#282781 - 11/21/16 06:34 AM
Day hike becomes 5 day desert trek
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Enthusiast
Registered: 11/29/09
Posts: 258
Loc: Southern California
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A local (Southern California) story with a happy ending, at least. A couple took a day hike for photos in the desert, got lost, and hiked for 5 days with no food and little water, eventually finding other humans to recontact civilization. Lots of search activity in the meantime w/o success. The couple saw helicopters, but could not attract their attention. Some of the information posted in the media and other sources:
Edited by rafowell (11/21/16 06:36 AM) Edit Reason: title was cut off
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#282783 - 11/21/16 06:58 PM
Re: Day hike becomes 5 day desert trek
[Re: Bingley]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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It would doubtless be more accurate to headline "They survived in spite of drinking their own urine." While I would rather drink my own than yours (or anyone else's, for that matter) drinking urine is a losing game - processing the included salts will spell bad news for your kidneys. Better to pee into a solar still arrangement if you are desperate.
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#282784 - 11/21/16 09:26 PM
Re: Day hike becomes 5 day desert trek
[Re: rafowell]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 2574
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My theory of S&R is that day hikers - and spur of the moment hikers-- are in a more serious situation than when a backpacker gets lost...
Also:
- leave your itinerary with a trusted source - carry extra water, compass, jackets, etc. ( google " the ten essentials" for a variety of lists of gear.) - most smart phones have some sort of gps function. All GPS have this function - A 'signal mirror' is cheap; I pay between $2.50 and $10 per unit. And you can learn to use one in 5 minutes.
Edited by TeacherRO (11/21/16 09:35 PM)
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#282792 - 11/22/16 04:12 AM
Re: Day hike becomes 5 day desert trek
[Re: TeacherRO]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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You have a point in that a backpacker will generally have more gear than a day hiker but I feel that the most important element is the knowledge and capabilities of the persons involved. While gear and equipment is important, knowledge is even more significant in keeping out of trouble.
I am reminded of one rescue operation where a group of backpackers was going out in the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson. It started to snow, which upset them greatly, since they started to travel faster, even discarding some of their gear. Eventually one of the group was injured, they were immobilized, and it was time for our group to take the field.
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#282811 - 11/26/16 11:10 AM
Re: Day hike becomes 5 day desert trek
[Re: rafowell]
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Stranger
Registered: 10/18/16
Posts: 2
Loc: Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Never give up, there always have a second chance to make your dreams true.
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#283342 - 01/14/17 06:35 PM
Re: Day hike becomes 5 day desert trek
[Re: rafowell]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 2574
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Also, its the desert. use all 3 liters of space in your hydration bladder.
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#283348 - 01/15/17 08:02 AM
Re: Day hike becomes 5 day desert trek
[Re: TeacherRO]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
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Having to survive, lost in the desert, sounds like pure horror to me. Right up there with being lost at sea or stranded on the Artic ice. I would probably take the desert over these other two, but not by much.
I would take extra, extra precautions and preparation before venturing out into the desert these days. I've only hiked there once or twice in my life, many decades ago, before I knew enough to give it proper respect.
As I hike in the mountain area where I live (day hikes only these days, I don't backpack any more), I am constantly looking around thinking, "What would I do if something happened to me right here?" Other than being stuck on the spot due to injury, I can almost always come up with some plan to find shelter and usually water within a few hundred yards. As long as I'm below timberline. It gets hostile really fast once you don't have trees around anymore. But the forested areas give me a feeling of security. I would miss that greatly hiking in the desert. I try to do this type of mental planning when driving through desert areas. I pretend I'm actually hiking there instead of driving. The end result: I usually conclude that I'd probably die.
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#283353 - 01/15/17 02:25 PM
Re: Day hike becomes 5 day desert trek
[Re: rafowell]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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You will find yourself in familiar territory at the Grand Canyon, especially the north Rim. Bear in mind that GC is a US National Park wherein joy and happiness reign supreme. Dying within the boundaries of a National Park is a capital offense (strictly enforced). Pain and suffering are against policy..
The popular notion of Arizona is that of a parched wasteland, but that is only partially true of the lowest portion of the state. The rims of the Grand Canyon are quite high, and therefore reasonably cool. Flagstaff, elevation 7,000 feet+, will feel right at home.
The natives are friendly, or, at least, have been, up until now...
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