Jump to content

Scout Leader Dies On White Mts (Nh) Hike


Recommended Posts

http://www.wmur.com/news/boy-scout-leader-suffers-heart-attack-while-leading-troop-on-hike/33705776

http://www.necn.com/news/new-england/Boy-Scout-Leader-Dies-From-Heart-Attack-on-NH-Trail-309019451.html

A Boy Scout leader Vernon Rippeon 51, of Westminster, Maryland died after suffering a heart attack on a hike Sunday morning (Father's Day).

According to Fish and Game officials, Mr. Rippeon was one of four adults leading a scout troop on a five-day presidential mountain hike.

They were on the Crawford Path in Bean's Purchase when he suffered a heart attack.

CPR was started almost immediately, but it was unsuccessful.

Rippeon's two sons were among the group.

Scout salute and farewell.

Edited by RememberSchiff
remove whitespace
Link to post
Share on other sites

I wonder if he had had the mandatory annual BSA physical for "old guys"?  Perhaps would have made no difference.  A coworker dropped dead of a heart attack last year after working out at the Y.  He was a marathon runner and worked out every day.  Already had his retirement papers in, but didn't make it.  I will be 61 this year.  With my BMI and family history, I figure I'm on borrowed time.  My sincere condolences to the family.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Annual physicals are not enough. Many heart centers now offer stress tests, calcium scoring, CAT-scans of arteries and APOE genome testing to chart your overall risk of heart disease. You can get this from 45 on with most major health plans, at 40 if you are an at risk person. Retest every five years, three if high risk. Great way to find out if you have any blockages or if your diet is right for you. For example, my GP had me on Omega-3s for heart health. Had my APOE genome testing and found out that my genes don't process Omega-3s well; they actually did more harm than good. Knowing heart rate, blood pressure, calcium scoring, BMI, muscle mass, high fiber, low-fat, etc., all help in keeping you fit enough and informed enough to do these things with the boys.

 

If you have insurance that will cover it (even if you don't) I would highly recommend doing these tests. They can uncover problems before they can hurt you.

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

More sad details...

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/boy-scout-leader-dies-on-fathers-day-hike-with-troop-2-sons-in-new-hampshire/

"It starts to gain elevation quite quickly," Saunders said of the trail, but the group hadn't been hiking that long. "It's one of those odd things. There wasn't any rhyme or reason to it, and it was fairly quickly," Saunders said. "He just sat down on a rock and collapsed."

Gunnar Burdt, scoutmaster of Troop 735 of Gamber, just outside of Baltimore, said the nearly three-mile hike to an Appalachian Mountain Club hut was planned by Rippeon, a "high-adventure" outdoors trip in scouting, where "you go do something that's going to push your limits and tests your will," Burdt said.

"He was our map guy, our GPS man," Burdt said. "We relied on him heavily for planning these adventures."

The group has canoed 100 miles in upstate New York and backpacked in the Colorado Rockies. They chose the White Mountains this year; Rippeon, an avid hiker and scoutmaster before Burdt, had visited the area before with his older son, 17-year-old Ryan, about six years ago.

"He was familiar with the area and the Appalachian Trail," Burdt said. "Our plan was to go hut to hut for four days and we would summit to Mount Washington on our last day."

Burdt said half of the group had made it up, including Ryan. Others, including Rippeon, his son Patrick who is 11 or 12, and another leader were behind. When Rippeon collapsed, the other leader, an AMC employee coming down the mountain and two other hikers came to his aid, but Rippeon died.

Rippeon, a Navy veteran and an engineer, "always lived by the Boy Scout oath and law," Burdt said. "It was very important to him. Boy Scouts was in his blood."

Burdt said Ryan is about to earn his Eagle Scout honors, "which his dad is not going to see."

post-27433-0-21318200-1435005765_thumb.png

Edited by RememberSchiff
remove whitespace
  • Upvote 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Condolences to the family.

 

Dying with one's boots on is one thing, but at age 51, and in front of your 11-year-old son... that's... I don't even know what that is. In time hopefully his sons will be able to replace that memory with those of the many good times they had with him in Scouting.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Condolences to the family.

 

Dying with one's boots on is one thing, but at age 51, and in front of your 11-year-old son... that's... I don't even know what that is. In time hopefully his sons will be able to replace that memory with those of the many good times they had with him in Scouting.

I agree regarding that trauma, and for sure the sons will miss their dad and I too hope they have plenty of good memories.

My SIL at age 8 watched helpless and alone as his father died of a massive heart attack. It has had a lifelong effect on him. To paraphrase another man, 'Why can't things like this happen to some old man like me, pretty much spent anyway?' Instead of to a father with children still growing up.

Link to post
Share on other sites

So very sad. I feel for the family, especially the son. I can't imagine what it was like to watch his father die in front of him, especially at that age. I agree with Packsaddle, hopefully the good memories will outweigh that one.

 

My prayers are with the family.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...

It's always sad to hear about things like this.  My condolences to his family.

 

It should remind us all to work on getting in better shape.  I just came back from scout camp, and observed that a majority of us are "over 50" (years of age and/or pounds overweight).  Everyone says to me I don't look fat, but my BMI precludes me from going on HA trips.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hundreds of thousands of people die every day.  Some way too soon.  Some in "good" physical shape (for their age), some not.  Not enough of them are lawyers and politicians, but I digress.

 

When the Good Lord says its your time to go, you're going, no matter what your doctor said during your last colonoscopy.  Pray YOU get to go out doing something you enjoy, surrounded by people you love (or at least, people you tolerate!) rather than rotting away in a nursing home, forgotten.

Edited by MrBob
  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Update Oct. 11, 2023:

FREDERICK, MD — The Vernon “Rick” Rippeon Memorial Fund has been created with The Community Foundation of Frederick County to support Boy Scout Troop 735 in Finksburg.

Founded by Vernon Robert Rippeon, the fund honors Mr. Rippeon’s son, Rick, who died unexpectedly at the age of 51 while leading a Boy Scout hike. Rick was a college graduate and veteran of the U.S. Navy serving as a gunner’s mate from 1983-1987. He loved spending time outdoors with his family and was a dedicated volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, serving as scoutmaster and assistant scoutmaster for Troop #735 in Gamber. In creating this fund, Mr. Rippeon is not only honoring his son’s legacy and love of scouting, he is also ensuring that this scouting program will be available for future generations to benefit from and enjoy.

More at source including photo and audio:

https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/community_page_news/boy-scout-troop-to-benefit-from-new-fund-at-community-foundation/article_4a36627d-7565-5018-bdad-c3e610cc9d42.html

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...