Earlier this month, I was on a Call of the Wild women’s backpacking trip in arguably the most scenic – and challenging – part of the California Sierra mountains. This world class backpacking vacation attracts women with a spirit for adventure and an attraction to high places. Traveling 10 miles a day (or more) over steep mountain passes requires top physical fitness, as well as a strong mental desire to see it through.

After 6 amazing days on the trail, while climbing up a scenic river canyon, we came across a group of 4 men eager to talk and hear our story about what a group of women were doing in “serious mountain country”. After 15 minutes of friendly conversation, they shared they had left a friend up the trail a ways who didn’t feel well and was having second thoughts on the trip. Should we come across him, “please be sure to point him in the right direction” they asked.

90 minutes later, as we continued our climb, a hiker passed by us who fit the description of the man we had heard about, except traveling in the opposite direction as expected. 60 minutes after that, while we were stopped for water and shade along the trail, this same man walked up to us, and with slurred speech, confessed he was lost and was wondering if he could join us as we head for the pass that leads you out of the mountains and back to your car. It was immediately clear “Stanley” (as we will call him) was in no shape to be left alone, regardless of which direction we were heading. With a nurse, EMT, and 2 first responders on the trip, we immediately began to assess the physical and mental condition of Stanley. Disorientated, exhausted, and likely suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness, we took Stanley with us to camp for the evening.

That night at dinner, the evening’s conversation quickly turned from amazement to anger over the situation. How could this man’s friends have left him in such a condition? They clearly knew he wasn’t well and they had just hoped he would find his way back to the car? Don’t you know you never leave a teammate behind?

The next morning at sunrise we hiked out of the mountains. Food, liquids, and a good night’s sleep helped Stanley make it over the pass and back to the car. This situation only reminds me of the importance of choosing your friends and teammates wisely. Personally or professionally, we all need to have a support network we can count on, in good times, and in bad. Don’t have the network you need? Keep searching. Your life could depend on it.