Re: Dirty Harry--"A man's gotta know his limitations...."
- From: eugene@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Eugene Miya)
- Date: 21 May 2007 17:16:17 -0800
The question of "realistic" depends in part on what you're measuring.I am not clear measurement is the right idea. I think you are looking
for a different word. I think the word you mean is "what's the
objective?"
In article <46518b7a$0$9287$88260bb3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Jon <jonmein@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
Objective is probably better choice.
The perfection of means and the confusion of aims seems to be our problem.
--A. Einstein
The elevation of ends and the simplification of means is the goal.
--Thoreau
One presumes this survival course
featured some training and some testing. I haven't read the report.
What objective was served by not carrying water after found? Surely
a sound survival course wouldn't train people *not to collect* a scare
resource once they locate a source... Was the objective to increase
stress during the practical test?
Well the macho, hard man goal seen by many (not unique to the outdoors)
is to tough out and adapt.
The climbing example was John Salathe and Allen Steck (who both lived to
be old guys) when they did climbs in Yosemite for 5 days on 1 pint of
water per day. That's why these guys were call Hard-men. Others wilted
away and you never heard of them. They went above and beyond.
There was also Hermann Buhl holding snow balls in his hands during
winter for long periods of time (he was poor and could not afford mitts).
It's seen as "Salvation through suffering." I'm not condoning this; I'm
merely pointing out a long history in our culture which goes back to
Calvanism and Protestantism, etc. And some guys eat this stuff up.
If you have a device or material that you want to "test", but it is too
valuable (intrinsic or by scarity) to test destructively, then your testing
procedures must have adequate feedback, controls and safety margins.
That's a possibility.
Did this survival course have these? Does having these alter the reason
people might take the course (machismo)? Maybe safety aspect of this
course was entirely prudent and reasonable and it was simply this client's
"time to go".
Well, you can second guess a lot.
It could be like a breathe holding contest.
People have some incredibly competitive views.
Novices tend to have a considerably less practiced
eye than experienced people.
Which is why often the best way to learn is to apprentice.
Internships are comparatively expensive. A mentor is a fine amazing
thing to have if you can find one.
There ultimately comes the time in every pilot's life when they solo.
Even OB and NOLS do this.
In the case of pilots (doing it by the book), they solo only after they have
a number of hours training, written testing and logged required direct
observation. And commercial pilots commonly have periodic retraining
and observed reviews to retain certification.
True. Novice outdoors people have a fair amount to learn and there is
no certification much less consistency. Most of what you do is routine.
Most of what pilots and climbers do is practice for emergencies (which
I've found most eager idealistic backpackers have no interest).
[...] Few would undertake to "swim the channel" without significantEvery body cites gradual progressions: graduate length method (GLM) for
prior training and experience.
skiing,
The Channel has other problems beside floating and forward motion.
Channel swimming is an iconic benchmark.
Well it could be Bryan Allen (who used to lurk) pedalling the Gossamer
Albatross over the Channel. I went by the airport yesterday where he
flew the G. Condor.
"[There] is little to gain -and much to lose - by doing battle
with the Tides [...]
That could be Mallory saying that.
Adequate and appropriate nourishment is vital [...]
[There] are ferries, hovercraft, sea cats, and jetfoils [...]
There are hazards such as jellyfish, seaweed, flotsam
and jetsam. [...]
[There] is an element of luck involved "
-- http://www.hughtucker.co.za/challenge.htm
I'd rather not have to count on luck.
--
.
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