Hiker recalls harrowing days lost in Baxter State

An experienced hiker was rescued after a 3 day search in the Maine woods (Baxter Park). The link below gives a brief description of the hikers mental state and his experience.

I have done S&R in these woods. He is very lucky his knee did not give out on him. Locating someone in this very rough country with its dense tree cover is next to impossible.


http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/144979.html

Nomad..Now at "home" in Maine for the summer.

Thank you for posting this. An instructive account. The hiker seems plenty hard on himself. Fractured kneecap -- youch!

Kudos to the SAR folks who saved him.

An orange poncho enabled SAR to finally see him. I wonder exactly what orange poncho it is. I carry an AMK heat sheet or bag. The bugs might have driven me insane.

"Hays had a compass, a good flashlight, lots of clothes, food and water, a first aid kit and a pocket knife, but no flint stone, matches, bug repellent or detailed trail map. He thought that his cell phone would get a signal when the park has little coverage and he left his GPS system in his car, he said."

I'd like to know more about this check-in system, too.

"He also praised Baxter State Park’s visitor check-in system, saying it was the best he has ever seen."

so he's "experienced" hiker? I think he's got a pretty high opinion of himself.
no whistle (would help when he could hear barking dogs),
no map or GPS and decided to go off trail,
no matches (that shivering at night sure was some experience),
no bug repellent (that is one mistake you never make again if you ever hike in a wet forest even once)

Injury has always been one of my biggest concerns when day hiking. If you’re out of cell range or just in a spotty area, a person could be in for at the minimum a night out there, even if you’ve taken all other precautions like leaving detailed plans of where your headed and expected back.

I’ve always beefed up my small FAK’s that I carry day hiking with additional blood stopping padding and either an ace bandage, roll of vet wrap or both and a sam splint. In the summer and fall I include a bug head net and a few of the bug wipes. And I always carry the AMK heat sheet and/or heavier sportsman blanket that's red on one side and reflective on the other and usually carry both, as well as good rain wear, extra socks, gloves and hat at a minimum and usually a fleece sweater. I dislike both cold and wet!

Along with no fire kit, it doesn’t sound like he had any signaling capabilities in his pack either.

Glad they found him in time, while unfortunate for him being out there that long...a good lesson in always being prepared with basic survival supplies and never veering off marked trails.

"Experienced" was the reporter's word, not the hiker's.

He was an experienced hiker, who made some mistakes for which he castigates himself.

“I was cursing myself for doing stupid things,” he said.

He wasn't fully prepared for overnighting, especially with a broken kneecap -- which he suffered after going off trail.

He's now an experienced lucky hiker who appreciates that it's better to be a fully prepared hiker who stays on the marked trails. There's also much to be said for not hiking solo (and certainly not going off-trail solo).

How many people on ETS actually hike in the mountains?

While matches and a whistle should be no-brainers because they are so light and useful, it is a tough call sometimes on how much stuff to carry on a day hike. Fortunately, he had a stream to stay hydrated. The most water I've ever carried on a day hike is one gallon.

Good point Dagny, I'm pretty darn careful anymore where I go and how far out when alone. In my younger years I did some competitive trial riding and probably ventured out a little further than I should have solo on some of my conditioning rides. Never got into a problem but age and a little wisdom does give me more reason to stop and think before getting too far out on foot or even on horseback.

Dagny, thanks for summarizing exactly what I was going to say, only you phrase it much better

Thanks for posting the link, it is very rare to see such detailed interviews and summary of exactly what that person went through during their SAR ordeal.

I've joined this community because I love to do what that guy did, and I want to learn as much as possible about how I can prepare against being so severely in trouble as he did. Although my pack in fact would have carried those items mising from his pack I by no means consider myself experienced - there's always so much more to learn, skills to master, areas and conditions unfamiliar to me...

Reading stories like his: What he did, and how his predicament could be lessened or avoided through preparations or an improved decision making, is something I never grow tired of.

Great post, thanks. Plenty of lessons to be learned from this one.

Here is one of my favourite mountain walks with some areas shown which are quite good for remote camping such as Loch Esk (a good youtube video describing the route from one of my old postgraduate Professors)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw0O_P3l4Bk

What I don't really get about the story is actually the story itself. Twisted ankles and broken legs and folks getting caught out by the weather etc are pretty run of the mill and rarely get reported in the UK except for when large groups of walkers, hikers or mountaineers get killed. There was for example in the video above, where the group were having a tea break before descending into Glen Doll down Jocks road, where half a dozen walkers perished back in 1959 during a mid winter walk.

