, a helicopter lower down a man and a basket, Soon the basket was hoisted to the coptor along with the man and off the copter went to Joshua Tree memorial.
We got word, later on, from the Ranger that the fellow was going to be ok.
The two fellows I was leading were new to hiking, new to hiking in the desert, and new to bouldering. I made a decision. Perhaps I could have made a different decision.
Still, when we go backpacking we carry a weight of responsibility that I consider as being part of my gear.
This year, mostly, my wife has been guiding a workmate into the world of backpacking. I listen as they talk about backpacking and my wife just ‘loves’ taking her out shopping for gear, and I have even been asked, by my wife, to teach the workmate a few lessons.
My wife has told the workmate that when out backpacking with us, we may suggest things to her and we may even tell her to do things. My wife told her we may not, at the time, explain to the workmate the why but we are defiantly trying to keep her safe.
One thing for sure the experience has been a great refresher for me on things I been taking for granted.
