[at-l] Acceptable risk

[Andrew Claus]

The last post about Best vs Safe, is, in my opinion, spot-on.  I've always felt the most dangerous part of my trips is driving to the trailhead, maybe even taking a shower afterwards.  The carnage on our highways is, for some reason, an acceptable part of life in our society.  But the risk of encountering danger on a trail is not, for some reason.

I'm reminded of an article last year in Backpacker magazine showing perceived risks vs actual injuries/deaths in the backcountry.  The two lists are almost mirror images.  The among the highest perceived risks, I recall, were animal or human attack and among the lowest were falls and sprains.  And guess what was actually happening--the exact reverse.

Risk can never be avoided, but it must be managed.  That's why we wear seatbelts, buy cars with airbags, change bald tires, put non-slip matts in tubs, etc.  Group hiking is one way to avoid some risk, but it introduces other risks.

I'm a committed solo hiker.  Here's my justification: With a few notable exceptions that everyone hears about, it seems to me that most backcountry disasters happen to groups.  Witness the events on Mt Hood last winter and through recent history.  I think group dynamics can take over and quickly spoil logical decision making.  One strong personality with a plan (I almost said "macho jerk") can get everyone in trouble.  This is probably just my biased observations, because I feel OK going solo.

That being said, I did arrange to hike in a group of four on the CDT through Glacier NP last summer.  It was my first trip through grizzly country and I was scared.  And we had a great time.

My heartfelt condolences to Melissa's friends and family and to the entire hiking community.

Garlic


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