Oh I know, and I would do the same, but who wants to be the one that slows a stranger down, ya know? I didn't mean to imply i thought the hiking community would just watch and giggle while I bleed to death or drag myself across the dirt. I just would hate to be alone and have to be a burden on a stranger if something happened. Chances are, nothing would happen anyway, but I always look at worst case and try to prepare for that. I am sure most people would be wonderful and help me if needed, but in their heads they would be saying "I would be all the way to Grafton Notch by now if I hadn't been stopped by the fat lady with the broken ankle. She should have been better prepared. Stupid newbies ought to train more before taking something like this on. etc etc. Even if they never said it out loud, and many would say it out loud. Who wants to be that lady?