ten senior citizen "climbers", 9 with organised trips, died of hypothermia recently. "Too thin of jackets and slightly cooler than normal temps" were to blame.

This brings me to the subject of "summit packs". Many modern campers who are already arguably toeing the line of inadequate clothing and equipment, seem to have this idea that they should have a sub 5 pound summit pack. Besides now carrying the extra weight of a spare small pack while hiking in, you cannot get a real coat or sleeping bag in these quote "summit packs". and even using them as a sit pad is marginal.

If you have good luck, no injuries, make it up and back in daylight and warm etc etc, OK, BUT if anything goes wrong and you bivy with inadequate insulation - well consider the fate of those mentioned above.

Whats the moral? Carry your normal backpack with all of your gear when you go up - you will probably need more gear the higher you go - why leave it below - EXCEPT - modern campers are not in good enough condition to climb with a full pack, even a light weight one. Theres a great difference between traveling light and traveling stupid.

Get into better shape.
Carry appropriate gear.
Do not leave your gear behind - what if you got lost.
Carry your GPS with you and know where you are going.
Jim