I found this article interesting. I read it first in the Feb. 2007 Field & Stream (The article in the magazine goes into some more depth).

Some points I thought interesting:

- Sounds like he became lost fairly soon after leaving his vehicle.

- How the quick snowfall (perhaps changing how things looked to him -- if no snow, might he have recognized some landscape features that could have helped him backtrack?) likely made finding his way back difficult.

- Why he chose not to use his rifle or other equipment/skills to provide a meal.

and to me the biggest question of all:

- Why wait until the sixth day to start heading out.

Sounds to me like he is at least a somewhat experienced outdoorsman (probably more so than me).

While I'm sure the situation, conditions (very cold vs. moderate temps; dry vs. rain vs. snow; amount of equipment/supplies on hand; etc.) and each person's abilities will determine when to decide if it is time to not continue waiting for rescue, I can't help but wonder what my decisions would be in a similar situation. I would think that Ceteris paribus -- "all other things being equal" (which they never are), I would at least start moving after three days - slow and steady.

Thoughts?


Buckeye - mourning for those touched by the senseless tragedy in Blacksburg and for those touched by the pain and sorrow that life brings to many everyday .