Outdoor novices run risks

As a veteran park ranger, Scott Gediman witnesses all kinds of behavior in the storied wilds of Yosemite National Park.

But nothing topped the middle-aged woman trekking toward him recently on the hiking path to Vernal Falls.

"Why in the world is she pulling a suitcase?" he wondered.

As the woman plodded by, Gediman saw a dog enthroned in the rolling suitcase, as if it were gliding across an airport lobby.

"Just when you've seen everything," Gediman said.

How people venture into the outdoors -- as ill-prepared or risk-prone as they might be -- is a looming topic after several high-profile rescues and even deaths.

Thanks to advancing technology, adventure TV and shorter vacations, average day-trippers might feel a little too comfortable for their own good in the great outdoors, say those who must rescue them when they get into trouble.

A 37-year-old hiker who slid to his death off Yosemite's Half Dome in June appeared to have been properly outfitted, according to rangers, but crowded conditions along the treacherous ascent could have contributed to the fall.

In April, another hiker, a 43-year-old Oakland woman, a runner in shorts and running shoes, slipped off Half Dome during a storm and before chain handrails were in place for the season.

While attending a Palm Springs convention in May 2006, a 24-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man veered off a trail in the San Jacinto Mountains, turning an afternoon venture into a three-day nightmare. Clad in tennis shoes, without food or heavy clothing, the couple survived on provisions they found in someone else's backpack.

Even for the most skilled, there are risks. Last winter, rescuers spent days in sometimes brutal weather searching for three experienced and well-provisioned hikers who perished on Oregon's Mount Hood.

Instead of relying on old-fashioned preparation and common sense, rescuers say, people get a false sense of security from cell phones, GPS devices and rescue beacons.

"People are taking more chances now because they think they can call for help," said Matt Scharper, search and rescue coordinator for the state's Office of Emergency Services. "Even though it can be quite effective, rescue is not immediate. The key to survival is always preparation."

Statewide, OES is called in by counties at least 500 times a year to help on rescues of all kinds, Scharper said.

The proliferation of adventure, survival-type television shows, such as the Discovery Channel's "Man Vs. Wild," can almost seem like a how-to for the novice, just as a cooking show might be.

But with a gourmet show, "the worst that can happen is your soufflé falls," said Robert Thompson, a professor of television and pop culture at Syracuse University. "The difference here is, you go out and climb this mountain and that could potentially put you in danger."

Lighter, sleeker equipment could make it easier for the uninitiated to go outward bound, armed with topographical maps downloaded from the Internet. And, too, the trend toward shorter vacations could be driving people to get more done in less time -- maybe at the expense of safety.

The hike up Half Dome in Yosemite National Park is one of the most high-profile outdoor conquests, which is why problems there seem to resonate.

The 17-mile round trip from the valley floor, capped by the half-mile hike up Half Dome -- a 10- or 12-hour trek -- is often recommended as a two-day adventure in guidebooks, Gediman said. But many people, in shape or not, allow only a day.

"They have it in their mind they want to go up," he said. "We can't be out there and take their pulse."

The Half Dome hiker in June was the first to die using the double row of chains serving as handrails up the granite face. Rangers take the chains down during the winter, which is when others have died.

The weekend crowds squeezing up and down the iconic formation could have been a factor in the recent death, but the investigation isn't complete, Gediman said.

People are taking shorter trips and choosing destinations closer to home, said Sean Comey, a spokesman for AAA of Northern California. Travel counselors surveyed said travelers are reluctant to leave work for very long and higher fuel prices make long road trips less attractive, he said.

About the writer:

• The Bee's M.S. Enkoji can be reached at (916) 321-1106 or menkoji@sacbee.com.