Nice Article(Cautionary Tale) on Lost Hiker
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I just happened on this article on the front page of the SF Chronicle last Sunday.? A paper copy, of all things, as I was checking out of a hotel.? I couldn't remember the last time I read a paper newspaper.
In any case it's a lengthy deep dive into the story of a man lost on Boundary Peak in Nevada(just barely east of CA).? It's a heart warming story, with a, thankfully, good ending.? However, my reason for posting, besides it being a good read, is there are some lessons to be learned from his misfortune.? I'm sure he would readily admit to these and maybe other mistakes.
It may not be available for everyone as it's behind their paywall so a quick synopsis.
An older(57) solo hiker on a day hike, finds himself struggling to reach the summit, but carries on.? He slips off the faint trail on the way down and gets lost.? It takes 4 days for him to be found and at that point he figured he was going to die there.
A few things, as a similarly aged solo hiker, occured to me as things to learn.? One, is to know your limits and not proceed further if your gut tells you to turn around.? As a private pilot I? know that one really well, but as a hiker I might find myself violating it and submitting to "get- there-itis".? Another is, even on a day hike, a PLB, such as Spot or InReach, is invaluable.? I know people complain about the annual fee, but when you are lost or hurt by yourself on the mountain, how much would you pay?? He likely would have been found on the first or second day if he had had one.
In this case I'm not sure how much it would have helped, but a paper map and compass along with knowing how to use them is a good idea.? Relying on the phone GPS and downloaded map alone, when going off trail or on a faint trail isn't.? He may have been better able to return to the trail and trailhead with a map.? ?Especially when his phone battery died.
Again, I'm not being too critical of this hiker, as I have done pretty much everything he did, but without any adverse consequences. It just goes to show you how quickly and easily things can go south.
Curt
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