I live near the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. We have people die almost every summer because they go into the mountains, but fail to take enough water. The temps in the canyons can easily reach 130 degrees.

Many people who go in there in the summer are inexperienced hikers who think they know where to find the Lost Dutchman gold mine, but even some experienced hikers succumb to the summer heat. I stay out of there in the summer months. The terrain is pretty rough, especially is you go off the trails and start bushwacking.

Always make sure you know which essentials are essential for your survival.

 

I hiked the Superstitions Summer 2015.

Yeah, it was a short hike. I didnt want to push it in that heat.

 

Here is my Story. I was doing a scouting trip to checkout down range froma place I found to shoot.

NDR

 

Here is my Story. I was doing a scouting trip to checkout down range froma place I found to shoot.

NDR

Awesome story of survival. I tip my hat to you sir. You were relatively well prepared and knowledgable. Clearly that made a difference.

As I've said I'm in NW AZ. Other than people falling into the Grand Canyon while taking selfies - literally like 5 in the past couple of years... our biggest cause is heat exposure and lack of water. But most of our rescues involve people breaking or crashing UTV's or taking cars places they shouldn't.

Our county is split by the canyon and runs from south of Lake Havasu to the UT border and almost to Zion park. From about 500 ft elevation to nearly 9,000 ft. Some of the most varied, desolate, inhospitable terrain in the country. Surface temperature in my back yard right now is 168 degrees! (We are frying an egg in the yard as I write this. LOL)

We regularly have people die within sight of their broken cars, and sometimes they aren't found for months or years. When we say, "stay put or stay with your car," that means right next to it, or nearby shade, not hiking a quarter mile away hoping for water or cell service. Road crews found a lady's broken car by the road a couple years ago. No sign of her for 8 months until a different crew clearing brush found her, just keeled over into a pile of bushes in the ditch about 1/2 mile away - how many hundreds of cars must have passed 20 ft away.

Last year we had a teenage girl die just 300 ft from a trailhead. They ran out of water on a 6 mile hike and she sucumbed just before reaching the cars. In most cases completely avoidable. Often due to no preparations or knowledge. A few years ago a lady survived like 10 days in a minivan in the winter eating snow in an extremely isolated area south of the canyon. Typical GPS misrouting story. She was lucky.

Our egg after 10 min. And after 35 min.

 

(4180) Dangers Of Hiking: 13 Most Common Ways To Die, and What You Can Do To Prevent Them - YouTube

 

Good to hear from you @Vanishing Nomad! I know we've discussed much of this in the the past. I think some relative points involve location, elevation, season, and weather. I've been up to similar ranges in the PNW, and weather can change on a dime. I always come back to making it a habit to properly plan and pack, even if for a day hike.

While fire is important, your first layer of defense against the elements are literally your clothing layers. Another reason why I almost always carry a small day pack, is so I can carry those essential layers (and keep them dry). Anything can happen from injury to disorientation. I've been in ranges, swamps, and various forests where once fog, rain, or clouds move in, you really need a compass to navigate (and knowing your back azimuth).

While often overlooked, a simple itinerary also would shorten the time from incident to rescue. It's sad that there was no communication until they were literally supposed to get off the plane. Still, I think if they were soaked, no fire, and freezing temps, they likely didn't last that first night.

The right clothing layers for the conditions (or potential conditions) matters.

If you don't have rain gear, you screwed up, so seeking or improvising shelter becomes a higher priority. While cold temperatures suck and can kill, being soaked/wet in even warmer temperatures (under 70 degrees) will kill you. Mix cold and wet, and your lack of preparation will become quickly evident.

Sad story, but always worth using such tragedies (as well as the successful stories) to reassess and reevaluate your own kit, even if you're just heading out on a day hike.

