[at-l] Acceptable risk

[Carla & Dave Hicks]

Good point about "group think."

Not only is there the problem of the "strong personality" 
overriding/dominating better judgment in "group think", there is also a very 
real danger of a "feeling responsibilities for others" overcoming the leader's 
judgment.

It brought to mind a Boy Scout tragedy quite a few years ago, shortly after I 
started maintaining trail.  See:
http://www.patc.us/history/archive/tragedy.html

I maintained trail on that Mountain for many years and I never stayed at Wolf 
Gap, or at Sandstone Spring, or at Sugar Knob without thinking about what 
could have been going on in Bob Grimsley mind -- and I have spent many a 
winter night up there, not to mention spring, summer, and fall.

Chainsaw

BTW -- The time I thought the most profoundly about the tragedy was when I 
broke my leg just below Sugar Knob (on the lower, more protected Stony Creek 
Trail) and had to bivouac until help came.  So, I'm not saying solo hiking is 
absolutely safe.  But it's is the way I hike.  If you plan, let people know 
your schedule, and keep your head about you, you are far safer than driving.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Claus" <andrewclaus at yahoo.com>
To: <at-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 3:02 PM
Subject: [at-l] Acceptable risk


>>
SNIP
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.
SNIP
<<