EXPERT FOLLIES

  • Published
  • By Ollie Olson
Canada --  Bravo on the story "Mayhem on the Mountain" in the November/December 2007 issue of Torch (page 16). Not only was the story well-written and entertaining, but it has a great message about being prepared and not getting complacent or over-confident even if you think you are an expert at the particular activity in which you are participating.

I appreciate David Haydter stepping forward and sharing his story. It's stories like these, where many mistakes were made by the supposed experts, that make the rest  of us do self checks. I know it made me reflect on the things that I do that I take for granted or get complacent on just because I've grown comfortable with my own expertise. Even the experts need to take time to do a little risk management.

Of course, I do have to say, even though the mountain climbing foursome made some mistakes, you had to be impressed by their ability to call on their survival skills and dig out a snow cave that sheltered them from the blizzard and freezing temperatures throughout the night. That was at least one thing they did right, and I'm sure they have their Air Force training to thank.