Re: Solo hiking

Kia ora! I'm catching up on a fortnight's S-L digests after a bad dose of the
flu. Sorry if this thread is out of date by now.

Just a quick note regarding this thread from a Kiwi perspective.

Someone mentioned the rule of three. Well - down here 3 doesn't cut it.
Sensible and experienced trampers in our conditions ALWAYS have parties of 4 or
more. That way if one person is injured, there is one person to stay with them
and two to tramp out for help.
NZ conditions are among the most unpredictable in the world and every year we
have problems with tourists who are experienced in their countres and assume
that they can cope with our conditions in spite of warnings. There has been a
lot of debate about charging people for S&R operations - and every time someone
gets lost like this in NZ the whole case gets torn apart in the national press.
Sometimes they say "this person did everything right" but more often than not
they were unprepared - or were on a daywalk that went wrong - or ....

So what I am saying in general terms is (and this is not aimed at anyone at
all): Be aware that even if you are experienced in one set of conditions in
another you may well be a novice so seek _expert_ advice (and beware of
armchair / computer chair experts as well *grin*). In NZ advice on weather and
kit is still freely available from Dept of Conservation staff who do know what
they are talking about. make use of local knowledge no matter where in the
world you are (and even if you do have to pay a little - how much is a life
worth?)

Arohanui,
Anne
Riddick_A@Kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Northland Girl Guides; Province Training Team; Wellington, New Zealand

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message
• Previous message