Chapter 11 Workshop: Mist Ridge* It is approximately 9 a.m. on August 23, and you and four friends are about to set off on an all day hike in the mountains of Southwestern Alberta. Having driven south- west from Calgary, Alberta, you have arrived at Kanan askis Provincial Park, located on the boundary between British Columbia and Alberta. Just off Highway 40, you turn into the Mist Creek day use arca and have just parked the car. You can see a sign indicating the beginning of the Mist Ridge trail, which you have selected for your hike, but you know that from there on the trail proceeds along unmarked paths and logging roads. You can also see another sign that allows campfires only in designated rest arcas. Since it is mid-week, few others should be on the Mist Ridge trail. You and your friends are looking for ward to an enjoyable day walking the long grass and rock ridge as it is usually dry and sunny at this time of the year, when a mere few kilometres away across the valley Mist Mountain can be covered in rain clouds. Hiking from the parking lot to the ridge, then along the whole top of the ridge to Rickert's Pass, then returning at ground level alongside the Mist Creek is, at minimum, an eight hour trip. In guidebooks it is classified as a long day hike covering a distance of 23 kilometres with a height gain of 808 metres and a maximum elevation of 2515 metres. The weather at the moment is cool but not cold, and the sun is beaming down, beginning to hear the air. In general, the climate of Southwestern Alberta is cold continental, having long cold winters and cool summers, though summers do have brief hot spells. Annual pre- cipitation peaks in the summer and thunderstorms occur regularly. Hikers at this time of year must be prepared for rain or cold weather. Snow has been known to fall by the middle of August in this area, with accumulations on the ground of up to 20 centimetres. Also, the weather can be somewhat changeable and unpredictable. What starts out as a warm, sunny morning could easily change into a cold, snowy afternoon. Therefore, experienced hikers will make sure that they have adequate reserve clothing for the rain or snow that could develop. It is also known that temperatures are expected to be cooler at the top of the ridge, as temperatures decrease, in general, 2 degrees Celsius for every 300 metres of altitude. There are a few dangers to watch out for during your hike. If you get soaked crossing a river, loss of body heat may result in hypothermia, even when temperatures are above freezing. Death from hypothermia is quite possible within a few hours of the first symptoms if proper care is not taken. On the other hand, the exertions of walking and climbing will probably cause you to sweat. Dehy- dration can increase your chance of sunstroke and hypo thermia. In terms of animals, you may encounter a bear looking for berries. While bear attacks on humans are not common, they are not unusual either. It is also possible that elk or moose may be encountered. These large plant caters are not usually dangerous to humans, but should be avoided during the mating season. There are also some insects to be considered. Ticks can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which can be fatal if left untreated. Bees can also be dangerous if the person stung has a strong allergic reaction. You are all currently dressed in warm clothes including wool socks and sturdy hiking boots, and each person has a day pack in which to carry those items that you deem necessary. Part I: Individual Decision There are 15 items listed below. Before you set out on your hike your task is to rank these items according to their general importance for a hiker, not for you specifi- cally. Rank the items from 1, the most important, to 15, the least important. No ties are allowed. You might want to consider "If a hiker was allowed to take only one item, what would it be? That item would be ranked number 1. Then, "If a hiker was allowed only one more item, what would it be? That item would rank number 2. Write your rankings in the column below titled "Your Ranking. It is important to remember that the decisions that you are making are for your group as a whole and should not be influenced by factors affecting you as an individual. Part I: Group Decision Now form into groups. Take a few minutes to examine and discuss your individual assumptions before you begin to discuss how to rank specific items. Use con- structive controversy decision rules to guide your deci- sion method and rank the 15 items again. To refresh Lyour) memory, they are: (1) be critical of ideas, not people; (2) focus on making the best possible decision, not on winning: (3) encourage everyone to participate in the discussion; (4) listen to everyone's ideas, even if you do not agree; (5) restate what someone has said if their point is not clear to you; (6) bring out the ideas and facts supporting both sides of the argument and then try to integrate them; (7) try to understand both sides of the issue under discussion, and (8) change your mind if the Scanned with CamScanner