Passing in the wilderness - great spiritual article

[rightstar76]

This is a new thread. He was with clergy and family when he died. Beautiful article:

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/ar ... 37278.html

If you passed in the wilderness, would you want to be alone or with others?

[giantbrookie]

Thanks for sharing this. It is both moving and sad. I suspect that most folks, regardless of where they pass away, would prefer to have their last moments of self awareness in the presence of family and/or friends.

[Shawn]

Thanks for posting the article Rightstar. I've seen three or four previous media accounts of the incident, all of which were mostly wrong. The author from the Fresno Bee did a really nice job.

As I read thru the beginning of the article, I thought how great the teamwork was of those helping, but the pastor summed it up best:
“Their cooperation, compassion and patient work over those hours was a testimony to me of some of the best of what human beings can do and be for each other”.

Sometimes when accidents occur I'll think, or maybe even say out loud "what are the odds?" Well, for lightning strikes now I know, thanks to the article. "There’s only been 14 other fatalities since 1950." I would have supposed many more than that.

As for having friends or family present, I have mixed feelings. I've been present during the deaths of five or six people in the past, two of which were relatives, I think it bodes better for the survivors not having to endure the long term affects of doing so.

A very sad and tragic event.

[cgundersen]

I'd heard about this tragedy from other folk on the trail, but not in this detail. A compelling story of folk coming together, but not quite having the tools to rescue Nick. Not sure yet how I feel about the core question.............Cameron

[Wandering Daisy]

If you die in the wilderness, you get what is there- I do not think there is much of a choice. The choice is made when you either go off-trail solo where days without seeing anyone is common; or stay on busy trails where there likely will be others, or always hike in groups. If you solo hike, particularly off-trail and have a serious accident you would likely die alone. How we would prefer to die is seldom the way we die, whether it be in the wilderness or in civilization. I am not sure it made any difference to the poor fellow who died, but it probably comforted his family and those around him and it was nice to see how everyone helped out. Still a very sad outcome.

[Jimr]

Alone.
Nobody needs to live with the memory of watching me die.

[rlown]

+1