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Unexpected/unplanned overnighters.
Posted: Dec 23 2003 4:18 pm
by Abe
After reading Pete's post on what the Four Peaks taught him, I wondered if there are other HAZ'ers who may have experienced similar situations anywhere in their life. With New Years just around the corner, maybe, it is time to pause and reflect how fun hiking is. But remind ourselves how dangerous it can be as well. Share the experience.
Posted: Dec 23 2003 6:23 pm
by Daryl
I've seen a lot of people do the wrong things and usually not make it. Bring plenty of water and be prepared for just about anything. Knowing what to do is more important then having the right stuff with you, but having the right stuff helps. As Pete said, keeping calm and thinking straight is the key.
Personally I haven't gotten lost or ran into any unexpected circustances yet. I've been caught in bad storms and I've hiked in the dark when it wasn't planned, but nothing monumental. When I have made stupid mistakes, thus far I have been lucky.
Posted: Dec 23 2003 8:24 pm
by RedRoxx44
Several years ago I was caught in Paria narrows after exiting Buckskin by a 3 foot flash flood that quickly became 5 feet plus. I had about 15 seconds to get up on a ledge or be under. I was able to climb out and bivy overnite, then hike out the next day so I would not be the subject of a SAR. The rangers were concerned as I was parked in the day lot overnight and was the only one in Buckskin the day before ( yes with a good weather forecast), not accounted for. This storm caused the death of a young man in Zion NP, he was swept off one of the steep trails.
My last trip to utah spent a miserable night under a tarp in a raging thunderstorm with black sky and lightning; hiked out in wet Bentonite clay, was so tired I couldn't see straight and had left my topo, I was doing an off trail route so had no hope of anyone finding me soon, and of course I was soloing the route. Water was potholes only, so if I was way off course coulda been a bad one. My memory served my well on this one, out of dozens of canyons I came out of the right one to my Jeep.
My hats' off to Pete and to everyone else on that hike; a tough experience which turned out well.