The media like to exaggerate the dangers of the wilderness for some reason. It makes good copy for the air chair pundits and viewers who can pontificate and smugly say 'what a stupid fellow for going into the wilderness in the first place, there are even bears out there ready to chew your head off, I saw it on the Discovery channel'.

Slipping and falling can happen virtually anywhere (how many folks were killed or seriously injured fixing the suburban household TV antenna for the digital switchover have never been reported). The news media aren't interested in this type of story because it lacks that certain macho 'Bear Grylls' appeal.

I agree with MostlyHarmless - its rare to see first hand accounts from survivors detailing what they did, didn't do - thumbs up that a. he survived and b. admitted the mistakes he made and c. he gives major props to SAR and the park system. Hey, if he didn't make any mistakes, likely no story. We need to minimize mistakes, but sometimes stuff happens - then we find out if your mistakes are really critical or if you are prepared and supplied enough to innovate and overcome.

One nit - always carry the essentials, including fire source and whistle. No excuses for not carrying on dayhikes. I carry at least two - one on a string around my neck, one in a pocket of my napsack. If I forget to put the string around my neck at the car or trailhead, I still have the spare. And I don't strip down my napsack to tailor it to the day's hike - same essentials, every hike. Sometimes more, but never less than the essentials.

And one plug - PLB. If you asked the hiker if he had one, would he have carried it on this dayhike? Possibly not before, but almost certainly he wouldn't forget one ever again. If he has a PLB when he shatters his kneecap, he could activate it, settle down, and concentrate on keeping warm - probably one long night outdoors. Help is on the way. $300 - is it worth two nights out overnight? 8 oz of peace of mind. If you don't have one, buy yours today.

Nice video, AFLM.

Looked and sounded so cold I turned down my a/c.

Beautiful country.

Yesterday I was fishing under the chin of the Devils Head with a group of buddies. It was raining hard and the cliffs were very slippery so you had to be careful getting down. We caught about 35 fish (mainly Pollock) between the five of us. But we all remained fairly warm and dry under the Devils Heads chin. So it was a good days fishing.

Even here in a not so remote part of the world, tragedy can strike as shown be the headline on the warning board 'Schoolgirl had no chance of Escape' at 1.05 into the youtube video shown here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMt215YD6TM

The cliffs are also a favorite spot for the local school kids to do their cliff jumping activities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkjDyF1Oss4

Rather them than me is all I can say.

It's an interesting presumption on the part of the forum members that this chap didn't do a risk assessment.

I beg to differ. In fact think that it went something like this:

Map? Don't need. I'm on a trail.

Matches? Same answer.

Bug repellent? Don't need. I'm on a trail and at altitude.

Footwear? Adequate for the trail.

Head torch? Not needed, long days and expect to be back in good time.

Now it had to be said that had he stuck to the trail that assesment would have been completly correct. What he failed to appreciate is that when he chose to leave the trail the risks changed.

Any "experienced" hiker soon realizes how often and easily a hike on a trail can become an off trail excursion. My experience has been that fires are often needed when traveling along a trail. Just because you are on a trail doesn't mean that you won't be delayed.

Not all trails are easy to follow, even in good conditions, and good conditions easily fade away.

You make fires on day hikes?

What an experienced hiker has experienced depends on where they've hiked and in what conditions.

This guy's an east coast hiker. Sounds like he's experienced popular east coast hikes -- trails most likely to be well-marked, well-maintained and relatively heavily travelled.

The Pacific Northwest hiking that I've done has been an altogether different experience from hiking in Virginia. The PNW trails that I've hiked -- though popular by PNW standards and in guide books -- have been in far more remote locations and have a fraction of the foot traffic.

Heck, in the PNW the Forest Service roads to the trailheads require a degree of caution and preparation that is not an issue when the trailheads are on Skyline Drive or the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I do! I've posted my winter kit for the Appalachians on here. I suppose it's time to take some photos of the summer kit.

I also go solo and off-trail, but the latter only in my home territory. I've covered the closest 100 miles of marked trails (mostly the AT) several times in every season, and now I'm tracing out old routes and woods roads, marking new loops and connections for future trail/off-trail combo hike. Injury is my biggest concern. Lovely spouse (tm) always knows where I am, when I plan to be out, and who to call if I'm not.

I'd certainly solo alone in Maine on the AT, but not off. Too much big empty, and I don't know the land.

I've also overnighted (on purpose) with just my daypack gear, which is highly informative. If more people tried that it would not be a struggle to get anyone to carry a sufficient kit.