ROCK6

 

After watching this video I have a few things I learned from my ordeal. As far as fire goes if you are not carrying enough fire with you being able to start and keep fire could be more of a task than you think. In my case being broken and on the ground collecting wood was not an option plus there was not wood just bushes. It was below the dew point maybe 20 degrees when I felt it was time to stop. Twice I had fire going and twice I could not keep it going. So what I mean about carrying fire with you among other things I now carry a couple 12 hour survival candles. It maybe a small fire but both times that little ball of cotton wax was burning it felt soooo good.
Also its about decisions and being able to survive your bad decisions. What I mean about bad decisions is you come to a point do you make a left or right? In my case I holed up too late my plan was to go till I was back to my vehicle the only thing was it was moonless night and just past where I did hole up I was in need of light to navigate it. How I survived the bad decision was suffering shivering all night under the solar blanket which I believe is one of the critical items that made it so I could live to tell the tale. In the case of the too gals they probably didnt not work on fire soon enough. Then when they tried to get fire they probably have no skill at getting a fire going in the rain or snow. I had a friend on a hunting trip in the pouring rain use a roll of toilet paper and charcoal liter fluid and get a fire going. I now carry a tube of survival fire paste.
NDR

 

Twice I had fire going and twice I could not keep it going. So what I mean about carrying fire with you among other things I now carry a couple 12 hour survival candles. It maybe a small fire but both times that little ball of cotton wax was burning it felt soooo good.

This is a good point. For even experienced outdoorsmen/women, the chances of them being in a serious situation is most likely going to include some type of mechanical injury. Practicing with both legs and arms and full eyesight or not dry heaving from some illness is pretty easy. Add in some reality and survival is vastly more difficult.

I also carry a few bees wax tea-light candles (purpose is to use them to make a Palmer Furnace).

ROCK6

 

For people who get lost, a WWII signal mirror could prove to be very useful.

https://spitfireparts.co.uk/products/wwii-usaaf-esm1-emergency-signal-mirror

 

Fire is hardest to make when you need it most

 

A Garmin InReach unit, good compass and map, signal mirror, way to make a signal fire. These are all survival items that can fit in your cargo pants pockets.

 

If those two had only had wool sweaters, instead of normal commercial off the shelf kind, they would both be alive.

 

I don't think so, their situation was beyond clothing. I do think if they could have survived for 24-48 hours, they likely could have hiked out when the weather cleared, or at least improved their situation. Even bad fortune and stupid decisions can erase the magical properties of quality wool clothing...

ROCK6

 

i used to live in sacramento and spent many days hiking all over desolation wilderness in the summer months, and there were always folks who died from accidents and hypothermia by not understanding how quickly the weather can and does change there, and not being prepared for freezing temps..

We routinely woke up to a dusting or more, of snow and were always prepared to handle that, even on a day hike....

once my wife and i visited it one sept trip, she understood my ocd on having the right kit w me at all times for the worst...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desolation_Wilderness

 

Welcome back Vanishing Nomad. Good post.

Anytime I see the word "mountain" or "mountains" in terrain description, my gear list defaults to something a bit different than for other terrain. The season matters not. The general altitude of those mountains doesn't matter either.

I automatically pack to endure fast storms, lightning, big swings to cold temperatures, and precipitation. Even in desert. Even in fair weather. Even in hot summer. Even in jungle.

I'm always prepared to start a fire, but Plan A is to have the clothing & gear to survive without one.

 

I have never felt comfortable trusting my survival to something as fickle as fire. I trust my wool, and 2 piece rain suit. It sets up in an instant, and requires zero work.

As for gear, I have been running almost the exact same system for years and years now. It is not really built for season, but instead I designed it to function in the widest temperature range possible. That way, no matter where i go, I can just grab the same pack and it works.

Welcome back Vanishing Nomad. Good post.

Anytime I see the word "mountain" or "mountains" in terrain description, my gear list defaults to something a bit different than for other terrain. The season matters not.

I automatically pack to endure fast storms, lightning, big swings to cold temperatures, and precipitation. Even in desert. Even in fair weather. Even in hot summer. Even in jungle.

I'm always prepared to start a fire, but Plan A is to have the clothing & gear to survive without one.

 

Falls have to be the most common way people die in the wilderness. Or drowning.
ESP when you consider a non lethal fall can strand you.

