What would you do? (Hillwalking question)

[summerdays]

To be fair to them, that's probably the most honest answer given, it's very easy to tick a box saying one would help on the internet yet in reality most people don't hence this thread.....
and as mentioned earlier they didn't ask for help and to all intents and purposes they might have looked to have had the situation under control...

I've asked people before now if they need help and asked small kids where their Mum is when they appear to be on their own. I admit it's easier as a female, where kids are involved.

 

[classic33]

I've asked people before now if they need help and asked small kids where their Mum is when they appear to be on their own. I admit it's easier as a female, where kids are involved.

@Spinney's a kid!

 

[summerdays]

You like living dangerously!

 

[AlanTh]

Well Spinney, all that I can say is that the actions (or lack of) of those guys wild camping was disgraceful.

No "true" walker would ever allow an injured person to go past them without offering all of the help and assistance that they could.

I can only assume that those guys weren't "proper" walkers, and were just urban scrotes, going to have a jolly up in the outdoors.

I'm very pleased to hear that you both ended up ok.

 

[Spinney]

Clearly those guys should have asked you if you needed any help, but is there an unwritten rule of hillwalking that says you can't ask for help if you need it? Glad your friend is OK Spinney.

??
Of course not. We were managing, but that wasn't really the point. It would have made things a little easier at that point, but not so much that unwilling help was needed.

 

[Spinney]

I think that's the same one that I was panicking on, crawled up at the top and refused to go back down the same way!!
I don't like being able to see a big drop through my legs!

I'm not known for tolerating steepness and large drops, but I'd been down that way before and don't remember it being that unpleasant. It wasn't the steepness as such that was the problem, it was the scree. Ironically, most of the path down into the valley has been 'made' (i.e. stone slabs and steps), it's just the nasty bit at the top that hasn't.

 

[AlanTh]

Clearly those guys should have asked you if you needed any help, but is there an unwritten rule of hillwalking that says you can't ask for help if you need it? Glad your friend is OK Spinney.

Where have you heard about this rule?

I have never heard about it after 30 years of walking in Snowdonia, Lakes, Brecon Beacons, Peak Dist etc .......

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

If I was one of the people walking up the hill I would ask if I could help out.
If I was one of the people walking down the hill I'd ask if those walking up could offer assistance and explain the situation.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

You do know what a question mark means don't you?

How do you know he's called Mark?

 

[AlanTh]

You do know what a question mark means don't you?

Yep.

... and to answer your question, there is no rule, written or unwritten .....

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Irrespective of "rules", people need to take responsibility for themselves if they think they could do with some help and to make sure that others are ok if it appears they may be in trouble.

 

[AlanTh]

Irrespective of "rules", people need to take responsibility for themselves if they think they could do with some help and to make sure that others are ok if it appears they may be in trouble.

..... it should also be obvious that two women coming down off a mountain (one carrying two packs) that there might be a problem. One woman is obviously hurt...

I would never wait for them ask for help. I would offer it.

 

[AlanTh]

Whenever we take ourselves up mountains, we all take responsibility for ourselves. We equip ourselves properly. But accidents happen.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

..... it should also be obvious that two women coming down off a mountain (one carrying two packs) that there might be a problem. One woman is obviously hurt...

I would never wait for them ask for help. I would offer it.

True, but if no help is forthcoming, and there is a feeling that it is required (which I don't think the OP thinks there was, so I'm not quite sure her point is) then some degree of ownership is required.

I've never walked a hill or climbed a mountain in my life. It all seems a bit too much like an effort.

 

[TVC]

Irrespective of "rules", people need to take responsibility for themselves if they think they could do with some help and to make sure that others are ok if it appears they may be in trouble.

The trouble with taking responsibility for yourself is that in times of stress it is possible to suffer from perceptual narrowing, and be so focussed on the problem and your decided solution that you actually miss or ignore obvious sources of support and other solutions.
So never assume someone is OK just because they don't ask for help.