While, I've never made a fire on any day hike, I'm prepared to make one if ever needed. Here in the PNW, even marked trials can be pretty remote and some are not well maintained and thus do have places where it would be easy enough to fall and suffer an injury. Storms too can cause windfall that requires getting over/around and a fall could easily happen. I've been on trials in the Olympic National Park both on foot and horseback, close in to trail heads, where you can go from relatively bug free to literally swarming with mosquitoes, usually when the trail takes you into a low brush covered wet area. Lots of times those areas are also wet and can be slick in spots even in the summer. So it sure wouldn't be that hard to get into a situation where injury could happen and being prepared to spend the night is a very good idea, even on marked trials and staying well within the parameters of the location that was given to a responsible person in case you don't check in by a given time. Doing everything right you still could spend a night out, even if searchers had your exact location.

I can think of two areas fairly close to me that when you pull into the trail head parking area, different trials take off in several different directions, so even if there are a few cars, it doesn't mean others will necessarily be on the same trial.

Granted carrying a few supplies does add a little weight and bulk but it sure would make a huge comfort difference and maybe a life-saving difference. I always carry a little water even in areas where water sources are plentiful as if I were immobilized I'd have at least something while waiting to be rescued. Having a little would be better than none. Even if you're not cold to the point of getting into a dangerous situation if you're wet cold and miserable it's likely going to impact decision making. Same goes at night without a light source, panic can take over.

The only situation on a day hike where I'd go for the ultra light approach would be if I was with a decent sized group and pretty close in to the trail head. I'd still have some first aid supplies, as well as a few daily carry items, as depending on others to have anything useful can get one in trouble. Almost all of the lighter FAK's suitable for packs are lacking in adequate blood stopping supplies such as pressure pads, non-sticks, etc, so I always add a little to my kits even the AMK's. One little 2 by 2 guaze pad isn't going to do much and if you don't have some non-sticks to put next to the skin first before adding the padding it's going to be really unpleasant when you remove it.

Another thing that I do is look carefully at weather reports always before going out. Just because it's perfect when you set out doesn't mean a storm might not be coming in during the night or the next day. Granted unexpected weather events happen but at least prepare for what is in the forecast as well of knowing what night time temperatures are going to be at the location and elevation.

"Heck, in the PNW the Forest Service roads to the trail heads require a degree of caution and preparation..."

*laughing* Oh, yeah! I was just starting a day hike out of the Government Camp (OR) area and came across two women who hadn't even gotten 300 yards from their car before they were both hurt enough to turn back.

I just don't understand why so many hikers don't carry firemaking materials as a matter of routine. "I don't smoke" is NOT a good answer.

Even if he had a PLB, this guy probably would have left it in his car with the GPS that he did have.

Baxter ain't Ohio, for sure.

Sue
If you survive your bad judgment, it gives you experience; experience may even produce good judgment... eventually.

Pretty much describes my hiking in Shenandoah NP -- at least a couple of peops, sometimes several, never more than a few miles from Skyline Drive or civilization outside the park. Still, am always ready for rain. Our strategy was to get on the trail early and be done before afternoon thunderstorms -- which are a very common occurrence here during summer.

The thick underbrush makes going off those trails entirely unappealing.

Solo hiking never appealed to me and now it would be so wrong because of a bum knee and propensity for twisted ankles. I'd be reduced to crawling if those injuries recurred. Makes me shudder to think about it in Shenandoah, let alone a remote trail elsewhere.

I just watched The Edge the other night with Anthony Hopkins and Alex Baldwin. Want to carry a big 'ol PSK after watching that!

Absolutely! In the old days, as the shadows lengthened and we realized we would be returning to the car after dark, we would often build a campfire, heat a can of chili, and take a meal break. More recently, it has been easier to break out the canister or alcohol stove for a cup of tea or something warm and filling. I always have the means for making fire when out on any frolic in the woods and fields.

Doing SAR in Arizona, I saw first hand how these little short excursions can lengthen. Probably our mos common scenario involved assistance to someone who had planned to be home by dark.

One extreme case was a young woman who was on a picnic in the mountains and walked away to gather firewood. After looking for about an hour, her companions called for assistance. We started searching just at nightfall. The next morning, after walking down a steep canyon nearly all night in storm conditions, we found her some four miles away, fortunately in fairly good condition.

When we did find the young lady, I immediately worked at starting my stove and preparing something hot, while she changed into some dry clothing I was carrying.

If the only conditions a hiker has experienced involve well marked, well maintained, and heavily traveled trails, the person does not meet my definition of "experienced."

