Hiker missing for almost month found in New Mexico | Seattle Times Newspaper

Posted on May 18, 2012 by lostandfound

Outdoors | Hiker missing for almost month found in New Mexico | Seattle Times Newspaper. I have a new tag: pet helpers. This woman had a cat with her who  “never left her side”. In a followup story, the cat was doing very well for itself, catching food on its own. I wouldn’t doubt that having a companion, even a cat, can give you a little extra confidence and reason to survive.

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Into the wild with a dog at your side | Outdoors | The Seattle Times

Posted on May 18, 2012 by lostandfound

Into the wild with a dog at your side | Outdoors | The Seattle Times. I am an advocate of dog trips. My breed is a 65 pound mutt and large enough to handle rough terrain. I have often wondered what would happen if I were injured with only the dog as a companion. I doubt he would become a “Lassie” (television hero dog archtype from 1960s), but most likely would stay with me whatever happened. Dogs are warm on a cold night and they are guaranteed to get between you and a predator.

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Search find overdue hiker in Olympic National Park | Local News | The Seattle Times

Posted on May 18, 2012 by lostandfound

Search find overdue hiker in Olympic National Park | Local News | The Seattle Times. In May, the snowpack can be unconsolidated, making travel difficult and dangerous because it is easy for a hiker to “punch through” the snow to a hollow air space. Sometimes called postholing, this is tiring and hazardous. A second problem at this time of year is that summer-time trails can be buried in snow and are therefore difficult to find and follow. The third and most important issue was the decision to “loop back to the trail head via a shortcut”. Loop trips are fun because you are new terrain the entire journey and can save time and energy depending on where you are. However, if conditions are difficult, it is often best to return via the route already taken. There are several advantages, most importantly that you are aware of the hazards and can follow your own tracks through the snow. Fortunately, Snider was fine and lucky to have had mild weather during his trip.

Posted in 2012, News Story | Tagged , | Leave a comment

17 struck by lightning on Grand Teton, WY

Posted on March 19, 2011 by lostandfound

Nation & World | Grand Teton search for climber resumes at daybreak | Seattle Times Newspaper. The story begins with the search for one guy who fell, but the real story is that everyone on the mountain needs to get rescued after lightning strikes! 17 people. Bad luck or bad decision? The mountain’s fault or the climber’s fault? For what is the climber responsible? There is nothing more common than summer lighting in the Tetons (WY). Were there no warning signs at all? I doubt it. Environmental hazards ARE a basic element in all outings.  The old school way of thinking is to call this sort of thing an “objective hazard”, independent of the climber. It’s a bad way of thinking about it. Makes it seem like a lottery, sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t. Outdoor adventurers who subject themselves to too many supposedly random risks don’t last long. A big wave at high tide, avalanches, lightning strikes, rock fall, sleet, high wind…. Learn the risks of the environment you are etering and then you can manage them. Remember, “there are no old bold climbers.”

Posted in 2010, News Story | Tagged , | 21 Comments

Mount Rainier climber on 500th climb to summit

Posted on March 19, 2011 by lostandfound

Local News | Mount Rainier climber going for 500th summit | Seattle Times Newspaper. There is no absolute challenge in climbing Mt. Rainier. For some, it is a once in a lifetime event. For others it is as commonplace as a trip to the local park. To me this demonstrates that there are now objective hazards that are universally dangerous to climbers and hikers. If climbing is your life, then one climb or any little part of it is as natural as breathing and sleeping. Hooray for the humans. They do the most incredible things.

Posted in 2010, News Story | Tagged , | 7 Comments

UK hiker lost in Australian mountains

Posted on March 18, 2011 by lostandfound

Lost British Hiker admits mistakes. Classic told no-one, unprepared and bad decisions. Best part is his dad’s reaction.

Dad angry at UK hiker lost in Australian mountains found alive . The kid got out. What did the dad say? He was angry … “all because he goes out on a walk without his mobile phone. The only teenager in the world who goes on a 10-mile (16-kilometer) hike and leaves his mobile phone behind.” So what dad. What if he didn’t have a mobile phone at all? What if he had taken it and there was no signal, the battery died, he smashed it accidentally, he dropped it in the water,… or whatever. THE PHONE WAS NOT THE PROBLEM.

Posted in 2009, News Story | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Hikers in NH must be prepared _ or pay for rescue

Posted on March 18, 2011 by lostandfound

Nation & World | Hikers in NH must be prepared _ or pay for rescue | Seattle Times Newspaper. Who pays for rescue? New Hampshire moves responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the hiker, especially those who “act irresponsibly”.

Posted in 2009, News Story | Tagged | 4 Comments

WA: 9 hikers rescued off ledge on Mount Index

Posted on March 18, 2011 by lostandfound

Local News | 9 hikers rescued off ledge on Mount Index | Seattle Times Newspaper. I love this story. The groups made great decision, stayed together and came home safely. If they had not had the cel-phone, we would never have known about it. They would have eventually showed up. Extra tired, and later for work, but oh well. Two quotes say EVERYTHING:

“We were able to build a good fire, stay warm and dry and huddle together. We were never worried they wouldn’t find us.”

“It was a good experience for all of us, something you can’t get when you’re trying to be safe on the sofa.”

Posted in 2010, News Story | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Lost Ohio hiker in Maine should have stayed on paths

Posted on March 18, 2011 by lostandfound

Nation & World | Lost Ohio hiker in Maine learned to stay on paths | Seattle Times Newspaper. Bad decisions have a nasty way of adding up to real trouble. Fortunately, this guy had a couple of tricks up his sleeve and never became hypothermic enough to actually make things too much worse. It all started with the shortcut. Not being willing to do what had to be done: spend more time and energy on the well used route to get to the fastest and safest way off the mountain. 80% of Mt. Katahdin fatalities begin with the hiker leaving the trail.

Posted in 2010, News Story | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Maine triples conserved acreage

Posted on March 18, 2011 by lostandfound

Outdoors | Outdoors delight: Maine triples conserved acreage | Seattle Times Newspaper.  It is called “Vacation land” and has some fine wilderness. The Allagash river was an early canoe expedition for me and Mt. Katahdin served up the coldest ice-climbing I have every undertaken. There is a lot to do!

Posted in 2010, News Story | Tagged | 26 Comments