The Chief wrote:Here's the deal...
It was well known within our community that most of our published protocols and SOP's were written in blood. ANd yes, we were in fact constantly updating them.
I believe that we as climbing community need to start accepting the fact that we need to do the same while it is fresh in our minds. It really hits home and makes a valuable impact when it is done in this fashion.
. . . .
No disrespect or malice intended to the victims. More of a deal that their deaths may not go in vain and that their possible mistakes can be a lesson learned to others so that they do not end up in the same situ and then dead.
Now, if that is not a mature manner to view these incidents, than I don't know what is.
Chief, this is a mature approach, and yes we can learn from the mistakes of others. But, sorry, I need to point out that when the news broke that the climbers were missing, you said (the following day) (and I quote):
It's stupid people with this exact same attitude, that get their asses dead each and every time on this hill or any other hill when they think they will win.
By my count, Hood is kicking some ass and the the stupid people are losing.
Now everyone expects the SAR dudes to put their asses on the line to get em.
BTW: Experience don't mean shit when the hill gets pissed. This and every other hill will always win. We will always lose.
http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB2/viewto ... 08&start=0
It's the same story this time of the year, every year.
That hill is a killer this time of the year. It always will be. Experience tells me to stay away from that thing. Now that's experience that will keep my ass alive.
http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB2/viewto ... c&start=15
Here's the deal -- I don't think anyone has a problem with using incidents like this to try and help us all learn to be a bit safer when heading into the mountains. But, when blanket characterizations are made, and conclusions drawn, where the facts aren't known, then it is disrespectful regardless of what you intend. This stuff deserved to be moved to Prate and Prattle.
From everything I read, the climber who died was an experienced, prudent climber, not a "stupid" person who got his ass kicked by Mt. Hood. In fact, what little that is now known points to him trying to help an injured member of his party.
So, I think we can all learn a lesson -- in the future, let's show respect for people who are lost, injured or killed before we start throwing around labels and conclusions. When the facts are known, then it is appropriate, as Chief points out, to
respectfully analyze the situation and try to glean some positive information. And no need to call victims anything but "victims" in order to perform such analyses -- labeling an individual does nothing to further that goal.