#note/sourcereview/article | #note/sourcereview/book ## What is the thesis? Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites: This book takes place over essentially a three day period where two friends, James Obsorne and Fred Fredrickson, make decisions around a failed attempt to cross the Franconia Ridge in the winter, and the rescue that saves one of them while imperiling several teams. Chronicled elsewhere as well in the [vftt.org blog](https://www.vftt.org/threads/james-osborne-fred-fredrickson-follow-up-story.25156/) ## Am I convinced and why? I found the writing just good enough to keep the story moving forward. Mr. Gagne has done his research. He clearly tells the story with the details required to make it believable. He gets at the base errors, the emotions, the struggles, and the harsh realities of dying on a hike, and rescuing those who have put themselves in danger. ## Summarize the argument While 70 million people live within a day's drive of the Franconia Ridge, and the trail starts from a parking lot off the edge of Rt. 93, and it's only a few miles to the top, it seems accessible in so many ways. However, the unique weather of the ridge and of the high peaks of the Northeast combine with the rugged terrain to make this section of the world uniquely dangerous. ## What is the other side of the argument? Nature does not try to save everyone. Natural selection is a harsh and useful project, to keep our most aware alive. People need to be responsible for their own actions, poor planning, and problems. ## What else do I wonder about? Can I get back into SAR? What would it take for me to join the [Pemi Valley Search And Rescue team](https://pemisar.org)? Dang, I'm about 10 miles from being in the area that I could join. Maybe there's another team? From this list: https://nhoutdoorcouncil.org/support-our-mission/search-rescue-teams/, it looks like only the AMC would have me... Ahhh well, maybe in the future. ## Action Keep on hiking. Finish those winter 4000': [AMC WM4 Winter app.xls](hook://file/o9nWDTd3n?p=TG9uL05vdGVzIGFuZCBMZXR0ZXJz&n=AMC%20WM4%20Winter%20app%2Exls) ## When do I want to stumble across this? #on/wilderness | #on/searchandrescue | #on/decisions ## Source: Gagne, T. (2020). _The Last Traverse_. Tantor Audio.