Thanks for sharing it. Your situation sounds a lot like what I went through on Chicoma Mountain in 2007. What should have been an easy hike turned into an all-nighter because I got panicky and amped on adrenaline.
I've been on both sides: as a member of SAR and as someone needing their assistance. We empathize with those who called us out, but until you have been truly lost yourself, it's difficult to convey what it feels like to be lost, not just off-route.
I learned never to be complacent. It can happen to experienced individuals too.
I don't recall the acronym to self rescue, but the first word was STOP. Stop and think. Stop and ascertain your situation. Stop and ponder. Stop and don't panic.
A hiker acquaintance I once knew actually had the acronym labeled on his gear to remind him to STOP. Panic is the enemy.
As a SAR volunteer, you probably know the full acronym.
Glad you okay Noon! Hiking in foresty areas is a different animal compared to high mountains; there is no visibility. Great story to tell. You have to be nice to SAR now. Boy, Oregon folks busted my nuts when I wrote about not having an ice axe on Mt Hood. You better hope they don't read your report: they'll tell you things. Next time buy a smart phone. Even if you don't get reception you are still able to tell your location and see the roads.
First, they can't always catch a cell tower.
Second, they aren't always charged up.
Thirdly, its common for folks to use the flashlight in the dark and drain the phone battery.
Fourth, they easily break upon falling.
The answer is always having a map/compass which are considered by all experts to be the primary means of navigation. GPS receivers are actually secondary for the same reasons as phones. And knowing where you are at all times via that map and compass.
Finally, retreating the route is the most often recommended action. Not pushing forward into unknown terrain where you might end up cliffed out.
A very rewarding, educational, entertaining book that was written by a retired national park service ranger is the minimum training every high school kid should be given. The soccer and basketball can wait. Training in how to survive outdoors alone is far more important. "Over The Edge: Death in Yosemite" and its companion volume, "Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon." Both are actual case files of fatalities in those public parks and what the victims did wrong. Both are written with each case file in two or three brief but fascinating pages.
By learning what other victims did wrong, you'll be less likely to repeat their mistakes. Like the one case of the fellow and his girlfriend who hiked in Yosemite to view the full moon rise (well, and whatever else they did). But they didn't bring a light of any kind. After dark, while trying to hike down, both fell to their deaths. A simple mistake of not having the 10 essentials.
Most incidents in the wild happen to the day hiker ... because day hikers are the ones usually not expecting trouble and the ones thus without the 10 essentials. Backpackers have their gear and are mentally prepared to be out overnight and thus have fewer emergency incidents.
I'm still old school and rely on a map and compass, these always give you the big picture of the area and using bearings and contours can normally get you back to a known point.
It's the same over the pond with the Mountain Rescue teams, all are volunteers and likeminded to those who get lost or injured in the hills, so they are pleased to turn out and find any lost souls (there for the grace of god etc etc.).
Knowing where one is via a map / compass in hand is the best bet to avoid getting into trouble.
I recently hiked a local park that I used to hike in routinely but hadn't for years. I took a map of the park just to avoid any problems. Turned out, I did indeed have memory loss. The map wasn't needed to save myself ... but it kept me from having to walk extra miles when I reached junctions where I wasn't certain which way to go.
I missed this one. I was up in that area today and managed to get stuck 10 miles out at 4,200'. The van sliding down the slope rim deep. But I got out. hehe
Be a trip report soon.
I just recently told someone that I'd rather sit back against a tree and wait till morning rather than have a noisy helicopter come looking for me and have myself end up on the news as the bonehead who got lost 1 mile from the pavement. She asked if I'd say the same thing given the threat of mountain lions... and I said, "Uh, yes." And, yes, mountain lions are a threat despite the wanna-be experts of our time claiming otherwise. They're not house kitties. And once attacked, a human doesn't often succeed in escape. One man did manage to fight off an attack in WA state a few years ago but only after losing one of his eyes in the fight. And he was using his knife.
Getting lost happens more often than not to the inexperienced in the SF Bay Area. We read of people about once a year doing that. Well, you're more experienced than me. I mean the stories of those who get into similar situations in Annadel Park with the residences of Santa Rosa all around them.
But the cool of night and your lack of water made it important to get out.
I guess you probably take your map / compass / gps / water / light jacket / snack / fully charged phone and probably a emergency satellite transmitter device when you go solo again, eh? :)
Noondueler - Oct 6, 2014 1:07 am - Hasn't voted
Re: SARThanks splattski! Good to hear from you.
surgent - Oct 2, 2014 11:53 pm - Voted 10/10
Great storyThanks for sharing it. Your situation sounds a lot like what I went through on Chicoma Mountain in 2007. What should have been an easy hike turned into an all-nighter because I got panicky and amped on adrenaline.
I've been on both sides: as a member of SAR and as someone needing their assistance. We empathize with those who called us out, but until you have been truly lost yourself, it's difficult to convey what it feels like to be lost, not just off-route.
I learned never to be complacent. It can happen to experienced individuals too.
Noondueler - Oct 6, 2014 1:10 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Great storyThanks surg! Haven't finished your story yet but it's good to hear from someone who has been in such a predicament.
DayHiker2011 - Apr 2, 2016 12:55 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Great storyAmped on adrenaline.
Thats a common refrain while lost.
I don't recall the acronym to self rescue, but the first word was STOP. Stop and think. Stop and ascertain your situation. Stop and ponder. Stop and don't panic.
