Post by: Todd_ID on January 19, 2009, 07:56:47 AM
We had good topo maps on the computer in the truck, but the fog was thick something fierce. Since this was a quick trip on the spur of the moment neither of us were well prepared. Dark found me following elk tracks over a mile from the truck in seriously tough country. It took about 10 minutes of semi-frantic search to figure out that I didn't have a flashlight, damn it's dark out there in the fog with no moon. That same 10 minutes found me wishing that I had more than just blue jeans and white cotton socks with uninsulated boots, and it was 21 degrees with a couple feet of snow. The only reason I am here to tell about this trip instead of still trying to find the truck is that I had my GPS in my pack. Even with the GPS I still had a very hard time finding the truck because every trail was going the wrong way, and every creek branched and flowed the wrong way; and did I mention that it's damn dark out there. I made it to the truck at 7:30: two and a half hours after dark. I was frozen to the core and probably should have started a fire back in the woods to warm up; hypothermia was pretty darn close.
Imagine my surprise at finally finding the truck only to see that he wasn't there yet.
He had gone in a different direction from the start, but the lay of the land was such that he had crossed my tracks somewhere along the way. He was well dressed, but the hard walking quickly got him overheated and sweating hard. Dark came as he was at a gate that he thought was where we started. He got his flashlight out and figured out that he was in the wrong spot and didn't have a clue where he was and didn't have a GPS. He started backtracking his own tracks to find that in the daylight he had walked in two circles, but he was having troubles figuring out the right way to follow the tracks in the dark. As the temperature dropped and he got very cold his recurring thought was that this week he had submitted a cancellation on his life insurance policy because work had been slow; had that cancellation already been processed, and would his wife be hassled about collecting the money? Pretty dire straits indeed!
About this time I got back to the truck to find that he wasn't there. I had my pistol in the truck and started firing at a slow pace: two shots, three seconds apart, every ten minutes. I honked the horn every 30 seconds. I turned the truck around and pointed the headlights into the fog towards the center of the area we were trying to hunt. He was hearing the gunshots, but he was having a hard time trusting the direction because he thought it was echoing in the canyon and messing him up. He kept walking along but was having trouble walking a straight line toward the shots; each time he heard them they were off to the side, so he'd have to turn and try again. Finally he started hearing the horn and then was able to see a glow from the headlights. He got to the truck at 9:00. That's 4 hours in the dark, lost, cold, dead tired.
The lessons learned in the woods are hard and fast coming upon you. Both of us are very experienced backcountry elk hunters. We now have a bit more experience that we should never have had to receive. I've already went through my fanny pack and will not be out again without the proper clothing. He'll own a GPS today, and he said he's buying one for each of his kids as soon as he can. It was a flat fricking scary experience to be that cold and that turned around. We've both been lost before, but this was the first time it's been that serious. Maybe that's what it takes for the lesson to sink in.
If possible, learn from our experience! Always be properly dressed, and have a flashlight and GPS. Don't just think, "Oh, it'll be a quick trip, so I'll be fine."
Post by: Gobble on January 19, 2009, 08:05:00 AM
Post by: jackelope on January 19, 2009, 08:05:34 AM
lessons learned i guess.
Post by: jackelope on January 19, 2009, 08:07:45 AM
Post by: MLBowhunting on January 19, 2009, 09:21:11 AM
Post by: Little Fish on January 19, 2009, 09:33:12 AM
Post by: robodad on January 19, 2009, 09:33:42 AM
Glad to hear your fine, it really sucks to hear on the news about an experienced hiker is lost and unprepared !!
Post by: bucklucky on January 19, 2009, 10:03:56 AM
Post by: Todd_ID on January 19, 2009, 10:07:01 AM
Post by: 270Shooter on January 19, 2009, 10:16:53 AM
Thanks for sharing. I'm sure it was scary experience. I got turned around in the early elk season last year and was travelling the exact opposite directiion that my mind thought it was going. We were miles from the truck and walking in heavy dark timber. Had it not been for my GPS we would have been lost for sure. I just goes to show that it CAN happen to anyone.I did the exact same thing this year on the late buck hunt in colville. We had a buck run right in front if us so we parked got out and followed him. I though we were making a big loop back around to the truck but I only turned 90 degrees and we were walking away from the truck. Good thing my dad realized it or we could have spent the night out there. Never did see that big buck again either.
Post by: MAVsled on January 19, 2009, 11:09:48 PM
is it just me who only still carries a compass along with my gps unit. Even if I upgrade to the new version, all in one (radio, compass, gps, etc etc) I will still carry my compass of 20+ years along.
Post by: agchawk on January 20, 2009, 06:20:43 AM
I got lost as a kid while out cutting wood with my father and brother outside of Orofino once. He ended up calling in the cavalry and they eventually found me about 4 miles from our rig. Ever since then I make sure I have a full survival kit, GPS (added years later when they became affordable), and extra clothing while out and about. Whether it be a mountain bike trip, casual hike, or a pack-in hunt I always have that stuff on me.
I guess sometimes it takes a "near-death" experience to teach us old farts a lesson.
Again, glad it turned out for the best for both of ya.
Post by: rasbo on January 20, 2009, 06:38:40 AM
Post by: oneezreiter on January 20, 2009, 06:54:28 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on January 20, 2009, 07:44:49 AM
I dont trust a gps, units can fail,...low battery.... I have just always relied on a compass and good map.
Post by: MagKarl on January 20, 2009, 10:04:16 AM
Post by: saylean on January 20, 2009, 10:11:06 AM
A great reminder for all of us.
Post by: MichaelJ on January 21, 2009, 02:00:07 PM
Michael
Post by: Little Fish on January 22, 2009, 03:11:00 PM
Post by: dbllunger on January 23, 2009, 12:37:30 PM
Post by: @RCHER on January 23, 2009, 01:25:40 PM
Post by: rainshadow1 on January 23, 2009, 02:05:42 PM
Really glad everything turned out ok.
Whenever I'm hiking further than I know I can orient in any weather or darkness condition, I take the time to let the GPS orient, and then I waypoint the truck.
Post by: Webfoot on January 23, 2009, 07:00:49 PM
Been there done that years ago. I now have a pack with all of the fixins for an elk kill and a night out if need be. I will not leave camp or the truck without that pack even if I think it will only be a short jaunt in the middle of the day.
John
Post by: rosscrazyelk on January 26, 2009, 05:58:42 PM
Post by: dreamingbig on January 27, 2009, 06:34:57 AM
Stay safe out there everyone and learn from Todd's experience.