Idiots in the backcountry…

Okay, maybe idiots is a strong word.  How about unprepared – no-common sense – inept gadget wielding buffoon……  But for the sake of this we’ll just refer to these people as idiots. 

We have all encountered such mystifying persons in the field.  In fact I encountered one just a couple of weeks ago while kayaking the North Channel waterway in Canada.  The North Channel is a must do for any kayaker and I wonder why it took us so long to make it there.  But that’s a whole other topic.
So there we were, two kayakers freshly perched upon a pathetic slab of rock (one could call it an island since there were technically 3 trees on it).  As we settled in our camp chairs for our second to last day’s lunch this “idiot” presented himself.  He was one of those people who are completely unaware of their mistake in being unprepared until it’s too late and they are in the thick of their predicament.  That’s when us good Samaritans step in to save the day.  Even though by helping this person we risk being uncomfortable (lending a hat or jacket) at best or ruining your whole trip (escorting them all the way back to the trail head) at worst, we still go home and brag about our heroics.  There is a certain pride in being prepared.  And there’s even more pride when we can step in to help a fellow camper,… even if you think this idiot couldn’t handle walking a dog let alone sustaining life in the backcountry.  The problem in my situation is realizing that this idiot whom my wife was now staring at was me.  And there was no good Samaritans around to help us out.  Now my folly wasn’t as bad as some, but deciding to roll the dice on only one small canister of fuel for a new stove setup was not smart.  Especially since we had spent the time to  strap two 17ft. long yellow torpedos to a car and drive 7 hours.  Now it was suddenly cut short.  We could have survived off of crunchy dehydrated hash browns in the morning, but where do you draw the line on “fun”.  Luckily we had decided to take the second to last day, get back towards our car and just be able to play around the islands.  This obviously didn’t happen as we paddled back in almost a day early.

Anyway, my point here is that we can all be idiots at times.  It really is a humbling experience to think you have your “poop in a group” only to realize that you in fact don’t.  I have noticed more and more stories lately of these “idiots” that venture into the backcountry and get themselves into more serious trouble than not being able to cook dinner.  Here’s an article from the NY Times (Technology Leads More Park Visitors Into Trouble) that gives a point of view on such idiots.  Some stories are of serious injury, while others are of head-shaking bewilderment leading you to think “how can these people even get dressed in the morning”.  I’ll admit that I’m one of the critics of such idiots.  But the big issue here really boils down to being prepared.  And education is a strong part of being prepared.  Education in gear and proper use.  Education in the area we are traveling to.  Education we gain from experience.  And education in knowing what we don’t know.  Many of the recent stories include a “new to the outdoors” victim that has bought a sweet piece of gear or gadgetry and feels as if they can take on mother nature.  If worse comes to worse, they can rip off their wicking shirt and turn in to Bear Grylls….. what idiots!
Well, KNOCK, KNOCK.  Reality here.  This will continue to happen as along as new technology is developed and safer ways of venturing into the wild come along (like SPOT messaging).  Let’s use these new tools (gadgets), but be smart about it.  Once in awhile I’ll talk to someone who had a bad experience setting up a tent on a trip.  Well come to find out they didn’t set it up in the comfort of their own backyard before they went.  The problem in these instances is looking at gear as a solution rather than simply a tool.  YOU are the solution to a particular situation whether it’s in the prep work or during the mishap on the trail.  The gear is only as good or as smart as the operator.  In my situation I did stop to think of the risk of not taking extra fuel while packing.  As a gear nerd I wanted to see how long this fuel would last.  But I should have done this BEFORE the trip.  However, I had assured myself that we would be fine.  And we were.  But willing to cut the trip a little short because of our lack of fuel was suddenly regretted when I heard the stove go out.  Luckily the paddle back was entertaining as my wife cracked jokes about what else her great outdoorsman might have left behind.

Remember that no matter how new or experienced you are there is always room to be an idiot.  I’ll still criticize the ones that call in rescue because they lost their flashlight (mostly because it’s fun).  But we have to be humble in not thinking that we’ve got this outdoor think licked for one reason or another.  There’s no substitute for practicing with new gear and having backups.  Plus there’s no excuse to not educate yourself as much as possible.  Always be willing to learn new techniques even if you are 90% sure it’s something you’ll never need.  That 10% is always looming over our head.  Learn from others mistakes and if you see an idiot in the woods, help them out.  It maybe some that has run out of fuel for their stove………… what and idiot……  And most of all be willing to laugh at yourself for being an idiot. 

In the end I go back to what was drove into my head as a Boy Scout: Be Prepared.  Meaning don’t forget anything.  But now in my adult life I have come to realize that those two words actually mean something different: Know How Much of an Idiot You Can Be”.

Advertisement

~ by apexoutdoorgear on August 24, 2010.