A hiker acquaintance I once knew actually had the acronym labeled on his gear to remind him to STOP. Panic is the enemy.
As a SAR volunteer, you probably know the full acronym.
Diesel - Oct 5, 2014 7:11 pm - Voted 10/10
Adventure!Glad you okay Noon! Hiking in foresty areas is a different animal compared to high mountains; there is no visibility. Great story to tell. You have to be nice to SAR now. Boy, Oregon folks busted my nuts when I wrote about not having an ice axe on Mt Hood. You better hope they don't read your report: they'll tell you things. Next time buy a smart phone. Even if you don't get reception you are still able to tell your location and see the roads.
Noondueler - Oct 6, 2014 1:06 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Adventure!Thanks Diesel, glad you like it. Yes I will be more prepared in hikes.
DayHiker2011 - Apr 2, 2016 1:03 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Adventure!Actually, phones are not the answer.
First, they can't always catch a cell tower.
Second, they aren't always charged up.
Thirdly, its common for folks to use the flashlight in the dark and drain the phone battery.
Fourth, they easily break upon falling.
The answer is always having a map/compass which are considered by all experts to be the primary means of navigation. GPS receivers are actually secondary for the same reasons as phones. And knowing where you are at all times via that map and compass.
Finally, retreating the route is the most often recommended action. Not pushing forward into unknown terrain where you might end up cliffed out.
A very rewarding, educational, entertaining book that was written by a retired national park service ranger is the minimum training every high school kid should be given. The soccer and basketball can wait. Training in how to survive outdoors alone is far more important. "Over The Edge: Death in Yosemite" and its companion volume, "Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon." Both are actual case files of fatalities in those public parks and what the victims did wrong. Both are written with each case file in two or three brief but fascinating pages.
By learning what other victims did wrong, you'll be less likely to repeat their mistakes. Like the one case of the fellow and his girlfriend who hiked in Yosemite to view the full moon rise (well, and whatever else they did). But they didn't bring a light of any kind. After dark, while trying to hike down, both fell to their deaths. A simple mistake of not having the 10 essentials.
Most incidents in the wild happen to the day hiker ... because day hikers are the ones usually not expecting trouble and the ones thus without the 10 essentials. Backpackers have their gear and are mentally prepared to be out overnight and thus have fewer emergency incidents.
DrJonnie - Oct 6, 2014 6:20 am - Hasn't voted
Navigationglad your trip turned out OK in the end.
I'm still old school and rely on a map and compass, these always give you the big picture of the area and using bearings and contours can normally get you back to a known point.
It's the same over the pond with the Mountain Rescue teams, all are volunteers and likeminded to those who get lost or injured in the hills, so they are pleased to turn out and find any lost souls (there for the grace of god etc etc.).
cheers Johnnie
Noondueler - Oct 7, 2014 3:38 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: NavigationThanks Johnnie.
-Windsor
DayHiker2011 - Apr 2, 2016 1:06 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: NavigationAgreed, DrJonnie:
Knowing where one is via a map / compass in hand is the best bet to avoid getting into trouble.
I recently hiked a local park that I used to hike in routinely but hadn't for years. I took a map of the park just to avoid any problems. Turned out, I did indeed have memory loss. The map wasn't needed to save myself ... but it kept me from having to walk extra miles when I reached junctions where I wasn't certain which way to go.
hightinerary - Oct 6, 2014 7:15 am - Hasn't voted
LemonadeDid you ask if they'd mind waiting a couple hours so you could get a nice sunrise photo?
Noondueler - Mar 13, 2015 3:31 am - Hasn't voted
Re: LemonadeI missed this one. I was up in that area today and managed to get stuck 10 miles out at 4,200'. The van sliding down the slope rim deep. But I got out. hehe
Be a trip report soon.
DayHiker2011 - Apr 2, 2016 1:07 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: LemonadeOr a group photo with Noon in the center and the SAR boys to each side.
hightinerary - Mar 13, 2015 2:33 pm - Hasn't voted
A Refill of LemonadeYour misfortune is our entertainment!
Noondueler - Mar 14, 2015 2:46 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: A Refill of LemonadeMine as well, only after the fact!
DayHiker2011 - Apr 2, 2016 12:50 pm - Voted 10/10
10 Essentials NOTWell, we all make mistakes, eh?
I just recently told someone that I'd rather sit back against a tree and wait till morning rather than have a noisy helicopter come looking for me and have myself end up on the news as the bonehead who got lost 1 mile from the pavement. She asked if I'd say the same thing given the threat of mountain lions... and I said, "Uh, yes." And, yes, mountain lions are a threat despite the wanna-be experts of our time claiming otherwise. They're not house kitties. And once attacked, a human doesn't often succeed in escape. One man did manage to fight off an attack in WA state a few years ago but only after losing one of his eyes in the fight. And he was using his knife.
Getting lost happens more often than not to the inexperienced in the SF Bay Area. We read of people about once a year doing that. Well, you're more experienced than me. I mean the stories of those who get into similar situations in Annadel Park with the residences of Santa Rosa all around them.
But the cool of night and your lack of water made it important to get out.
I guess you probably take your map / compass / gps / water / light jacket / snack / fully charged phone and probably a emergency satellite transmitter device when you go solo again, eh? :)
Noondueler - Apr 2, 2016 3:45 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: 10 Essentials NOTThanks for all the comments Dayhiker. Lots of good info. Maybe you should do an article for SP about being prepared if lost.
Cheers, Windsor