Yikes. Almost 100lbs of gear each, no water filtration, and more. Please take more care out there, hikers!
Leaving your shoes outside the tent? I wouldn’t do that on a dry summer day.
Yes, definitely a rookie mistake. I’m sure they were tired, and just didn’t give it a second thought. Hopefully they’ve learned some valuable lessons about backpacking, and will take a lot more care if they ever decide there will be a “next time.”
My day pack is 15lbs. with a 6-pack in it and I am loaded for about whatever. I’m shocked they made it over 2-miles toting 100lbs. each!
They were clearly woefully unprepared for an actual backpacking trip. It’s no big deal to learn from one’s mistakes, of course. I’m just glad this misadventure didn’t turn deadly…
I do hope they are invoiced for rescue efforts and receive large punitive fines. Fucking morons.