"Sedenquist's Rule of Serial Consequences"

[RedCorral]

Mark,

Good article, full of sage advice that many of us know (or ought to know) and don't practice as faithfully as we should.

Suzanne was looking over my shoulder as I was reading and reminded me of the times we've been on hikes in heat, or cold or rain without hats, water, maps or food ("we're only going for a short walk" we'd say upon starting out). And the times we've started too late and had to make our way back in the dark.

The best outcome of what could have been a pretty bad situation was when we left on snowshoe hike at about 1pm thinking that our route was a relatively level couple of miles round trip (we were fully supplied on this excursion), only to find that the hill we had to climb back up (it seemed so easy going down) was exhausting! By the time we got to the top the sun was down, but the moon was coming up...full! We had a great walk the last half mile or so through the woods and snow-filled meadows by the light of the moon (oops...no flashlight).

We've made similar transgressions on roadtrips. The most notable example was our visit to Canyonlands and the spur of the moment decision to drive the White Rim Trail. Again we started down the road at about 1pm on what we knew was a 100 mile loop. We figured "100 miles at an average of 20mph is 5 hours...we'll be back by 6pm and sunset is about 6:30...no problem"). Well, the average speed is closer to 9mph, and in the canyon the sun goes down closer to 5:30 or 6pm so we drove the last 6 hours in the dark. Yes, the 100 mile trip took 11 hours! But we were prepared...kind of. We were driving a Jeep Cherokee with a full tank of gas so the car could handle the "trail" (an apt description). We had water and some Powerbars. We always carry emergency tools, first aid kit and such, and there were 2 or 3 campgrounds along the way so we weren't completely alone, but we were pretty much alone most of the way.

After it got dark, we found that following the trail was difficult...all but impossible. We agreed that if we ever lost the trail completely we'd just stop there for the night. Several times I had to get out and take a flashlight to figure out where the trail went as it crossed over slick rock with nothing but a few cairns to mark the way. And once we got to the top of a steep hill and, with the headlights pointing almost straight up, couldn't see which way the road went as it decended the other side. Again, I had to get out and direct Suzanne which way to continue (she always drives on these kinds of roads because she can't stand to be a passenger).

It was a memorable trip, not just for the scenery we did get to see, but also for the experience of feeling your way in difficult, unfamiliar territory using little more than our wits.

Oh well, all's well that ends well, so they say. As long as it ends well.

Craig Sheumaker
co-author of the travel guide: America's Living History-The Early Years

[Mark Sedenquist]

It was a memorable trip, not just for the scenery we did get to see, but also for the experience of feeling your way in difficult, unfamiliar territory using little more than our wits.

Thanks for sharing this story -- I, too, have made some peculiar choices in judgment from time to time on the road --

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

This article in today's LA Times makes me heartsick.

A young woman and her son headed out overland in a jeep with little water, no maps, virtually no food and became trapped in deep sand off the highway. Latest information is that she was traveling on a road she'd never researched and relying on GPS receiver for navigation.

The 11-year old boy died a day before the search party could find them. They were stranded in the desert for five days!

So sad. So unnecessary.

Mark

[CalOldBlue]

Tragic.

The thing that struck me in the version I saw (of all the things that went wrong that led to the fatal result) was the fact that although their plans seemed to call for a return by Monday, nobody called authorities until late Wednesday. Those two days were critical.

Drives home the point that when you go off into the boonies, you need to make sure someone knows where you're going, when you're due back, and when to alert authorities. It may be just a log at a trail-head, or a buddy back home; but if you're going someplace you may get stuck, it's cheap insurance to make sure someone knows your plans.

I've violated it too often myself, and I'm sure the poor friends and family who finally DID call it in are suffering a lot of "what if's" right now.

[Mark Sedenquist]

There are so many unanswered questions from this event -- but one of them has got to be -- what kind of camping gear did they have with them? This was supposed to be the start of camping trip. Doesn't really sound like they had enough food on board.

One of the conditions of the "Sedenquist Rule of Serial Consequences" is that every two poor choices could have been reversed by one good decision -- Sadly too many poor decision led to the tragic result.

It's been a tough year in the park this year -- with three recorded deaths -- from under-prepared park visitors.

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

Another example of someone ignoring common sense and blindly following a mapping program. From CNN today:

A woman driving in Forest Grove, Ore., ended up stuck in waist-deep water after following Google Maps down a road closed due to flooding.

Forest Grove Fire and Rescue responded to Southwest Fernhill Road, between Highway 47 and Geiger Road, on Monday morning.

Firefighters said the road was clearly marked as closed with signs, but the 46-year-old woman continued driving as far as she could on it, roughly a quarter of a mile past the barricade. read more here...

[glc]

That's just plain stupidity.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I dunno, I've seen people who believed everything they read in a newspaper and now many seem to award Google Maps with a god-like knowledge. I especially dislike Google Maps when it is correct and my memory about a certain route is faulty!

Mark

[Lifemagician]

... and now many seem to award Google Maps with a god-like knowledge.

Really??

Don't they know that belongs to RTA.

8-P

Lifey

[Mark Sedenquist]

Not sure I understand the post...

But on a non-related topic, I can confirm that the subscription services for updated threads is now back working...

Mark