 

You nailed it..

I often go trout stalking in the mountains of NC/TN/SC and i am ALWAYS prepared to spend a night or two on the river if i fall becasue of a misstep, snot coated rocks or just dumb luck.

I wear a nice fishpond fly vest with all of my kit in it, energy bars, and survival items to signal, 3 ways to make fire, first aid kit, TQ, and a large 55 gal clear trash bag for improvised shelter, small led flashlight, Gerber LMF II Infantry, and an msr trail shot pocket water filter, and two smaller water bottles i keep full and other essential items.

I wear a battle belt as a wading belt, and have an admin pouch on it with items in it and a water bottle pouch with a grayl filter bottle, and my lmf is attached to the admin belt.

MSR Trailshot Pocket-Sized Water Filter

MSR Trailshot Pocket-Sized Water Filter - A pocket size water filter that is easy to use and light to carry.Nothing is easier to use for purifying the most demanding backcountry water sources. You can drink directly from the source.

www.sportsmans.com

Grayl UltraPress Water Purifier Bottle

Grayl UltraPress Water Purifier Bottle - Compact, fun, and ridiculously easy to use — the 16.9oz UltraPress Purifier Bottle fits into any pack pocket (or cup holder), requires zero setup, and makes safe, great tasting drinking water in a mere 10 seconds (3L/min). On-the-go filtration and...

www.sportsmans.com

I have had dysentary a couple times as a .civ and .mil, and am uber careful with h2o now...

I also carry a goretex lightweight fishing jacket too...Unless i am wet wading, i am wearing goretex chest waders so that is part of my shelter if need be....

I also take my cell phone and this sattelite based texting stick, works great: Find Adventures Near You, Track Your Progress, Share

I can survive days if need be, and provide aid to a fellow angler.

I am not surprised at the number of fellow anglers who DO NOT think a wit about being injured, and having to survive or take care of themselves, or another.

 

On June 20th of this year, a hiker died from exposure in the White mountain area of NH. Winds were 80 mph with snow, sleet, rain and freezing temperatures.
Because of the proximity of large population areas, too many unexperienced hikers do not take the White's as seriously as they should. Rescues there are common. Rescues average 200 per year there.

 

That texting stick is awesome.

 

It is, no account set up required other, it asks in the app, but you can skip it...

Works great, never leave home w out it or my sat phone too...Both kept fully charged....

 

The first thing that came to mind when considering the OP's topic was "exposure." But it turns out that the three top reasons people die in the wilderness are:

1) Falls
2) Drowning
3) Heart failure

I was severely injured when I fell off of a precipice when I was around 13 years old. I broke my arm. However, had I not been found ... I'm sure that exposure would have been the cause of death.

Another cause of death in the wilderness (and one far less considered) is suicide. Folks who've reached the end of their rope will often go off into the wilderness and shoot or hang themselves.

The Top 3 Ways People Die in the Wild | Secrets of Survival

True life survival stories and news accounts of people who meet a fatal end in the wilderness often grab our attention. If you’re on this site you either have a growing interest in the wilderness and…

secretsofsurvival.com

 

Interesting. I looked into this many, many years ago, and I found exposure (Hypothermia due to sudden weather change) to be the most common cause of death.

Theres entire threads on the subject from me back like 100 years ago.

That said, things change, and data improves over time. So that may not actually be the case today. Still, I'd think exposure would be in the top 3, along with heat exhaustion.

The first thing that came to mind when considering the OP's topic was "exposure." But it turns out that the three top reasons people die in the wilderness are:

1) Falls
2) Drowning
3) Heart failure

I was severely injured when I fell off of a precipice when I was around 13 years old. I broke my arm. However, had I not been found ... I'm sure that exposure would have been the cause of death.

Another cause of death in the wilderness (and one far less considered) is suicide. Folks who've reached the end of their rope will often go off into the wilderness and shoot or hang themselves.

