Mountain Sense

The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change. Carl Rogers

I was out on a training day today with a volunteer group I belong to, and there was a lot of talk about making various pieces of equipment mandatory. Things like helmets, one certain (very expensive) brand of avalanche transceiver, airbags, GPS units. The striking thing about the group was that fully 30% were wearing their avalanche beacons on the outside of their clothing and had various pieces of equipment, including all important safety equipment such as shovels and probes, loosely attached to the outsides of their packs. Most had inefficient travel techniques, were not in good physical condition and seemed to have little idea where we were or where we were going.

My observations were that most people in the group lacked "mountain sense." Mountain sense is hard to define, but comprises among a host of technical skills, situational awareness and the ability to apply the right technique at the right time and in the right place.

While experience is a necessary ingredient for the developing mountain sense, experience alone is insufficient. In order for experience to lead to mountain sense, you must critically evaluate your experience. A tough thing for most of us, admitting, as we surely must, that there are many areas for improvement.

No amount of equipment, no matter how expensive or technologically advanced, can take the place of knowing exactly what needs to be done, when and performing proficiently. 

Easy ice to down-climb but with this group, 

setting up a rappel anchor was most appropriate