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Posted by SteveTheFolkie on January 4, 2007 at 12:46:02 pm EST
In reply to Re: I owe my life to... posted by Alicia on January 3, 2007 at 8:02:26 pm EST

Alica

I think you're ON the original topic - spot on. It seems that in 2007 you can walk into a mountain shop and fill your pack with gear that will seemingly get you through anything. Back in the dark days when I started backpacking and climbing (dirt and fire had been invented, but that was about it) you couldn't do that.

I guess my point is that what you carry really doesn't matter a darn if you don't know how to use it AND if you don't have the base of knolwedge (accumulated over years, in most cases, or past down by mentors, even if you didn't KNOW they were mentors at the time) that gives you the confidence to remain calm and think your way through a situation.

Some things are beyond your control - when you're falling from 120' up and the nut you placed 55' off the ground fails - well - you're hitting the deck. But I've run into people in bad situations (burns, a broken arm) and they're searching through their packs - like they put a burn kit or splint in there and just forgot about it. When you cover their burns with a damp "T" shirt or splint their arm with a couple tent poles and some duct tape they look at you like you're a God or something. Improv never crossed their minds.

So I guess I owe my life (many times over) to those who took the time to help me stay alive while I messed up and learned. To the people who looked at the tie in to my harness and said "um, dude, that just dosen't look right" or suggested "you know, if you keep your socks in a plastic bag they'll be dry at night" -

The knowledge is in MY head - but that's not the point of origin.

Rambled enough -

Steve

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