When I usually read a rescue, I get upset at all the comments like, hiking in winter is stupid, solo hiking is stupid, etc. Maybe the first time I've felt better reading the comments after reading an article that was either poorly researched or just in time for a cold snap, written hastily. With one of the recent avalanche rescuees being formerly an employee one of Boston's newspapers, I'd say this way hastily written with some sound bites used from Eric and others to give the overall piece some semblence of credibility.
The W48 list hasn't got me to not hike favorites first, some are easier than the 8 I have left. I can drag my currently very overweight self up Pierce again and enjoy the view, I'm not getting up the Bonds or Owl's Head in the time I'd feel comfortable & the allure of the list won't change that. Hopefully, the 115 this year will motivate the diet and exercise. (15 hours of sunlight and warmth and lighter packs are tempting things to the fat folk
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Weatherwise, other than cold, I've been out in higher wind & fog in the fall on a couple of occasions, on Guyot, (TN) in summer when Tropical Storm Dennis was going by and hail one Memorial Day weekend. I've been on a few peaks in winter in poor visibilty but none with more than a postage stamp area above treeline, or just bare summit. (Garfield, S Twin, Pierce and Liberty)
Agree, a 20 degree day is ideal, pants, a base layer & light fleece, glove liners, maybe fleece gloves, no bugs, no rocks.
Do you have to train your body on bio breaks? (and no, I don't really want to read in a newspaper or online about how anyone, male of female cope. If I'm reading Touching the Void or about Himalaya expeditions it is to be expected.) Isn't common sense when going on any trip away from bathrooms, you should use the bathroom before you go? Training,????
Overall, I'm not that upset about the article, it's mediorce at best. Not sure it will encourage more people or not. Did seem to infer that people should get training to go out in winter.
