Sarbar
You have the scariest stories here.

Anyway I have reread this entire thread and:
1) No fatal acidents reported.
2) no official rescues or medevacs were reported.
3) No cases of extreme exposure were reported.
4) No one got seriously lost withor without a compass or map.
5) Sarbar nearly died being in an icey stream.
6) no ones tent blew away or blew up.
7) no one hd to be treated for hypothermia or dehydration.

So was this because these "smart" people carried the ten essentials? Or because they forgot them? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Bottom line - is there any one item or items that could have made a real difference in these cases of backcountry stupidity? Was survival (besides Sarbar) ever a question, or merely discomfort? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Makes ya wonder how many man miles between epic rescues. I think you're more apt to be struck by lightening. Sorry Earthling, you have the only fatality story and no equipment could have saved your friend from such awesome natural power.

I have to wonder, were these people just statistics waiting to happen? Would they have been hit by taxicabs or something if they had stayed home?

Are we being unfairly burdened by extremely rare incidences blown up by the news media? Remeber this is not a climbing group and we have to limit this to backpacking and hiking so climbers on mt hood don't count. How dangerous is hiking and backpacking? Frankly it seems like most make it through with just a few scrapes.

I broke my leg at an orienteering meet running through the woods. I would never have done that except it was a timed meet. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
I had warm clothes a canteen and a power bar. I was alright until rescue arrived. Yes I was actually rescued, carried by rangers in a state park. oh god it hurts now to tell <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I also had my first aid with me - so I took two vicodan. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Anyway thats the last time that:
1) I've been injured in the woods.
2) I've carried any first aid besides pain meds.
3) I've carried a map
4) I've carried a compass

Once when I was a Boy Scout I cut my self because my knife was too sharp. After that I would draw the blade across a rock at the trailhead to insure that I didn't cut off a finger. No I rarely carry a knife even though or perhaps because I have a medium sized collection of them.

Bottom line - stupid camping can be uncomfortable, but its rarely life threatening, so why should we get so uptight about danger associated with camping?

Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />