HikeArizona.COM

June 3, 2015
PHOENIX -- A 58-year-old Tucson hiker was rescued early Tuesday after getting lost near the Arizona Trail and surviving three to four 100-plus degree days without food and water.

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Possibly up on Polles or Whiterock Mesas? That's a part of the world that can be unrelentingly hot. Glad to hear he was rescued.

3 or 4 days in those conditions at 58yrs old? Amazing!

@The N
Wait a minute---I'm 58 years old! Hopefully I would survive, glad he was rescued.

@RedRoxx44 I think theres a few 58-year olds (or more) that would have a better chance than most 28-year olds! I think your experience definitely puts you in that category!

@RedRoxx44
Let's face it, the average American at 58 yrs old wouldn't last the first night, that's why my reaction. Sure, there are plenty of 28 yr olds that wouldn't make it much longer. Chumley with the sneak diss

Eh, he's just trying to make an old lady feel better--

RedRoxx44 wrote:Eh, he's just trying to make an old lady feel better--

I think I've only met you in person once (maybe twice?) The term old lady would never have crossed my mind. How's that for making you feel better!

Old guys rule

Not everyone can keep their head in these situations. Glad he is OK.

Was that caption-less photo in the story of the hiker? I wonder, had he not had that shade, assuming that was him and he had shade, would he have survived? Also, he was prepared for a 10 day outing, I wonder what happened that caused things to go so poorly?

Glad this ended well. Most folks don't understand how heat and dehydration affect thought processes. You don't think straight! Until you have been in these dire straights you have no idea how disoriented you can be (don't ask me how I know ). Bad decisions lead to more bad decisions. And when you are alone there is no one to set you straight and slap you into reality. Looks like he went through more food quicker than he had planned. OK that can happen. But it also looks like he missed some water refill points. You miss water, you don't keep charging on - unless you are 100% certain that you can reach your next water in time. Call it off and Live to hike another day. Looks like he had a check in routine with loved ones and when he missed some check ins they called the authorities . That is what he did right. I'm sure he will be back to finish these sections and to finish the AZT.

I think the shade was provided by rescue personnel while they waited for a second helicopter. More details at http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2015/ ... ear-death/

What I find confusing is that he was apparently without water for three days, but only texted his wife the morning before rescue.

w h a wrote:What I find confusing is that he was apparently without water for three days, but only texted his wife the morning before rescue.

He is young and immature and thought he could work his way through this. A very common response among young hikers. who don't realize how heat and dehydration affect mental processes. But he did a lot of things properly and will live to hike another day.

The other thing, back when I was young and doing strenuous hikes, I never let my wife know how much life insurance I had. I wanted to make sure that she called SAR instead of wanting to collect the insurance. And I let my friends know not to let my wife sell my gear for what I told her I had paid for it

58 is young and immature?

Jim_H wrote:58 is young and immature?

From my perspective it is. Wish I was still 58. I've known some folks in their 70's who were still young, immature and downright stupid. Young and immature ain't necessarily chronological. It ain't the years. it's the miles. That's why folks like RedRoxx are wise beyond their years.

In the famous words of John Wayne in Sands of Iwo Jima: "Life's tough, but it's a lot tougher when you're stupid"

I'm not going to call anybody young and immature based on some relative half truths in two newspaper articles. There are sure to be details we don't know about and I'm personally going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Not to say he didn't make a poor decision or two along the line to end up in that situation, but that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with maturity.

He obviously made one excellent decision, and that was to call his wife and report his situation.

w h a wrote:What I find confusing is that he was apparently without water for three days, but only texted his wife the morning before rescue.

Maybe that was when he finally reached a place with good signal.

Anyway, I'm glad they got him and hope he doesn't suffer any long term effects.

chumley wrote:I'm not going to call anybody young and immature based on some relative half truths in two newspaper articles. There are sure to be details we don't know about and I'm personally going to give him the benefit of the doubt..

You are right. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. From my perspective you are still young, but wise beyond your years.

chumley wrote:Not to say he didn't make a poor decision or two along the line to end up in that situation, but that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with maturity. ..

Agreed. Until you have been in Arizona a while and seen what heat and dehydration do to you, you are bound to make bad decisions. I know exactly where I cramp up behind my left knee when I am dehydrated and low on electrolytes. My body has always told me when I was messed up, I just had to learn to listen to it! And to learn what to do to get home safe and sound.

chumley wrote:He obviously made one excellent decision, and that was to call his wife and report his situation.

AMEN. I love Cody Lundin's Survival guide. Looks like this hiker left his gear where it could be seen while he went down into the canyon looking for water and then got back up out of the canyon to where he could be seen to be rescued. It is actually better to be lying prone instead of standing and waving when the Dustoff is coming.

@chumley

Possibly up on Polles or Whiterock Mesas

If Whiterock Mesa, one has to believe they found him down in the Gorge, only canyon with the kind of drop they mentioned in the second article. Its a shame cool area and there was most likely water. Something tells me he wont share the same fondness I had for the area though...