HYPOTHERMIA, ALTITUDE SICKNESS Wyoming, Tetons Analysis
HYPOTHERMIA, ALTITUDE SICKNESS Wyoming, Tetons On August 12 at 6:30 p.m., I was dispatched to and located Michael W idenbeck (17) at the northw est end of Surprise Lake. H e was in a state of disorientation, hypotherm ia, and suffering from m ountain sickness. W idenbeck had been placed in a sleeping bag, and given two quarts of hot soups and drinks (under su pervision of a present doctor), then was escorted out by m em bers of his group when energy returned. (Source: George M ontopoli, G rand T eton National Park) Analysis This is not technically a m ountaineering accident, but because the victim was part of the Cam p Davis group of 39 students being led by an individual of ques tionable ability from the Universtiy of M ichigan. T he problem s, which could have led to m ore serious accidents, were identified as follows: escorting 39 stu dents to the T eton Glacier during a storm that began at 11 a.m .; students were ill clothed, dressed in jeans and shorts, some without raincoats; lack of ice axes, stu dents were reported to be arresting themselves on the snow with geology ham
mers in dangerous terrain; lack of supervision, hypotherm ic victim had only one pint of water and no food all day, and had given his raincoat to a woman without one; general lack of knowledge concerning the m ountain environm ent. (Source: George M ontopoli, G rand T eton National Park, and J. Williamson)
mers in dangerous terrain; lack of supervision, hypotherm ic victim had only one pint of water and no food all day, and had given his raincoat to a woman without one; general lack of knowledge concerning the m ountain environm ent. (Source: George M ontopoli, G rand T eton National Park, and J. Williamson)
