We recently had some great comments about my post on Derek Mamoyac’s five-day ordeal on Mount Adams in southern Washington. Several people gave great advice on how to hike safely (especially alone).
Now two hikers recently had to spend an unplanned night in Red Buttes Wilderness, which straddles the border of Northern California and southern Oregon. They got a late start and didn’t even come close to making it back to the car by dark. They had no food, no water, no jackets. They did manage to build a fire and drink from a stream. Search and rescue began looking for them and found the pair walking out the next morning. Read more about it in the Mail Tribune.
This is a prime example of the importance of using your head before going on a hike. These young men should have:
- better planned their start time and itenerary;
- had food and water;
- brought warm clothing suitable for the time of year;
- brought a space blanket or tarp for temporary shelter.
Read more about the Red Buttes Wilderness here.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Ugh! Even if I’m only doing a couple miles with the kids, I make sure everyone has water and layered clothes (which I invariably end-up carrying, but that’s okay!). It’s lessons like this that need to instilled at a young age.
Twitter: @TheJohnSoares
Roy, I agree wholeheartedly with the importance of teaching kids how to be smart in the woods.
I learned some good things from my Dad. However, he did some dumb things when he was a younger man. When he was in his thirties (with four kids and a wife), he and my Uncle Bob climbed Mount Shasta in blue jeans and t-shirts. They couldn’t make it down before dark and had to spend the night around 12,000 feet alternating between jumping jacks and hugging each other.
Needless to say, my Mom and Aunt Phyllis were not impressed.
If someone has to stay in the wilderness unexpectedly, Red Buttes is a fine place.
Almost thought I was going to spend the night once. Had two flat tires ten minutes apart, about 19 miles up the road when hiking with a group.
Some rubber from a bungee cord and a tire pump got me out.
MDV ~ Oregon