It's gratifying when a lost hiker search is successful, especially when the hiker did his part after losing his way.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009366390_hiker22m.html

Everybody misses switchbacks; not everybody is unlucky enought to do so in persistent fog.

Cheers,

Rick

p.s. Don't read the article comments unless you have a strong stomach.

The comments require a cast iron stomach!

The guy actually did everything right--when he got lost in the whiteout, he stopped, pitched camp and stayed put until it cleared. He also was well-prepared.

Weird that someone who does everything right from a SAR point of view would get criticized so violently by the public.

Yahoo!, on the other hand, is running a story about a 9 year old in Utah that survived a night in the woods because he watches "Man Vs. Wild" religiously. He tore his poncho into ribbons despite rain, to leave a trail while he followed water sources hoping to find someone. Who wants to bet there's nothing but praise about "survival instincts" with this story??

(For the record, I'm glad that BOTH hikers are safe, and I certainly don't mean to insinuate that the child should be criticized in any way for doing what he thought was the right hting to do.)

I saw the yahoo article with the boy as well. Something tells me that he would have been found sooner if he stayed put and kept his poncho in one piece, and if he kept his backpack with him. There is nothing like bad advice to get you killed. I am glad it turned out good in the end.

Too bad this hiker isn't a Man vs. Wild fan also. He would've avoided the costly SAR and been back in a comfy hotel that night had he just started running, sliding, scree skating, and randomly jumping down the mountain to a lower elevation.

I maybe spoke too soon (based on a Washington Trails Association writeup). Here is a first person account.

At least he did stop and stay put until it cleared, but he evidently wasn't that well prepared.

Thanks for the link - that was a well done thread. Very awesome!

Found it on NWHikers.net.