<iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/25366549#25366549" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> Nightly News on the Hikers

I've seen this survival technique listed as a way to stop panic if lost - singing or whistling. I and my two other 13 year old friends went backpacking for 10 days in the American River Canyon. What were our parents thinking? We were all fairly experienced in the wild but... K.O. and I went off for a day hike leaving Chris behind to fish at the lake we were camping near. We only took a bit of water and some food with us, no map, no compass, no nothing. Canyons are potentially dangerous places to hike. They are littered with dry river beds and once you get off trail, each river bed and small hill all end up looking alike. It was summer of 1975, not a particularly hot day but dry enough for us to start panicking about water, rattlesnakes, buzzards over head following us and also putting our friend left behind in danger. I led K.O. and I for 8 hours in a huge loop that took us back to the beginning of our trail, we were 3 days into our 10 day trip. Instincts took over my radar and something else had us whistling for a good 6 hours of that “trip”. Knowing where the sun was at all times also was a huge help.

The 11 hikers in the Sierra’s were at 9000 feet. California still has snow at that level and this week has been weather challenged. They will find themselves safely home.

Survival Girl: <a href="http://www.quakedog.com/survivalkits">http://www.quakedog.com/survivalkits</a>