The Top 3 Ways People Die in the Wild | Secrets of Survival

True life survival stories and news accounts of people who meet a fatal end in the wilderness often grab our attention. If you’re on this site you either have a growing interest in the wilderness and…

secretsofsurvival.com

 

Here you go Nomad... ACR Bivy Stick - 2-Way Iridium Satellite Communicator - BUY Bivy

these folks are awesome w customer service.....

i bought my sat phone and stick from em....

 

Here you go Nomad... ACR Bivy Stick - 2-Way Iridium Satellite Communicator - BUY Bivy

these folks are awesome w customer service.....

i bought my sat phone and stick from em....

THANKS! I will be looking into that!

 

Good thread!

I can relate. I did The Assault on Mt Mitchell in the early 90's. It's a 100-mile bicycle ride from Spartanburg, SC to Mt Mitchell, NC. Known as one of the most grueling races anywhere, and has about 10,000 feet of climb.

This was before internet and cell phones, so none of us were aware of the impending doom. I think it was May, or maybe March. Anyway, started out as a beautiful sunny day, and got into the 70's. Everyone is wearing the same spandex biker gear.

We get to the summit, celebrate a little, and it starts to rain. Then, the wind picks up. Then, the temperature drops to about 40.

Here we all are, in the exposed parking lot, on top of the highest point east of the Mississippi, with no shelter. Cold, wet and no way to do anything, other than huddle for warmth. There were several hundred of us up there.

A couple of busses came and took some people back down, but the busses never returned, as they were supposed to.

A couple ambulances and firetrucks came and rescued the the most serious cases. I remember people fighting and screaming, trying to get on the bus. Some parts are blurry, as I was experiencing bouts of euphoria and complete agony, along with hallucinations.

Sometime after dark the National Guard came and started bringing us down to a lodge a few miles from the summit. We spent a few hours there and then school busses came and brought us back to Spartanburg, around 2am, IIRC.

I was in the window seat over the rear axle, so my 6'-5" body had my knees in my face. Very uncomfortable. The guy in front of me gets up to vomit, gets the window partially open and let's it fly. I dove over my brother and landed in the aisle, and most of it hit the girl behind me, who began screaming and didn't stop until we got off the bus.

Tough lesson learned. I do things differently now, because of this and other experiences.

Anyone else there, or remember this?

 

Oh man, thats a hell of an experience! You guys are lucky you all lived!

Good thread!

I can relate. I did The Assault on Mt Mitchell in the early 90's. It's a 100-mile bicycle ride from Spartanburg, SC to Mt Mitchell, NC. Known as one of the most grueling races anywhere, and has about 10,000 feet of climb.

This was before internet and cell phones, so none of us were aware of the impending doom. I think it was May, or maybe March. Anyway, started out as a beautiful sunny day, and got into the 70's. Everyone is wearing the same spandex biker gear.

We get to the summit, celebrate a little, and it starts to rain. Then, the wind picks up. Then, the temperature drops to about 40.

Here we all are, in the exposed parking lot, on top of the highest point east of the Mississippi, with no shelter. Cold, wet and no way to do anything, other than huddle for warmth. There were several hundred of us up there.

A couple of busses came and took some people back down, but the busses never returned, as they were supposed to.

A couple ambulances and firetrucks came and rescued the the most serious cases. I remember people fighting and screaming, trying to get on the bus. Some parts are blurry, as I was experiencing bouts of euphoria and complete agony, along with hallucinations.

Sometime after dark the National Guard came and started bringing us down to a lodge a few miles from the summit. We spent a few hours there and then school busses came and brought us back to Spartanburg, around 2am, IIRC.

I was in the window seat over the rear axle, so my 6'-5" body had my knees in my face. Very uncomfortable. The guy in front of me gets up to vomit, gets the window partially open and let's it fly. I dove over my brother and landed in the aisle, and most of it hit the girl behind me, who began screaming and didn't stop until we got off the bus.

Tough lesson learned. I do things differently now, because of this and other experiences.

Anyone else there, or remember this?

 

Roadflare. Fire. NOW.

Falling/breaking through ice into cold water is no joke.
Add sub-zero and wind. No time to "try" to make fire or "work on" making fire.

