When Good Hikes Go Bad
Art: Meikle
On September 8, 2003, two Park City visitors, a mother and daughter who were both experienced hikers from the Eastern seaboard, headed out for a short day hike in the Uinta Mountains. The pleasant autumn outing soon turned deadly, though, when a sudden winter storm assaulted the unprepared women. Their remains were found the following summer. Almost one year later, on August 20, 2004, a 12-year-old Boy Scout vanished while making a short trek from a pond back to a nearby campsite. Dressed only in sweatpants, hooded sweatshirt and tennis shoes, with no backpack or gear, this young man didn’t have what he needed to survive the brutal elements. His body has yet to be recovered.
Despite all the cautions against playing with matches and fire, in some situations knowing how to start a fire and being prepared to do so can be lifesaving. Had these and other individuals, lost and besieged by bad weather, been able to start a fire, they might have remained alive until rescuers found them. Perhaps the single most important item to take into the woods, even on the shortest trek, is a dependable fire starter kit, waterproof matches or lighter. The next most important item is clarity of mind, born of sensible preparedness.
Some of the Park City area’s most popular scenic trails meander well above 10,000 feet in elevation, where storms can move in quickly and without warning, pelting unwary hikers with freezing rain or snow. Moderate summertime temperatures can suddenly plummet to below freezing. Those who venture into the high mountain wilderness unprepared to deal with such erratic weather changes sometimes pay the highest price for their negligence.
Backpackers generally take along enough supplies to last several days in the wilderness. If they get lost, they are well prepared to tough it out until help arrives. For example, 13-year-old Boy Scout William Dunn was separated from his troop while backpacking in the Uinta Mountains in early August of 2004. He used his supplies and outdoors training to survive for three days in the rugged wilderness until rescuers found him.
Basic Tips for Wilderness Preparedness
1. In addition to taking along a dependable means to start a fire, all hikers should let someone know where they will be hiking and when they are expected back. That way a search party can be deployed as soon as it is ascertained that someone is missing, improving the chances of finding a stray hiker alive.
2. If you become lost while hiking, the best thing for you to do is stay put. Find a good area that provides natural shelter from the elements, or make a crude shelter from pine boughs and branches. Start a fire and keep it going. The fire will keep you warm and dry while providing a signal to rescuers.
3. Experts recommend dressing appropriately, taking along a basic survival kit with fire-staring materials, extra clothing, an emergency whistle, extra food and water, a map and compass or a GPS device every time you venture into the wilderness, even if for only a few hours. It is equally important, though, to learn how to utilize these survival tools before an emergency occurs. Remaining calm in a crisis is a lot easier when one is well-prepared and a clear head can go a long way toward surviving a misadventure in our beautiful mountains.
Your comments may be edited for brevity and foul language.