I was just reading this article about two local hikers who got lost on a day hike on Mt. Baldy. Everything started out so innocently, as these things always do.

There's this one scene that the reporter describes that sent a chill down my spine. It was pitch dark that night. One of them had a headlamp but when she turned it on, the batteries immediately died. So they kept hiking in the darkness and to keep from walking off a cliff, they would toss pebbles in front of them as they walked. At one point, they toss a pebble in front and there's no sound. So they turn around and head back but suddenly tossing a pebble in that direction also results in silence. Uh oh...

Fortunately, they're both fine. There are a series of points in their ordeal where they might have done something differently, such as being off-trail when they first spot fog, when the guy injures himself, when they realize their only light source is useless at night, etc. As an educational exercise, putting yourself in these same decision points, with exactly the same gear (or lack of), would you have done things differently and if so, what would you have done at those decision points?

I would've stopped hiking with enough daylight left to build a fire and/or shelter. Moving around in the dark on the edge of a canyon is unwise. At least he acted a bit more intelligent on the second day.

It's articles like this that affirm my preparedness skills and my EDC. Could I still get into trouble? Absolutely. Do I take every pre-caution that I should? No. But I never take nature or my skills for granted.

No kidding- I'd rather risk exposure than finding the rim. If I was that badly blacked out, I'd just sit down and wait for dawn. You can do a lot about being cold- you can't do much about gravity.

1) not leave at such a late hour.
2) stay on a clear trail.
3) heed my sixth sense and hunker down when the fog hit.
4) when it gets dark, not moving around without any kind of light.

If I remember properly (and it's been a while since I did Baldy), the last 1/2 mile or so is almost a "spine" as you hike - very narrow, and rather steep. Narrow, as in a few feet across, with steep sides. Think of walking along a knife edge, where the cutting portion is about 4-6 feet wide.

Then again, it could be one of other summits in that range - I haven't been to Baldy in about 15 years.

Anyway, yeah, I can see them getting onto a ledge what's surrounded by very steep drop offs.

You'd think they'd have enough light bouncing out from metro L.A.

You're right, it gets narrow and steep. That's whats tricky about the Baldy area. Fun, easily accessible hike but easy to get into trouble if you're not careful. And especially this time of year the weather can change in minutes. Sounds like they got too comfortable.

It seemed to me they forgot to apply STOP (stop, think, observe, plan). It could have ended very badly.

I've read many such "day hike gone wrong" stories here and in other places to have decided that there is no such thing as a "day hike." There are only over night hikes that don't last that long.

I think most of us would agree that on a casual "day hike" you still need to be prepared to spend at least one night in cold and wet conditions, maybe more. Three days?

LOL Yeah, my GF thinks I'm nuts when we go on a 5 mile hike and I'm carrying a 15# bag. Granted, the bag itself is probably 3# of that, and I'm carrying her water too.

I carry, routinely, 2 qt water, 10 essentials, 1 MRE, a few power bars, FAK, PSK, and usually a HeatSheet Bivy on day hikes. Add in usually some sort of insulating shirt or jacket. That's for "good" weather hikes. If it's winter, I'll add an Esbit stove, and usually a second space blanket. Of course, that's in addition to whatever clothes I feel appropriate for the day. I might add a pair of wool glove liners and an extra pair of socks depending on the terrain.

So, yes, I think it's safe to say your idea of "overnight hikes that don't last long" is right on!

More and more "day" hikers are needing rescue. Maybe time for some classes and a sign at the trail head about prep. dangers and equipment.


The interesting thing here how any number of small things would have helped them -- stick to the trail, turn-around sooner, gps, 2x aa batteries....