Here's a story about a couple of bikers (mother and son) who got lost in a local city park - the best part is about the two cops who came to the resuce and got lost with them.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=860201

Paul -

Poor guys, especially the cops. Lost in a city park is going to be tough to live down -- although the reality is that there are plenty of wild places that are within a city's limits.

HJ

In the parties' defenses it is a 2000 Acre park - not like the two basket ball courts and swimming pool across the street from my house. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon_Hills_Regional_Park

That said, if I were a taxpayer in the area I'd be fairly upset they used a helicopter! At at least hundreds of dollars an hour to operate I would have preferred they called the cop that was with them, asked if anyone was hurt or cold and if the answer to both was "no" told them to hunker down and figure it out at sunrise! That'd teach 'em, and if someone had a lighter or some matches it might even be fun!

Wow. Really? They should all be smacked upside the head with the Common Sense Stick.

Um. It's a CITY. Find some lights, or the glow from them. walk towards them. read street signs upon exit.

I mean, yeah, 2000 acres is big. Central park is 840ish acres, so it's not THAT much bigger.

Yeah.... I sort of thought they were clueless and I also wonder how one cop found a way out and the others were still lost - shouldn't you stick together? As for the helicopter, the state patrol is the only agency around that has one so maybe they were up for something anyway and could swing by - otherwise it would always be a good exercise for them so I am not as worried about taxpayer dollars on that count.

If I had been one of the cops going in I would have ensured I had a way to find my way back out - if nothing else use a cell phone GPS or take a compass with when going in. The trails are twisty and the place is 'big' but it still strikes me as unreasonable that it got this far.

The other point is that it can happen to anyone and anywhere. The 'lost' cops will get a real ribbing and I'm sure they will find maps, toy compass key chains and other "helpful" items in their car and/or lockers for some time to come. I also will bet that dispatch will ask them a lot about their 10-20 (location) to snickers over the radio for some time as well. Good thing is everyone came out ok and hopefully learned something.

Paul -

On the face of it, it seems silly, but looking at the satellite view via Google Maps, it could have been a little trickier than first thought. The block of area between roads is about one mile by three miles, and filled with lakes. Presumably, the trails meander between the lakes and ponds.

They probably weren't prepared mentally to stay overnight, and weren't prepared at all for the mosquitoes.

The bill was probably much less than the one for those three guys in the Superstitions.

Sue

nice park,i've been thru the lakes in my canoe.the bike trails are narrow and it's sort of feature less,brush and woods that all looks the same with no real natural markers.it got a lot of play on the local TV.i think the cops problem was "no sweat i'll just dash in and get them" without thinking about marking a trail out in the dark.but who am i too say,i get lost in downtown.

Those cops will never hear the end of it. The court jesters will be working overtime. Bet they've already been "issued" with useful items by their comrades ... a bag of police-issue breadcrumbs ... a sign that says "my name if Jim, I'm lost, please call my mommy" ... etc. etc.

2000 acres is a bit more than three square miles. Can you get turned around in three square miles? Sure. If it's night, with dense bush, lakes and creeks to dodge, and no visible navigation points (cell towers or buildings).

But perhaps the helicopter callout was a bit over the top.

There's an area used for survival training just outside our Rocky Mountain parks. Dense brush, boreal forest, lots of bogs/small lakes. Perfect place to get turned around if you're not paying attention. When the air force reserves lost a couple of new guys on a pace-and-compass exercise, did they call in a full-scale air search? Heck no. They just leaned on the horn of their transport, a six-wheel truck, at regular intervals. That gave the guys a sound beacon to home in on, and they made it out in a couple of hours.

I'm not surprised as I have come across lots of city folks who are actually surprised that it gets dark when the big round fireball in the sky drops below the ground.

Funny story though. Was the chopper for the lost mother and son or for two of Eagans finest?

Now just waiting for a Bear Grylls episode Man v Recreational Park featuring Lebanon Hills Regional Park..

"Now just waiting for a Bear Grylls episode Man v Recreational Park featuring Lebanon Hills Regional Park.."

You're vicious.

First the park, then the Superstitions. Unescorted. Might take care of that Bear guy...

Sue