One should be careful about throwing around the "e" word, particularly if one is hiking in a different region. Not all of one's experience in dry southwestern condition will apply to the PNW, for instance. Probably it universal that trips may easily take longer than contemplated - anywhere. One should be capable of spending a night out anytime.

Careful dude, you're sounding mighty presumptuous there.

When a dayhiker spends more time on a tough trail than he expects and gets stuck after dark, it can be mighty wise to build a fire and bivy. In fact the fire can be more important for the dayhiker than the overnighter, because the dayhiker won't have the sleeping bag & dedicated shelter than the overnighter most likely has brought.

I regularly hike in this East coast area and I assure you it is no casual stroll like you seem to know from Virginia:

"Hikers should remember that this is a federally designated Wilderness Area. As we learned on our end-to-end trek of the Gorge, trails are not well maintained and are marked only at the trailheads at the top. Even veteran hikers will find that it is very easy to lose the trail. It's no surprise that 45 to 50 hikers per year get lost or injured and have to be rescued by local emergency crews."

Don't globalize your experience to everyone else.

I'm not a dude. And I asked whether he makes fires on day hikes, not day hikes that turn into overnighters.

Well-marked, maintained and well travelled does not equate to casual stroll.

Of course there are poorly marked trails all over the country. You'd equate the trails you refer to as popular?

Usually not, for one or more of the following reasons:

• It takes time away from the other "day hike" stuff, such as actually, you know, hiking. I would not lit a fire on the kind of trip that guy was doing, I would be walking all day.
• We need to get back in time for dinner/bedtime/whatever.
• There are enough fire scars already in the rather heavily used areas we usually visit, and I hesitate to make a new one. (I'll reuse a good camp fire site if I find one, though).
• Too lazy that particular day.

But I have a passionate love for making lunch over a camp fire...

So often when we're hiking its a muggy inferno out. On a cold winter day I'd have a hard time moving away from a warm fire.

Campfire meals are the best. The only campstove I use now is a JetBoil, and that's for quick coffee during car camp trips. Would much rather cook over a fire, or take the little Weber. But campfire cooking is special.

Hikermor's comments were in the context of dealing with the unexpected, not in the context of making fires for the hell of it.



Yep. Its one of the most popular hiking destinations east of the Mississippi. You should try it.

There are several fairly close in loops that I take especially in the winter with my dogs. I often stop half way and fire up my Snow Peak Giga power stove for a nice hot cup of coffee. Love that new starbucks VIA!!!The stove is very light and for day hikes I take a 4oz fuel canister so not much additional weight for a nice coffee break. However, I use the MSR 4 oz fuel canister as it's wider at the base than the 4 oz. snow peak canister, and thus more stability and only a fraction more weight. Go figure that the snow peak giga stove has more stability than the MSR pocket rocket, but just the opposite in the 4oz. canisters both companies offer.

For me carrying the small amount of additional weight from the stove and canister is well worth the savings in time to actually build a fire, wait for it to get ready to heat water over, and then get it safely extinguished before leaving, when day hiking for a few hours especially in the short winter days---time does become an issue as I'd prefer not to be on dark slick trials after dark.

While I always carry fire making supplies for an unexpected emergency over-nighter, for both time restraints and convenience the small stove always wins. Plus, the PNW, in the summer and fall most areas only allow camp fires in the actual designated fire-pits in the camp areas for safety. They really don't want you building a camp fire for heating food or water in many areas that I hike and actually enforce that rule for good reason. Caution is even urged with stoves.

This guy made one mistake. He deliberately went off trail. Everything bad that happened to him stemmed from that one bad decision.

Hopefully others will learn from his bad decision making process.

My guess is he probably was an experienced hiker. He may well have thought that his experience and skills were a good substitute for sound judgment.

No gear in the world can protect you from stupid, although sometimes it can rescue you from it.

I broke my left kneecap when I was 12. I was able to, briefly, limp backwards towards home. Depending on the break, he is in for a long and painful rehab.

You don't have to be far away to be isolated and on your own when things go bad.
This hiker was only a short distance from a trail.

Think for a moment about some of our senior citizens. There are a few I know that would be unable to get up if they fell, and unless they had a telephone in reach they could be stranded helplessly inside their own apartments.
In some cases it might be months before anybody bothered to check on them.

"There are a few I know that would be unable to get up if they fell, and unless they had a telephone in reach..."

That's why, if your family senior only has one phone in the house, it shouldn't be on the wall.

Sue

Injury is always the wild card that nobody can fully prepare for. All we can do is be sure we have enough on hand to get through several days if we have to hunker down.