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."