GETTING LOST IN the woods is a proud American tradition that goes back to before the days of Daniel Boone, who said, “I have never been lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.”
Back in the days of Daniel Boone, it was much easier to get lost in the wilderness since there was so much more wilderness to get lost in.
These days, there are more and more people getting lost in the wilderness. What is puzzling, however, is the fact that people are getting lost in a country full of developed trails with signposts that are precisely detailed on maps.
This has already been a tough summer for lost people and we are only halfway through June.
On May 29, a man went missing along the Duckabush River. The Duckabush is a notoriously dangerous river where in 2017 a man drowned rescuing his girlfriend.
The lesson being don’t swim in the Duckabush or any other river swollen with the spring snow melt.
Then on June 2, a woman believed to be a friend of the latest missing Duckabush swimmer was injured crossing the Duckabush and had to be rescued by SAR crews searching for the initial missing man.
The lesson being do not go looking for lost people on your own.
You could be lessening the chances of finding the initial missing person by taking SAR off the original case to look for you.
On June 8, an empty kayak was found on Lake Crescent. A missing kayaker was reported. He had fallen in and was not wearing a life jacket. Divers searched the lake. The body has not been found.
The lesson being wear a life jacket.
The strangest missing hiking story had to be the guy who left his vehicle at the Deer Ridge trailhead on Monday, June 5. It was thought he was walking some kind of “40-mile loop,” although no one knew for sure. He was found walking down the Dosewallips trail on Saturday.
This, after a massive search effort over a huge area that, according to a PDN article, involved aircraft, dog teams and 90 SAR personnel including Olympic National Park Rangers, the Washington State SAR Planning Unit, Snohomish County SAR, Kitsap County ESAR, Jefferson County SAR, Olympic Mountain Rescue, Pierce County ESAR, Tacoma Mountain Rescue, Clallam County SAR, Mount Rainier National Park, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The lesson being to register at the trailhead before beginning a hike.
Let’s review a few easy-to remember-tips to avoid having people coming to look for you on hazardous, expensive and emotionally draining search and rescue operations.
• Do not jump into flooding rivers.
• Do not go looking for lost people on your own.
• Wear life jackets when appropriate.
• Register at trailheads.
In addition, there are many other ways to avoid starting a massive search effort for you.
Do not use your phone for navigation in the backcountry.
The phone may get wet. The battery could die. You may be too far away from a cell phone tower.
The cloud cover and forest canopy can block the signal.
Internet maps are inaccurate.
Instead of your phone, use a map and compass. Take a compass reading before you are lost.
These are part of the 10 essentials of backcountry travel that include headlamp/flashlight, first aid kit, fire starter, matches, extra clothing and food.
Sunglasses and sunscreen are also mentioned, but it always seems to be raining when I get lost.
Be prepared. Do not make people look for you.
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Pat Neal is a Hoh River fishing and rafting guide and “wilderness gossip columnist” whose column appears here every Wednesday.
He can be reached at 360-683-9867 or by email via patnealproductions@gmail.com.
