OK, here's another thing... Here is a torchlit flat meadow covered in snow:
And here is a torchlit rock formation that will break your leg covered in snow:
Notice how they both look like white snow. Seriously and all sarcasm aside, from experience, unless they started making torches that see through snow, what use is one in avoiding falling between rocks and twisting something? Torches are nice for seeing detail or finding dog poo in the dark but stuff under hidden under a good layer of snow is going to get you no matter what.
And good boots are often the difference between straining your ankle and straining your knee or hip often you're going to get hurt if your foot falls into something regardless of your clothing. The report says the man hurt his leg... nowhere does it state that it was his foot or ankle.
I am aware of how I have been contrary to many peoples opinions so far but name calling annoys me. So far only a few people can seem to see both sites, one of them being Toddy. We all assume the team put their lives on the line but I didn't read in the article that the team thought they were a gonner at any time. We always assume their life is on the line and I have no doubt there are times but not every time, there's just no way they dodge the grim reaper on every single search and rescue.
From the information presented to me in the article, firstly I was wrong when I said the man wasn't lost, he was in a known area just off a path after getting lost, I take my bit about that back but still, the only difference I can see that does not involve complete speculation is that if the man had better equipment he would have been warmer and not missing a shoe. I imagine that even with decent walking equipment you're not going to last a full night up there anyway. and if you carry equipment to last you a night, you're probably heavy enough that you will slow down and prove yourself right by taking over a night.
In climbing, it's called "light and lucky" for good reason... sometimes "fast and fu..." nevermind
The team leader even admits "
The thing is, so many people get away with it every year," excuse me??? get away with it??? Generally when loads of people do something with no ill effects and a few have a problem, it's generally considered ok. you know, like swimming... so many people get away with it every year. Those that nearly drown should have had flotation suits on and have no right being in the swimming pool. The lifeguard risked his life jumping in to pull the kid out, don't they know humans are supposed to stay on land?
AHHHHH RAGE!!!
This John Stevenson is probably a really decent man though and I feel bad for arguing against the article, why did he have to be all ranty? I want the emergency services to be heroes not executioners of joy. Superman caught people in mid air with nothing more than a witty quip about not falling from a building next time.
