http://abc7.com/hiker-survives-3-days-without-food-water-in-malibu/3303245/

I don't really think of this park as wild country, although it is relatively undeveloped. The hiker was separated from his backpack when he was injured and travel was hindered.

One story on TV said that he did drink water from sources he found along the way. Survival for 72 hours with no liquid intake would be very problematical.

Gutsy story. Never give up...!!

Thanks. Interesting that everything seems to have been in his backpack. Seems that with his backpack as a starting point, a K9 could have tracked him - maybe not, canine sensors are not magic. How about one of those UAV thingamajigs (that’s a real word btw) with an IR/Thermal sensor - more magic.

A little pocket carry goes a long way. This goes to the EDC is always changing... thread. Going for a walk without my backpack, maybe take some stuff (call it insurance) along just in case. A small knife, a small flashlight, a whistle, a signal mirror, one of those ubiquitous (unless you’re hiking by yourself off trail) cellphones could go a long way to getting yourself out of a self-induced problem.

I wish we had a few more details (which is normally the way it goes). How was he separated from his pack? The standard and excellent advice is to have a small kit on your body in case you lose your pack, but so often people tell me "I'm not gonna lose my pack!" Well, it can happen.

i saw this on the national news and wondered why it was on the national news. it didn't pass my smell test.

local news report:

https://www.theacorn.com/articles/lost-hiker-found-after-three-days/

fell off a 20' cliff while sleeping? seriously? this begs so many questions.

knucklehead in action.

It was bad parenting. He’s a victim of never having been taught to hug a tree and to not roll off a cliff (gravity is working fine in Malibu). For that matter he was never taught to not camp next to a steep drop-off — look for someplace flat(ter). Whatever, it could have been worse, but it shouldn’t have happened at all. Nothing to see here.

Edit: Rather than bad parenting, how about too much time on Faceplant and not a website where he might learn something useful.. like ETS,

I am not a particularly neat person - a colleague once characterized me as a "spreader", but when outdoors I keep my stuff with me because it is pretty critical stuff. I don't understand losing some "belongings" in the first place. What were they? must have been pretty valuable to warrant a return trip, and not very obvious or easy to find. One suspects drug related items...but who knows?

Sleeping next to a cliff is not good idea, obviously, but after screwing up, this guy managed to keep going and get himself out, which is very good.

One thing, the park is very small, less than 9000 acres, and surrounded by urban development, but when your leg is injured, your radius of action shrinks drastically.

Now, now, Russ, not everyone has had the chance to be exposed to the outdoors. Some people are effectively urban survival specialists. By the same token, we can fault many expert woodsmen for not having good urban security habits, not being able to tell a good block from a bad one, not being able to brush off con artists, not sensing which area might be a good place to set up a robbery, not always being on the lookout for criminals illegally carrying firearms and other weapons, etc.

But, then again: "Specialst Mark Stevenson said getting into the wooded area took rescuers two hours to just get into before they could actually conduct a proper search."

Whatever the circumstances, to me, this reinforces the importance of pocket carry. A short walk to gather firewood/shelter building materials or to the river to fetch water could easily separate me from my pack if I had a mechanical injury. One of the first cardinal lessons I learned here at ETS is that in addition to my cel phone, I keep a small knife, fire-making stuff, signaling stuff, and a bandana in my pocket, and add a SOL Heatsheets blanket and some chemical hand warmers in the Winter, Spring and Fall. I wouldn't be comfortable, but I could hopefully make a fire and signal for rescue.

That statement puzzles me, but unless one is very familiar with the circumstances, it is best to let it ride. I wonder what he means by a "proper search"? There are different search modes, all appropriate or not depending on circumstances, terrain, and capability.

As an active SAR volunteer, I have been second guessed by sedentary arm chair experts who did not understand the situation too many times to seriously begin that process now.

Again, the usual news sources raise more questions than answers.

I hear, ya, hikermor. Too many people think that a rescue is an immediate event. There are so many logistics to organize, and the safety of rescuers to consider, and I suspect, simply figuring out where to look would take a while. I have nothing but respect for you SAR guys. I hope never have to meet you when I need you.

Mr. Stevenson made me remember a good friend who fell down a ravine wall a few winters ago while walking her dog in her usual park. (https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/4431656-woman-dog-rescued-after-fall-in-north-ajax/) She and required the SAR ropes team to rescue her. It took hours from the the time she initially made the call phone call for help - a cold, wet, windy night. Even if you know that help is on the way, it could still be a while.

Hey?! An addition to the survival tips thread? "Even if you know that help is on the way, it could still be a while."