the separation of hiking parties from each other is one of the leading contributors to tragedy.
That sure seems to be the case. Yeah, I get it that it's a pain for a fast person to walk at a "clipped" pace, but is the risk worth it?
I've seen some groups put the slowest person up front and go from there. Stopping and waiting for everyone at every junction or trail sign was my dad's way of keeping our large family all together, and he would slow down (a lot -- he was pretty fast) in the first place to keep everyone together. Preaching to the choir I'm sure, here.
I hope he's OK, but the fact that he hasn't wandered into someone's camp yet gives me a bad feeling.
