So, besides red hair, what lessons can we glean from this?

hiker rescue story.

IMHO, long blonde hair would have worked just as well (my wife is blonde).

Inexperience and lack of preparation - that is what gets people in trouble. Carry a cell phone, especially in an area like that around Santa Barbara, where coverage is pretty decent.It helps to carry the Ten Essentials,including some sort of FAK, but that gets back to the original problem.

In addition to responding to emergencies, my unit carried out a fairly extensive public outreach/education campaign in an attempt to raise awareness

don't jump off rocks.

Basic preps are basic. Seriously, the ability to start a fire may have saved their life, or a cell phone (or PLB), or just telling their mom where they were hiking.

Buddy system for a reason ... sad her friend died.

Bright color played an important role in this lady's survival and that is important because some people claim that one should dress in dull pastels and eschew bright colors in backpack and tents, etc.I have spent far too much time searching for victims wearing faded blue jeans and tan T shirts. I like hot, bright colors. If you dress in subdued shades,at least have something bright that will help get you noticed, to say nothing of a whistle or mirror.

The caption in the picture accompanying the article identified the trail as the Cold Springs Trail. My tattered guide book described this trail as "popular, well maintained" and "moderately easy" (in the lower stretches). Without knowledge, even easy country is hazardous.

Amen to that, Bro!

Picture an early morning briefing at the IncIdent Command Post. The Ops Section Chief is briefing search teams on the mission. "When last seen, the subject was wearing brown Carhart pants, a camo Cabelas jacket, and a camo baseball hat with a Jack Daniels logo on it." At that point a collective sigh is heard from the assembled volunteer SAR personnel.......

Sadly this happens all too often. It's one reason why I avoid the "Tacticool" look.

It's not just to be found more easily by rescue personell. It's also handy to see your buddy in front of you in bad weather (especially when belaying, during climbing). And ever put subdued coloured things down, walked away and then walk back and try to find it? Often you can find them, other moments are like having staring contests with a small patch of ground. It must be here, somewhere....

Very good points! Keeping track of companions is a good reason to wear easily visible colors. This is especially true if you take small children on outdoors trips. Obviously it is good to be able to to see your kids. It is also reassuring to them when they can easily see you.

Regarding gear, we once lost a perfectly good set of trekking poles ( dark colored). My wife had collapsed them to the storage size when we got down onto an easy trail, and was carrying them in her hands. At one of our rest stops at a nice grassy spot we sat down and she laid them on the ground, while we had a snack. When we got up to move on she forgot to pick them up, and we walked several miles before we realized we did't have them. Since then I've marked most dark or small items with bright orange tape or cord etc. It makes it much easier to spot them with a quick scan around the area when you move on.

I left a hiking stick on a trail in the BWCA. It had my address on it, and some good samaritan mailed it to me a few weeks later. The hiking stick was more expensive than my labeler, so that paid for the labeler right there.

I find myself leading groups on short excursions and I have found that people can find me in a crowd much more easily when I wear vivid colors. Of course,I am a shy quiet sort of person, but I will make the sacrifice for the general good (What a guy!)

Excellent points re bright colors. I will admit to a preference for grey, black and muted colors but I when I hike or camp I'm always sure to have some bright stuff along, too. I definitely have learned my lesson when it comes to knives and stuff- bright is better! I have an obnoxious looking ESSE that's green and orange; folks have given me jibes about the knife at home but the first time I lay it down while in the woods they understand! It's hard to lose a Toxic Green and Orange knife! I've been meaning to get on yellow Surefire for just the same reason.