BrianLe

I don't think I ever implied that beginners are idiots, but by definition they do not have experience in a back country setting. Big City smarts do not keep people from walking off cliffs and it is dangerous to think that a walk in the woods is the same as a walk in central park. When people ask what kind of shoes should to wear, its because they lack the personal experience to know for themselves, not because they are idiots. It takes good judgment to lead a group into the wilderness, this is why people used to hire guides, now days people think "Oh its no big deal, its like walking to the store", its not.
Jim