DECEPTIVE MARKETING?
The 28-Day Standard Field Course is the oldest and most popular course BOSS offers. It has been designed over the last 37 years to test a student ? physically, mentally and emotionally ? and to provide him or her with an extended traditional living experience.
Was there a transistion from an "extended traditional living experience" to a "survival" course? And what's traditional about hiking in the desert in 100* temps without water. Any traditional (native) person would call you a stupid white person. The transition is to experiencing the environment as is without modern tools/gadgets as is requested/desired by those signing up for the course that clearly describes this.
IMPACT-A fast-moving, minimal-equipment hike through the desert. No food and water except what you find. No blankets or ponchos until Group Ex.
It was his second day, so he must have still been on Impact. No food/water the first two days. Might they save that for after the person is acclimated? After they have built up to eating less? When it's not 100+ degees? And WHERE do they "find" water except at the drops?
Having done the 2 week version of the course, you spend almost 2-days before you go out getting acclimated and learning some basic skills. They also give you specific information on how many calories to expect to consume through every phase of the course. Prior to arriving they send a recommended preparation plan which includes cutting back on the food you consume. The instructors have a route that has known water sources along the way. Keep in mind that they hiked 4-miles in 10-hours -- they weren't overly exerting. When I did the course, it was very dry as well and when a normally good water source was found dry, there was a planned back up water drop, just in case of this situation.
Found this in the Risk section:
There's also an added element of risk to BOSS Field Courses ? Impact. As far as we know, there is no other program which will purposely put you in a position where you must hike under adverse conditions (hot, bright days or cold, dark nights) with little or no food and water. And this is done during the first few days of the course ? when we really don't know that much about you or your physical fitness. On the contrary, prior to arriving a full physical is required and after arriving, a brief fitness test is given to determine how you are re-acting to the altitude and heat.
Let's take a look at the realities of Impact:
Now, with little more than a 1.5 mile test run, we gear up and head off for a desert hike. No food, no water except that which we come across. Your clothing is limited to what's on your body ? no blanket, no poncho, nothing really substantial. The goal is to live in the moment with a group of strangers, exploring the wilderness and what it has to offer.
Of course, some responses to Impact are expected. Nausea, light-headedness, aches, pains, hunger, cramps, thirst, etc. are all common responses to not having food or water while hiking. But these symptoms can be reduced through proper preparation before the course and managed with proper feedback during the course. Again, the most significant risk and the greatest unknown on the trail is you. Tell us about yourself and how you're doing on a course, and a lot of the risks of Impact can be eliminated.
With feedback lots of the risks can be eliminated? So, why was he denied water? Who is reponsible for dx'ing dehydration/ heat exhaustion? Is there a sure-fire field test?
No, there is not a 'sure-fire' field test. Every instructor is Wilderness First Responder certified and also is taught signs and symptoms to watch for based on many years of experience. Instructors spend their first year and sometimes more as an apprentice learning these things. Everyone in a course such as this is going to be dehydrated to some degree. The instructors have to evaluate the situation based on a lot of things -- experience and training be the most important. BOSS has been doing these course for 37 years and this is the first time they've had a death. I think their track record speaks for itself -- they try very hard to facilitate a safe experience but it is what it is -- a wilderness desert survival situation that people want to experience and choose to do.