Chapter 11 Workshop: Mist Ridge* It is approximately 9 a.m. on August 23, and you and four friends are about to set off on an all day hike in the mountains of Southwestern Alberta. Having driven south- west from Calgary, Alberta, you have arrived at Kanan askis Provincial Park, located on the boundary between British Columbia and Alberta. Just off Highway 40, you turn into the Mist Creek day use arca and have just parked the car. You can see a sign indicating the beginning of the Mist Ridge trail, which you have selected for your hike, but you know that from there on the trail proceeds along unmarked paths and logging roads. You can also see another sign that allows campfires only in designated rest arcas. Since it is mid-week, few others should be on the Mist Ridge trail. You and your friends are looking for ward to an enjoyable day walking the long grass and rock ridge as it is usually dry and sunny at this time of the year, when a mere few kilometres away across the valley Mist Mountain can be covered in rain clouds. Hiking from the parking lot to the ridge, then along the whole top of the ridge to Rickert's Pass, then returning at ground level alongside the Mist Creek is, at minimum, an eight hour trip. In guidebooks it is classified as a long day hike covering a distance of 23 kilometres with a height gain of 808 metres and a maximum elevation of 2515 metres. The weather at the moment is cool but not cold, and the sun is beaming down, beginning to hear the air. In general, the climate of Southwestern Alberta is cold continental, having long cold winters and cool summers, though summers do have brief hot spells. Annual pre- cipitation peaks in the summer and thunderstorms occur regularly. Hikers at this time of year must be prepared for rain or cold weather. Snow has been known to fall by the middle of August in this area, with accumulations on the ground of up to 20 centimetres. Also, the weather can be somewhat changeable and unpredictable. What starts out as a warm, sunny morning could easily change into a cold, snowy afternoon. Therefore, experienced hikers will make sure that they have adequate reserve clothing for the rain or snow that could develop. It is also known that temperatures are expected to be cooler at the top of the ridge, as temperatures decrease, in general, 2 degrees Celsius for every 300 metres of altitude. There are a few dangers to watch out for during your hike. If you get soaked crossing a river, loss of body heat may result in hypothermia, even when temperatures are above freezing. Death from hypothermia is quite possible within a few hours of the first symptoms if proper care is not taken. On the other hand, the exertions of walking and climbing will probably cause you to sweat. Dehy- dration can increase your chance of sunstroke and hypo thermia. In terms of animals, you may encounter a bear looking for berries. While bear attacks on humans are not common, they are not unusual either. It is also possible that elk or moose may be encountered. These large plant caters are not usually dangerous to humans, but should be avoided during the mating season. There are also some insects to be considered. Ticks can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which can be fatal if left untreated. Bees can also be dangerous if the person stung has a strong allergic reaction. You are all currently dressed in warm clothes including wool socks and sturdy hiking boots, and each person has a day pack in which to carry those items that you deem necessary. Part I: Individual Decision There are 15 items listed below. Before you set out on your hike your task is to rank these items according to their general importance for a hiker, not for you specifi- cally. Rank the items from 1, the most important, to 15, the least important. No ties are allowed. You might want to consider "If a hiker was allowed to take only one item, what would it be? That item would be ranked number 1. Then, "If a hiker was allowed only one more item, what would it be? That item would rank number 2. Write your rankings in the column below titled "Your Ranking. It is important to remember that the decisions that you are making are for your group as a whole and should not be influenced by factors affecting you as an individual. Part I: Group Decision Now form into groups. Take a few minutes to examine and discuss your individual assumptions before you begin to discuss how to rank specific items. Use con- structive controversy decision rules to guide your deci- sion method and rank the 15 items again. To refresh Lyour) memory, they are: (1) be critical of ideas, not people; (2) focus on making the best possible decision, not on winning: (3) encourage everyone to participate in the discussion; (4) listen to everyone's ideas, even if you do not agree; (5) restate what someone has said if their point is not clear to you; (6) bring out the ideas and facts supporting both sides of the argument and then try to integrate them; (7) try to understand both sides of the issue under discussion, and (8) change your mind if the Scanned with CamScanner