Even though the battery operated ones are NTH for roadside and other lighting/signalling, it's critical to have at least one of the old fashioned, stinky, not-environmentally-friendly ones. 30 minutes of delicious HOT fire to dry your clothes (and you), dry fresh pine boughs, wet wood, etc. for fuel, get a big fire going, melt snow, etc.

Watch that you don't get a 5 minute one
Practice using so you know how if you have to in the dark, cold, etc., and don't burn yourself or gear, etc., etc., etc.

 

I would imagine the most common way to die in the wilderness is alone.

 

I now carry an extra $20 phone that has never been hooked up to a service because all phones are supposed to be able to dial 911. I also have a satellite Panic button/ communication device. It has the ability to ping the satellites every 15 minutes and plots a course. I have a friend that has the web address so he can find me if I go missing.

Yes, I should have added if you must leave your car or last known position to leave a note, AND mark your route. I have a bad habit of going off exploring on a toot, and my wife and I go jeeping sometimes without a buddy rig. It'll probably bite us one day. You'll probably find us freeze dried sitting in the jeep with a broken axle someday.

A late friend of mine lived by himself full time in an RV. His son bought a satellite panic button/Tracker and strapped it his quad. So he could keep tabs on where his father was.
Like it or not your non survival story is a survival story. Thanks for sharing I enjoyed it. And we hunted in some of the same areas.

 

ACR PLB. If everything else fails, put up the antenna and hit the button.

 

Interesting thread, big food for thought.

Signal mirror, ability to throw smoke, if you have a firearm, shoot s - o - s. Got stranded 10 days, food (if you can call it that) ran out on day 7, someone knew where I was, one of 3 locations, when I didn't show when I said, s&r was notified, when they could fly. Worst blizzard in 25 years, no way a walk out, before cell phones. Had me thinking Donner Party.

Not letting people know where you are, when you expect to be back, will kill you quicker than anything.

 

1) Dehydration
2) Starvation
3) Drowning
4) Drinking bad water
5) Eaten by wolves/bears
6) Shot accidentally by a hunter
7) Hypothermia
8) Killed by wild boars
9) Bitten by a fox with rabies
10) Falling while rock climbing

These are the ways some people died in my area while camping in wilderness.

 

I bet dehydration kills a lot more than we give it credit for. Most people START their hike slightly dehydrated. Then along the way they are not drinking enough to maintain that, let alone climb out of it. So its a slow downward spiral.

 

On mentality.

Aside from the Donner Party... years ago, I watched a documentary about 2 guys that went glacier hiking. They fell upon all order of disasters, some self inflicted and some natural. Long story short, these 2 spent days crawling back down the glacier, believe close to a week, hitting dead ends on glacial crevices and having to double back numerous times to get back on the correct path back to camp. Most brutal survival story I have even witnessed. Sheer human will was the only thing that kept these 2 alive. At times, I thought human will was completly exhausted Amputations were a given in the end, toes, fingers, nose...

There were allot of lessons in that documentary, wish I could find it again. Everyone should watch it.

 

I saw that one. Not sure which episode name, or which season, but the series is "I Shouldnt be Alive"

 

My Alice pack weighed 70 lbs, taken on every search .you never know the conditions being thrust into, nor how long the search will take, nor the conditions of the victims.
On top of that most of the time I was the only one packing, most other searchers only wore uniforms.
Thankfully my gear was rarely used.
Even though I am no longer in SAR, I still maintain the load out, because from time to time it's handy for my own events.
I have been in events that among all the other personell on scene I was the only one with a knife , necessary to cut the harness from the pilot to get him out of the up side down crashed plane. I understand that paramedics are not allowed to Cary knives now days.

 

I believe this was the docu.

Touching the Void - Documentarytube.com

Mountain climbing can be an adventurous and fun sport. But not when it goes wrong. Touching the Void documents the story of two climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates on a disastrous climb in the Andes in 1985. Through the climbers stories and reenactments the viewer sees the horrors that Simpson...

www.documentarytube.com

Well worth the watch.