What went wrong???
Recently there was an event near to Ways Of The Wild Institute that brought me to right this short blog. I will be keeping names and exact locations out for the privacy of those involved.
A young man who was local to Vermont went for a winter hike in his homeland mountains. This was an individual who traveled to many areas of the world, hiked through many areas of this country and in many varying terrains and seasons. Very fit and sports oriented he is said to have had a solid constitution. Also spending a good deal of time in the outdoors he is said to have had a good deal of “survival” techniques and awareness. All in all the information shows a physically well conditioned young man who was fairly well versed in the ways of the outdoors.
His said intention was to go for a hike of about a dozen miles on a well known but primitive trail in one day’s time. His journey was supposed to end with the meeting of family/friends. I myself have been on that trail many times and know the land quite well.
Come days end the young man did not show up at his predetermined destination. It is said that his family/friends contacted authorities reporting his delayed return. Reports tell that the search and rescue did not begin looking until the next day when they found his expired body a few miles back the trail. Reports are still not clear whether or not he died from exposure from a broken leg or hypothermia followed by dementia. Either way information leads to the cause of death being exposure. The “whys” are yet to be determined.
Now this kind of thing happens all over the world on a regular basis. So why am I writing about this one? The reason I was drawn to write about this particular case is because things do not add up. I have been doing what I do for a long time and have seen many things under many extreme circumstances. Let us look at facts we know:
- · A fit young man
- · A known itinerary
- · A known local trail
- · A knowledgeable hiker
- · Quick emergency contact soon after he did not make his end time
What makes me question this case as it is being told is that no experienced, well versed individual in the outdoors goes for a 12 mile hike alone in winter without bringing proper survival gear. They also would be aware enough not to allow themselves to go into a hypothermic state. Anyone hiking in those conditions, who knows what they are doing knows to keep themselves dry and warm always. This is especially important when you stop moving. If you are getting back in the mountains and you feel yourself getting too fatigued you stop and get yourself warm and fed. Then you call it a day and turn around because to go further would strain your found limits and place you in danger. Long detailed explanation cut very short; someone with a good deal of practical outdoor travel and survival experience would know and prepare for all of this.
Now let us look after the fact. This young man did not return on scheduled time. The family did the right thing by calling the emergency squad. The question is why did the search and rescue wait until the next day to go looking for him? It is January in the Vermont Mountains which means the nights are brutal. If someone is lost and or injured their survival percentile dramatically decreases over the course of the night. You do not wait until the next day to go looking unless you want to find a dead body. This is a simple fact. The trail is well laid out and there are no environmental conditions there that would prevent a night search. I have been on that trail at night many times in all seasons. Search and rescue know this, so why did they choose to wait? The call went in saying this young man may be in trouble. A brutal winter night quickly approached. This was not a gamble of an experienced outdoorsman late on a balmy summer evening, but a young man late from a long hike on a fast approaching January night. Waiting is simply gambling with his life. Chances that he was dead before nightfall seem very slim with the information being relayed. His death most certainly came in the night. Therefore a night rescue could have saved his life. This is especially the case since he was found on the trail. In this specific area where this event took place there really is no cell phone coverage and so a phone would do no good.
Maybe he broke his leg and is prevented him from going anywhere. OK, this could be a possibility. I am not special but I know what it is to be deep in the wilderness in winter with a serious physical calamity. I once fell through ice into a river 8 miles back in the Colorado wilderness just before dark and had to walk out without literally freezing to death. I had my shoulder dislocated and had to make my way out. I had two broken ribs and a shattered big toe and had to make my way out. How did I do it? With my skills and mental fortitude. Anyone who is said to be an experienced outdoorsman with honed survival skills has a chance if injury takes them. I am not saying that skills guarantee you anything, but they can greatly assist you. If anything they can buy you time. In this case that is what I am getting at. The individual was a few miles back where they found him. If he was still heading in when/if he broke his leg it probably would have been late morning. Given that he was on or near the trail and knew people were going to be expecting him at a certain time, why would he waste energy trying to drag himself out? Why not save energy and use survival tools he should (or might) have brought to keep himself warm? Why did nobody who was waiting for him seek somebody who would go out to find him that night? If it were my friend or family member I would have gathered my gear and went out looking. True, if he broke his leg he would have most likely gone into shock. This can do all sorts of things to the mind.
It is not hard to track people in the winter. I have done it many times. Even those who have minor tracking skills can be quite successful.
I am not trying to place blame anywhere. Truly I am not. I am simply confused by the details being presented because they do not add up. True I am highly experienced at this kind of thing and so would not think twice about heading up the night trail to look for a missing person of that day. But so is the search and rescue squads. They have that title and with it comes a huge responsibility. But so does every person who sets foot in the wilderness, especially in the middle of a Vermont winter, alone.
My point is that this is a case where many things seemed to have gone wrong and many things could have been done differently. These are basic things as well and so hindsight should have nothing to do with it. Every time you get a missing persons call in winter from the wilderness you are gambling with a life every minute wasted. And if you are the hiker who journeys into the winter mountains alone you had better know exactly what you are doing and fully prepare.
4 Responses to “ What went wrong??? ”
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January 22nd, 2012 at 8:47 am
Man that’s terrible… Over here if you call the emergency services claiming someone is missing they won’t do ANYTHING until 24 hours have past!?!?!?! It’s absolutely ridiculous. Atleast the family know that they did the right thing and made the call. As for the young man, may he rest in peace. Wulamallessin to all his Family & Friends.
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:01 am
The paper says state police found the body and not search and rescue. Why would state police be dispatched and not search and rescue? Was search and rescue also dispatched and did they actually find the body but since the police were there they got credit?
Again, something that really makes no sense.
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:33 am
Very odd.
January 22nd, 2012 at 3:12 pm
odd indeed…….