Bob,
Every winter I save people from themselves. I have people follow me well off the gird and when they catch up, I ask, "Do you know where you are?". The answer is I'm on the trail. The next frequently asked question I ask is to people going up a high angle slope with Microspikes and trekking poles, I'll ask, "If you fall, how are you going to arrest your fall?". The response...I don't fall.
This past weekend a friend was out carrying a pack that included enough stuff to spend a night over 11,000' for a day hike. A woman who was part of a meetup group asked him is he staying out overnight? The answer was no but he followed up the his answer with the question, I notice your pack is so small, if you get hurt or lost at 11,000', will you be able to spend the night at that elevation safely? Her answer was sheepish no.
Many do things they want to do rather than what they are qualified to do. When things go wrong, SAR people are put at risk.
