DawnM Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I HATE hearing stories like this! I know they can happen through church trips or school trips, so I know this isn't a boyscout thing, but it is just horrible. http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/concord-boy-scout-falls-death-saturday-stone-mount/nSJJN/ Prayers for his family and friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKidAcademy Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 How awful! Is it any wonder I have panic attacks when DS goes away without me??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I think that sometimes we forget how dangerous national and state parks etc. can be - that they really are wild areas. We've had a number of hikers die lately on trails where we've hiked before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujsky Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 How horrible and tragic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 I fully GET it! I pray and pray and can't sleep at night. When at all possible, DH goes too. I sleep better when he is with them! Dawn How awful! Is it any wonder I have panic attacks when DS goes away without me??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 :crying: How horrible. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 This makes my skin crawl. My ds is a scout. How sad. :sad: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKidAcademy Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I fully GET it! I pray and pray and can't sleep at night. When at all possible, DH goes too. I sleep better when he is with them! Dawn I tell myself that the anxiety and panicking doesn't keep him any safer, but still..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbabe Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 This is my worst nightmare. I hate sending my boys to scout camps or youth activities. His poor family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 How tragic. How's it relevant to the incident that he was removed from his family and was in foster care? I wonder if there's more to the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 Who knows. Maybe because the mom stated that the last couple of years have been tough with him going into Foster care, but that it doesn't compare to this. The author also stated his name was Chris Overcash but then refers to him as "Cash" in the next paragraph! :glare: How tragic. How's it relevant to the incident that he was removed from his family and was in foster care? I wonder if there's more to the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Who knows. Maybe because the mom stated that the last couple of years have been tough with him going into Foster care, but that it doesn't compare to this. The author also stated his name was Chris Overcash but then refers to him as "Cash" in the next paragraph! :glare: I assumed that was what the mother called him (a nickname,) because he is referred to as Chris in the rest of the article. I agree. I think the foster care information was included because that's what the mother shared about him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKidAcademy Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 The article was poorly written, for sure. My heart is hurting for his mom today (and all those who cared about him). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jentancalann Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I think that sometimes we forget how dangerous national and state parks etc. can be - that they really are wild areas. We've had a number of hikers die lately on trails where we've hiked before. I agree, but this is why it is so important to follow park rules. Stone Mtn trails are clearly marked. Just because they were a scout group shouldn't give them permission to go off trail. We have been up dozens of times with babies in strollers, moby wraps, as well as with preschoolers. It is safe if you stay within the trail lines. So sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 That's my worst nightmare both as a parent and a den leader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 This is very tragic, and I know the mom is in a lot of pain, but I think she's wrong to criticize the Scout leaders. Christopher wandered off 100 feet from the rest of the troop. That really isn't all that far, and we aren't told how long he was gone. For all anyone knew, he might have been taking a bathroom break or something -- though probably he should have told someone he was going. Scout leaders are volunteer positions, and they do their best, but they can't babysit every boy every minute during an outing. If Christopher had stayed with the rest of the troop, he would still be alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Why were they off the marked trails???? Maybe this could have been avoided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teeniebeenie6 Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 This is very tragic, and I know the mom is in a lot of pain, but I think she's wrong to criticize the Scout leaders. Christopher wandered off 100 feet from the rest of the troop. That really isn't all that far, and we aren't told how long he was gone. For all anyone knew, he might have been taking a bathroom break or something -- though probably he should have told someone he was going. Scout leaders are volunteer positions, and they do their best, but they can't babysit every boy every minute during an outing. If Christopher had stayed with the rest of the troop, he would still be alive. I disagree. The article says they were off the unmarked path. They shouldn't have been! He wouldn't have died if they were on a marked path! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyWImom Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 A few years ago, a local boy here did the same thing. The community was really devastated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 She criticized them because Christopher fell to his death 100 feet away from them. I'm just saying that three men can't keep their eyes on every boy at every moment. She didn't mention (in the article) about the unmarked trail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 They say the scouts were hiking off the marked trail in an area that was unwise to be in. What a tragic accident. I'm sure it will come out in the investigation if the whole group off the trail, or just this boy. Either way they will all carry that burden forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 She criticized them because Christopher fell to his death 100 feet away from them. I'm just saying that three men can't keep their eyes on every boy at every moment. She didn't mention (in the article) about the unmarked trail. She didn't mention it, but the article did. When the boy scouts finish their investigation of this incident, I suspect that the fact that they were off of the marked trail will be a key point. The boy scout leaders increased the odds of something terrible happening by going off of the trail. I'm sure they are distraught at what happened but were some bad decisions there that contributed to the accident, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 That is like a bad dream. How horrible :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 This is very tragic, and I know the mom is in a lot of pain, but I think she's wrong to criticize the Scout leaders. Christopher wandered off 100 feet from the rest of the troop. That really isn't all that far, and we aren't told how long he was gone. For all anyone knew, he might have been taking a bathroom break or something -- though probably he should have told someone he was going. Scout leaders are volunteer positions, and they do their best, but they can't babysit every boy every minute during an outing. If Christopher had stayed with the rest of the troop, he would still be alive. I disagree. They broke three very important rules of scouting. Never hike off marked trails. The group goes only as fast as the slowest member. There is always supposed to be a leader bringing up the rear to make sure that no scouts get left behind. This is why I made my husband go on outings when I did not feel confident in the leadership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 This happened in the town right next to us. A boy in our Scout troop knew him. This is just a little too close to home! Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommybee Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Tragic. I loved our first scoutmater's approach. He had strict safety rules - 1. hiking boots req'd..and he'd check to make sure they still had sufficient tread 2. meds had to be taken if the child was impulsive and supposed to be taking meds (unbeleivable number of parents will take their child off the meds for the weekend and send them on hiking/backpacking trips where the plunge is 1000 ft) 3. scouts that were mature enough only. Just wanted to mention that hiking boots aren't always the best way to go. My son just did a 60 mile backpack trip through Yosemite that they trained a year for and none of them used hiking boots. It can be better to use more flexible foot wear that is lighter weight and can help you adjust to different terrain. So sad! Like everyone said, don't go off trail and always have people bringing up the rear. My scouts hike so much and I am always worried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommybee Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I disagree. They broke three very important rules of scouting. Never hike off marked trails. The group goes only as fast as the slowest member. There is always supposed to be a leader bringing up the rear to make sure that no scouts get left behind. This is why I made my husband go on outings when I did not feel confident in the leadership. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 OMG! How terrible! How does a 16 year old fall off a mountain??? How scary and sad for that family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 that totally hits home as my guy got home yesterday from a scout climbing weekend. :crying::crying: That poor family, and that poor young man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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