ronin


There is a subtle difference between "fear mongering" and suggesting that people be prepared. Beginners DO need to be helped along because by definition they have no experience and do not recognize a potential threat.

Backpacking safer than "normal lives" perhaps. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />Mountain climbing safer than normal life - no. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Hiking on a high PNT mountain unprepared for the very possible cold safer - no. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Mt Rainier is one of the highest northern most mountains in the lower 48. People die there because IT CAN become extreme. Suggesting that there is no reason to be prepared there is extremely naive. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

As for paternalistic. Yes a lot of us older guys and gals have suffered through learning the concepts that you obviously lack. A lot of us are WAY more extreme than you, and FAR more capable of making sound judgement calls than you are, simply because we have actually had to do it and recognize problems. This is the reason that people write in - to learn what they do not already know. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

What I'm saying is this - if you want to go to the local park, stay on the trail, and not do anything beyond that - then yes - you will be very safe. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> BUT if you choose to play with the big dogs, your naive attitude can get you killed or just way uncomfortable. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

If I was a fear monger trying to keep people out of the woods I'd tell you that bigfoot wants to have sex with you and you better stay home. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />