Longs Peak rescue

[jared_j]

But I still think that we don't need to be so sensitive and careful whenever we get into analysis or speculation of a situation like this one.

I bet this is that same guy that asked you for water.

[Dave B]

Anyway, you can speculate either way but I would take a rushed media report with a very large grain of salt before dropping the e-hammer

This is a reasonable point. But there is a reason that there are freaking bulls eyes painted on the entirety of the keyhole route which is the same reason there is a cable installed on Half Dome and "do not feed the bears" signs in Yellowstone.

Ignorant ambition is all too often confused for prowess in the mountains and it is often the media leads that charge.

Maybe this kid is the next hardman, maybe he's just a dumbass. I guess we'll all know soon enough.

[tlongpine]

Every year dozens (hundreds ?) of people find themselves in trouble in the mountains, and every year there is a parade of sanctimonious judgement in threads steaming from events like this one. Regardless of the circumstances of these events, the judgmental cliches are tiresome. People make mistakes - hopefully they live and learn.

[crossfitter]

I suppose this translates to "Let's wait until the facts come out, until we criticize". While I generally agree with this concept, the problem is, every time something like this happens, once the facts do actually come out and clarity is reached (like in the case of the two Maine women who got stuck on Longs last September), people STILL say "don't criticize, don't judge".

Those two women turned out to have extricated themselves from a fluke storm which hit in the middle of their week-long trip, so a lot of people were eating crow. That situation pretty much perfectly highlights why relying on initial media reports is ridiculous.

I think that anyone who subscribes to that type of thinking is being way too sensitive. At the very least, it seems pretty clear that this young man made some poor choices in terms of clothing, gear, and route choice, based on his experience level (which seems quite low, although I agree, that's still speculation).

And you know his clothing, gear, and route choice....how? He survived a night at altitude in early spring-like conditions on a snowy downward sloping ledge so clearly he had enough gear to not die.

...But I still think that we don't need to be so sensitive and careful whenever we get into analysis or speculation of a situation like this one.

Being sensitive in a situation like this is not the point. It's more of an attempt to throw the brakes on the pre-mature coal-raking circle-jerk. I've noticed that a large majority of the users here who are first to jump on the dogpile tend to be relatively inexperienced themselves and haven't gotten enough miles under their belt to find themselves in their own bad situation yet. Those same people - and everyone here really - could learn a few things by taking a step back and realizing just how easily they could find themselves on their other side of the aisle. There's a time and place for a good old-fashioned roasting, but save it for once we're sure we've found a real knucklehead worthy of the honor.

[JROSKA]

But I still think that we don't need to be so sensitive and careful whenever we get into analysis or speculation of a situation like this one.

I bet this is that same guy that asked you for water.

Who asked me for water? I don't get it.

[tlongpine]

"It's more of an attempt to throw the brakes on the pre-mature coal-raking circle-jerk."

[cheeseburglar]

Is the report that he was wearing tennis shoes correct?
Who wears tennis shoes anymore?

[coloradokevin]

Glad to hear that this guy got off the mountain okay, but the news reports certainly leave you scratching your head about how he got there (assuming the reports are accurate).

In my experience the media gets all of the facts right about 25% of the time, none of the facts right about 25% of the time, and a 50/50 split of correct information about 50% of the time. Obviously that's an unscientific study

[JROSKA]

And you know his clothing, gear, and route choice....how? He survived a night at altitude in early spring-like conditions on a snowy downward sloping ledge so clearly he had enough gear to not die.

I was going off of the media report "cotton and tennis shoes", and "not prepared for a night outdoors". I can see your point, though, about these initial reports being very shoddy. I admit that I shouldn't have drawn any conclusion from that. The mere wording of the writer, namely the reference to "all cotton", and "inexperienced mountaineer", seems a bit biased against the guy who was rescued. If this article is about a successful rescue, why even include stuff like that. So I get what you are saying. I'm not "roasting the guy"; others are, and we don't know much about this situation enough to do that, I'm agreeing with you there. I don't really get into criticizing these individual situations that go bad, because I've experienced a few myself and I can relate to how quickly a tough situation can snowball. I'm just making an observation. Every time a situation like this occurs, it's the same broken record. Some people judge and criticize. Others say "don't do that until we know the facts". More facts come in. More criticism ensues, and people still say, "don't do that". It just seems odd to me, that's all. On one hand, we want to talk about how "bad-ass" the survivor is for dealing with the epic situation (analysis I completely agree with). Yet, on the other hand, we are concerned that they won't be able to handle some bad words from strangers on the internet. That seems inconsistent to me. However, I do agree with your closing point, about how anyone who does feel the need to be too critical, judgmental, should at the very least take a step back, try to relate, and remember that a bad situation could happen to them too. Cockiness is not an attractive quality in a mountaineer. I guess I just see it as a reality of human nature, that whenever someone goes through a mountain struggle that gets posted here, there are always going to be some who judge, criticize, and even laugh. It is what it is. Unfortunately, human beings, in general, are not very good.

[DaveSwink]

I keep thinking of what it would take to descend from the summit to Broadway without gear ................. Since the climber lived through it, I want the crazy, amazing version of the story to be true. I want to buy the guy a beer and watch him buy lottery tickets.

[mtgirl]

Relieved to hear a positive outcome and that SAR, once again, put themselves at high risk to save a young life. I hope I never need them, but it's comforting to know how capable they are in dangerous situations.

[rickinco123]

Those two women turned out to have extricated themselves from a fluke storm which hit in the middle of their week-long trip, so a lot of people were eating crow. That situation pretty much perfectly highlights why relying on initial media reports is ridiculous.

Really, I thought those 2 women from Maine actually came out worse when the actual story was discovered. They were involved in some sort of product/self promotional stunt and attempted in some way I still don't understand to merge it all with politics.

And for the last time........ Severe weather on Longs Peak is not an anomaly any time of year.

Super happy this guy is alive, can't wait to hear his story.