This is Bud Carr, thanks for the kind words. Rachel passed away from exposure to the elements. Very accurate representation of her case and facts surrounding it. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.
Thank goodness there are people like you out there, it takes guts to do what you do but don’t worry, you’ll never have to rescue me, I’m scared stiff of heights, I mean terrified, my legs and brain go to jelly, even stairs without a hand rail are beyond me. Have fun and be happy doing what you love. ❤
I don't personally know anyone who has needed assistance from any rescue group during a hike. But I wanted to thank all the volunteers who give their time to help others. You truly are the unsung heroes. 💚💚💚
I'm 65. It's a funny age, you feel like your old self inside, and you're still walking and doing chores normally. It's easy to forget that your endurance, flexibility. strength, balance, and balance, etc have declined. I recently had to sit myself down and have "the talk" with myself. No more solo hikes.
I'm 66 and hike with my dog who will be 10 next month ( 60in dog years) we both think we can do things and then when we do our bodies ask "What the "F" were you thinking?" But, if I'm gonna die, I'd rather it be in the back country rather than sitting in a chair eating cupcakes....
I recently asked my 92yo grandma how old she feels, she said “Oh, about 30 inside, but around million outside”.. She still travelled by herself couple years ago and lived independently until few months ago. Im nearing my 50s and Im kinda amazed Ive made it this far :)
I’m 65, and do daily wilderness hikes with my dog and several solo overnight backpack trips. I have a mini InReach and use it. I have hiked all my life and what I might be lacking in physicality due to aging, I’ve gained in experience. The younger version of me took way more risks that could have had serious consequences. So, just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean that you’re at increased risk.
My dad was a volunteer SAR president for years, I used to be the “lost hiker” in training exercises and they would carry me off the mountain. There were lots of late night phone calls where they would have to go out and find someone. I was always so proud of him for that.
Thank you for mentioning Rachel. She was my friend in high school. I miss her alot and think of her always. She was such a kind soul, and she would help anyone who needed it. Rachel was a person who had a contagious smile and laugh. She would always make me laugh when we talked. I met Rachel in 9th grade, we had intro to drama together so we would have to be on stage pretending to be trees or animals. It was funny then our junior year we had stage craft together so we would get the theater stage ready for shows me, her, and 3 more students. That class was fun because we were always able to play with the props. After high school me n rachel lost touch but I always considered her a friend, and always will. I still talk about her even now, and I know that if she was here she would still be the free spirit she always was, with her red hair, and amazing smile..that is how I remember her. I still can’t believe she’s gone. 😥 but I think of her as a guardian angel to her friends and family. I hope she is resting in peace.
Hi Kyle I'm a Brit who has hiked in a lot of places around the world. A huge difference between Europe and North America is that the backcountry areas in Europe are nowhere near as large and remote as you have and you are much more likely to come across, or be seen by, other hikers (unless you fall down a crevasse or something), so less likely to just disappear for years. I once trekked up Wolverine Pass outside Golden BC and in nine hours didn't see a soul. Very unlikely that would happen in Europe. Enjoy the trip!
I live in Europe, Croatia, right under mountain Biokovo. Every summer someone get lost, missin, found dead.... Usually people from Poland and Czech but they are not the only one. I hike on biokovo almost every week, we have a second highest peak in country, 1762m and believe me i almost never meet another hiker.
The most incredible part of this story is that a man who was a part of Bud’s team is named Kevin Dares. Kevin’s girlfriend, Samantha Sayers, went missing 3 years before on Mt Vesper, also in the North Cascades. She has not yet been found. He understood deeply the pain of Rachel’s family. You are amazing and selfless, Kevin!
The health of a 66 year old varies WILDLY. Some are very much declining, others are physically more like someone in their 40s. My great-grandmother lived until 103, my father is currently closing in on 80 and he's still doing quite adventurous things - he just came back from a photography trip in Norway and has another one planned in February for the Serengeti.
My 80yo neighbor is outside mowing his lawn right now and I have no doubt he could do a day hike. And there's people in their 70s at the climbing gym who are stronger and fitter than I am in my 40s. There's also plenty of 35yos who couldn't manage a day hike. It's not fair to just look at age. It DOES put him at higher risk and that's totally fair to point out. Some of us are willing to accept that risk to be out there. Whatever happened was fast enough he couldn't call for help. If that was medical, he wasn't going to make it no matter where he was. If it was an accident I'm glad he went fast.
I’m closing in on age 75. I traversed 404,000 vertical feet in 2023 and am on track for a 10% increase in 2024. I am one of the lucky ones I admit and certainly am thankful for. But I know that as we all age the ticking time bomb that is our body can go off at any time 😉. Quite possibly Thomas’s fate.
I worked in that area for the Forest Service for about thirty years and knew Jack as an acquaintance. He was in good physical condition, knew all the landmarks, and knew his way around that area. Sadly, he was found only about 15 miles from the trailhead, almost all downhill on a clearly discernible trail to the trailhead. Many medical events, such as kidney failure, stroke, and heart attack, cause you to feel like you have to go to the bathroom immediately, and that might explain the inside-out jeans and underwear.
As soon as you said Oct, I thought NOPE! I’ve been in an ice/snowstorm with 70mph winds at that elevation, (in a shelter and carrying extra emergency food,) in AUGUST! Never ever underestimate mountains. Motorcyclists have a mantra…dress for the fall, not the ride.
I'm from Albuquerque NM. I was at Zermatt Switzerland and on way to Matterhorn's viewing area by tram in 1958 when a body floated down the river there, released from the snowmelt off the glacier area. It was of a climber that had perished decades beforehand (old climbing gear/clothes).
It'd all be stories from my neck of the woods. I live in Humboldt and that happens all the time. People come up here to disappear, their families freak out thinking they were killed by some weird pot kingpin with their own lil kingdom in the mountains, then they turn up like 5 years later after they get sick of trimming and living in someone's shed. The death to weird pot warlords thing only happens once in awhile!
For those of us not too fluent in the Search and Rescue jargon "finding" a lost hiker very often means finding their remains, as was the case in these three circumstances.
I live just a few miles from where Rachael was lost and then found. She was found in a tree well in her bag. The snow that time of year up here is what we call Cascade concrete, it's wet and heavy. The storm lasted for days when she was lost would severe and a GPS unit would not have worked due to the heavy snow and weather conditions. We have had a bunch of missing people in this area. Some found some not. Check into Patricia "Patti" Krieger, who was lost on Sauk Mtn. This is a very popular hike, but she is still missing. Her dog showed up many miles from where she was last seen. BTW i am 66 years old and a solo all the time, I have been hiking and backpacking since I was 12. And yes, you never know when your number is up no matter how careful you are. ;)
@ImaRandomFemale she was found next to a tree in her sleeping bag. Speculation is she hunkered down under the tree. If I remember correctly, the snow was not deep enough at the time to produce tree wells. It was a nasty storm that she was in.
@HikingwithGus, it's not "when your number is up no matter how careful you are", it's more like you under estimate the fury of mother nature, even if your an expert, FAFO.
This is very important. Never let the summit fever get to you. Even if the summit is already visible and seems close enough to touch, if for some reason you have doubts and a bad feeling or are totally exhausted, then turn around! You only have one life, but you can try again. I tried three times on Kangchenjunga, unfortunately I had to turn back three times. In the end, I and two others succeeded the following year. I think if I hadn't turned back, I would have stayed on the mountain.
Agreed. I don't know who originally said it, but I've adopted it as my hiking mantra and repeat it every time I head out solo or with my kids: "Getting to the summit is optional, getting safely back down is not. If we have to sacrifice one for the other, we'll sacrifice the summit every time."
I think that's why these videos are so good, they help drive that point home. The proper respect for wilderness is important. Know your limits or Darwin gets you.
I think we are all aware that the title of the videos are only for clickbait and the titles actually don't have anything to do with the video period. I'm pretty certain that the person who gave the title to this video had no idea what it was about.
Kyle is trying to help you survive and enjoy nature. If you are reading this, subscribe, like and share! He is paying forward, so you don't have to pay with you or your loved ones lives. Thanks ever so much Kyle!
Yes. Have real respect for the wilderness. Too many think it's some kind of Disney park. In the wilderness, it's very possible no one is going to be there to save you from big mistakes.
Watching from the UK. I haven't been to Switzerland but I did live in Germany, Bavaria and its almost impossible to describe the dreamlike, fairy tale landscapes over there, in summer and winter. I remember once jumping on the wrong train and ending up in the foothills of the Alps in a small quaint little station that must have been at least a hundred years old. It was a frosty but sunny morning and the view was unforgettable.
I’m obsessed with Germany. My grandma brought me as a 13 year old. Then my husband and I have been twice 5 and 7 years ago. STUNNING stunning part of the world. I’d love to move over there.
So, I was the injuree of an attempted murder/carjacking, with a nice smashed up leg n stuff, and as much as i used to love hiking and the outdoors, I don't get out much any more...regardless, i still like watching your stories and enthusiasm for the outdoors...i think you will get to a million for sure!!!
@laurenrowell9251 unfortunately no, when I came back to consciousness in the hospital, shortly after a police officer came into the room and started asking me questions about it, which i didn't remember too much of, then cant remember exactly how he said it, but he asked why did i set my car on fire and burn it? Lolol...apparently they found it somewheres burnt up, so ya, no evidence, and I don't remember enough to even know where to begin looking for this person...but ya, I was like, how the heck did I run over myself, drag myself several hundred feet, smashing my body and road rash everywhere, then somehow light my car up? Even if I had full coverage and you think I did some insurance scam, on a several years old minivan! Like Im gona mess my whole life up for some pocket change 🤣 silly cops...i guess they gotta do their due diligance...but even if they found that person, I would forgive them, it doesn't hurt anyone bit yourself when you hold grudges...
Hey Kyle I’m watching from NZ. You should look into the story of Ondrej Petr who died on the Routeburn track. It is a too common story of ill prepared hikers doing a trail in winter, in fresh snow with none of the correct equipment. They left no intention information. He tragically died in the mountains and his inexperienced girlfriend did not know what to do. She found a guides hut and broke into it (it was shut up for winter). She had food and shelter. The hut had a radio but she didn’t know how to use it and did speak much english. She stayed there alone for a month and was only found in Spring when the trail guides visited to get the huts ready for summer.
Riding horses is one of the hardest things to give up!! It's so amazing and peaceful and exhilarating and fun! Being one with your horse... Good for you. 💜
Your advice about the tent/bivy gear on a short, steep solo overnight to a cabin in late October is 100% on point. It's not overkill or armchair quarterbacking. Doing a literal "post-mortem" analysis on these cases is a critical component in comprehensive risk management. You tell these stories with so much heartfelt concern, it shouldn't stand out as much as it does. But it does. Let's hope that approach goes viral. It's time for the internet to grow up and make itself useful!
It reminds me a little of the accident reports for airplanes or OSHA. Let's learn what we need to change to be safer going forwards. But also, you can do everything right and nature will kill you anyway if she wants to, and we should all remember that while we're out there so we can make the best decisions.
Silly. None of us tune in to get "tips" or be nannyed on hiking. This is all just curiousity on people dying. There are other channels I would go to if I wanted to be preached to. No one is going to listen to this kid's advice anyway. Also it really is armchair quarterbacking. No one can plan for every contingency, and 99.9999% of the people that hike have no major problems. So should we all carry around 200 pounds of equipment just in case that 0.0001% occurance were to arise? Let's not forget that carrying additional weight is also a problem that can cause death/falling/getting lost etc. It's a lot easier to slip and fall with extra weight, especially since the weight is carried on the upper body making one more top heavy. More likely to become exhausted, have a heart attack, suffer altitude sickness, etc with that extra weight. Potentially more likely to get lost from being more weary and less attentive from being bogged down with the weight. More likely to slip in a stream, drown, etc with that extra weight. etc etc.
@@markgunther2502Yeah, not silly. Not preaching. Definitely not armchair quarterbacking. Glad to see the hypocrisy when you speculate on what might have happened. Some of that was truly ridiculous. That said, it could have been Bigfoot. Did you think about that?
I’m guessing the first guy either had a heart attack or a stroke- had to be something so incapacitating that he couldn’t push a button- it could have just as easily killed him in his living room if that’s what happened
@@darthlaurel May be he was ...well, you know going to toilet out there /sorry i'm not native english no idea how to say it without saying something rude! ) and then suddenly he felt bad, may be he felt a big heat, his blood pressure was not okay, went high, he wanted to get the satelite thing to send a signal but suddenly had no idea where it was and took down his clothes to look in his pocket and then he went forward and died suddenly...a stroke, a heart attack, something that confuses him first before it went fatal.
@@zeva66 the thing is, his remains were not found near the pants and underwear. Now maybe they could've gotten dragged off or blown by the wind, but what about the one boot, and where was the other boot? It's all pretty sketchy. I still say Bigfoot
Animals could have pulled off the clothes- bears are especially dexterous and would have no problem pulling the pants off to get at the meat- other scenario is he was unknowingly suffering from hypothermia- which would explain why he didn’t call for help, as it can cause delusions and extreme confusion. Also in the end stages of hyperthermia, your body tells your brain you are actually hot, and a lot of people who die from exposure are found naked- sometimes even with blankets and sleeping bags nearby
Hi Kyle, My strange hiking story took place in the summer of 1961. My dad led our family on a 2-day hike/climb to the summit of Half Dome in Yosemite. I was 8, and my brother was 6, both in cheap tennis shoes. We didn't see one other person on the cable, not like the crowds of today. We all made it up and down without tragedy, and I don't think it caused any ptsd. But looking back, I do wonder who in their right mind leads a hike to the top of Half Dome with two little average kids? Thanks for your good work, Kyle.
When I was little (mid 60s) my Dad would take me and my two older brothers out into the Everglades fishing. They would often let me out of the boat to play at the waters edge. I know. He should have known better. Got a few stories from then. Later in life, my brothers and I would go out on multi day trips in the ENP, Okefenokee, Blue Ridge, etc... My Dad said once that he wished he'd never taken us out in the Glades and one day we'd never come back. He said, there's things out there that have never been seen Well, we had some great trips and managed to survive. Too old for that stuff now. It's easy to make mistakes in judgement and those mistakes can be serious. Panic is your enemy in the wilderness.
Thank you Kyle- I’m addicted to your chanel and story telling .I’m a 53 year old mother and ultra trail runner from Kuwait, where you can only find concrete and desert, nowhere to hike, but I do camp and sleep in the desert through our short winter every year. However, I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to travel around the world and hike/run/camp in different trails partially for leisure and mostly as part of my race training . I’ve been to the mountains of Taiwan, Oman, Turkey, I ran The Alps in Italy, Swiss, France, as part of my UTMB race , and I also hiked in the Rockies in Colorado and in the AT Virginia . Planning to visit Vancouver this year . Saving money for my hiking /running and camping around the world is what I do when I’m in flat pancake Kuwait 😅 thank you and never stop your amazing content ❤
I live in the Canadian Rockies area, and many hikes I've gone one-with others and never solo here, many times we've been the only people on the trail that day. It's so vast, so many hikes to suit any ability and interest. I once did a solo hike through a gorge in Crete Greece, but I also crapped myself as I got out a parking area too early and thought I wouldn't get back to the car and will never go solo again. Please always go with others, be safe and don't separate.
Hi Kyle, I’m Brazilian but have been living in California for a while. I do hike, but I usually go for short and easy/moderate hikes. I love nature and also love backpacking, but the thought of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere scares me.
The fact that private citizens trying to solve missing persons cases is controversial is so sad to me! Law enforcement has limited time and resources for these long term cases, which is understandable. They have to focus on the most urgent cases. I just don't see why it would be bad for people to help
I agree, although I think basic training on things like preserving evidence and not moving or interfering with gear, clothing, remains etc might be helpful and help volunteer searchers connect with law enforcement.
Yep just look at the private dive team that solved the missing girl case within 20 minutes of showing up on scene. they have found many missing people in submerged cars since. cops don't like it because it makes them look bad.
@@rhetorical1488I think you’re exactly right, egos of LE! Years ago I saw a story on ID of missing teens from the 40s/50s/60s? Can’t recall details but decades later their car was found in a body of water directly on the route they would’ve taken home from the party they attended, not far off the bridge. Like, how do you not drag a lake or river for decades?? As I recall it was volunteers who discovered the car. Poor families never had closure on their children’s fate, in what was an easily solvable accident.
The nearby town next to SF has a binder of hundreds of "unsolved murders" They don't even bother to investigate. The "Trailside killer" killed a local girl and the cops were told about a strange stalker that kept contacting her at her bank job. They never followed up on the tip and he killed many more while the cops sat on evidence of the "missing" girl.
Yeah, Controversial??? Ridiculous. If officials have stopped the searching,what is Controversial at that point. It helps the family and cost no one any money. So sick of everything being labeled Controversial. Does anyone keep their hats on indoors, does anyone keep their elbows on the table, that was once controversial.
I am 66 years old and I am an active mountain biker, day hiker and car camper. I am smart about what I do and try not to put myself in excess peril . I used to backpack when I was younger, but I don’t know anyone interested in going anymore. I really enjoy your hiking videos especially the Foothills trail as I live in South Carolina. I liked the videos with you and Flossy. They remind me of all the stupid shit I did when I was younger. 😂 Doug
I think that 66 is not that much. If you are active hiker, you stay in good shape. My friend is 80 and he just cycled from Ireland to Switzerland last summer 😅😂 He is quite unbelievable really! 😅 It depends of a lot which kind of life you lead otherwise.
My husband used to maintain the Hidden Lake trail (many years ago). It’s such an incredibly beautiful area but it is easy to get turned around and lose the trail as the forest canopy and undergrowth is so thick. The North Cascade mountains are often called The American Alps. If you ever get a chance to drive over the North Cascades Highway, I highly recommend doing it.
I'm from Scotland. You would NOT regret coming here for a hiking adventure. Our mountains are not that big but they present their own challenges, not to mention they're spectacular.
The reason so many long-missing people are being found in the Alps is because the glaciers are melting rapidly, revealing the bodies. Just as with Ötzi, the famous "ice Man" who was revealed by melting glacial ice high in the Alps after having been buried for over 5,000 years.
@@soph4381 No. The Archeological record is being serious injected with tons of valuable information from all kinds of flora and fauna melting out at the moment. A lot of this is human history but tons of it is other types of history; from viruses and bacteria to animal and human technology/tool remains. Human, Neanderthal and other hominin artifacts re-surface on a daily basis and all we need to preserve, study, and excavate this material is more funding and skilled workers.
@@robertwinn4458 Of zero interest to anyone with a hatred or aversion towards science, archeology, anthropology,. modern humanity, ancient flora and fauna, and the the Anthropocene. So, you I guess but billions of others show great interest and curiosity about what the receding glaciers are uncovering. This is a treasure-trove of fascinating discoveries...but not for you. Pathetic.
Hi Kyle! European viewer here 🙋♀️ I'm Italian and so, apart from sharing the Alps with our neighbours France, Austria and Switzerland (a WONDERFUL country you absolutely have to visit), we also have the Dolomiti, a very unique mountain range, set in South Tyrol, a fantastic region with delicious food and wine and top professional hospitality. I'm sure you will enjoy your stay in our mountains!
@@dekikkerfan ahhhh right! 😭🙏 I was thinking about the north, Slovenia is such an amazing country, the Soča valley is unimaginably beautiful and the mountains breathtaking. My country sadly contributed to bring war and destruction to such beautiful places, I visited Kobarid and its museum which should be definitely more known and left an everlasting impression on me.
hi from switzerland! there's multiple factors that make hiking in certain places extremely dangerous, even for experienced hikers. the biggest factor is the abrupt weather change in the mountains: it can go from a beautiful sunny day to extreme winds, rain and even hail in a matter of minutes. the mountains are fairly high and steep, so one wrong step can cause you to slide and fall. another factor is people misjudging how much of an 'expert' they are, tending to go off the trail despite having been advised not to do so. so mix arrogance and brutal nature and you get missing hikers!
Hiking in Switzerland is INCREDIBLE. Spending a day going up a trail around the side of a mountain eight hours from civilisation in any direction to find an inexplicable hut selling hot chocolate as you look down on snow covered peaks is one of the highlights of experience
I love the diligence and respect in your videos. The way you use these real life tragedies to educate others while also keeping their names and memories alive is admirable.
I am someone who not only lives in southern idaho but also is a pretty regular solo hiker and nature enjoying person. Idaho has more hiker and hunter disappearances in the backwoods than most are aware of as the news coverage usually doesnt go much farther than local news.. I as a solo hiker here always take all the necessary gear and then some as Idaho has unpredictable weather wildly varying conditions on trails and it is rather easy to get lost off trail or even at times on trail as many are backcountry or rarely maintained not to mention the wildlife dangers like mountian lions, bears, wolves,, ect (depending on area of idaho) It is so easy to become a victim of the beautiful rugged woods of Idaho
Idaho is gorgeous but like much of the rockies unforgiving...weather can change super quick. It isn't suburbia, lots of wildlife to contend with. I hike a lot, and had a freaky experience, with dogs. The dogs stopped cuz around the bend of the trail came a herd of deer spooked by something. But they almost ran over us. Not run over by a reindeer but certainly a fast moving herd darting around us, surreal. Never saw or heard anything chasing them, nor did the dogs.
@@savannahsmiles1797 I dislike when people take their pets along hiking, put yourself in danger, but most importantly, put the dog in danger. If you love your dog, don't take him with you, because if there is a bear, or mountain lion, he will put his life in danger and be taking out. It's not fair.
This is Shreya, im 23 and im from Chennai, India. I am lowkey obsessed with your channel. It has been amazing to watch you grow kyle. your passion for hiking and the respect you show for the fellow hikers is so unique to this channel. it is funny to think, literally across the globe and across a hemisphere, i am able to listen and take lessons from you.
Watching from Switzerland! The Matterhorn is often underestimated. My husband goes hiking in the Alps with three friends for a week every year, and in all the years they've been doing it, they have never even discussed tackling the Matterhorn.
At 66, even an otherwise healthy person could experience a medical emergency such as a heart attack or something. Jack Thomas took plenty of precautions and he had experience. Unfortunately anything can happen to any of us at anytime. He could have fallen, been attacked by a bear, etc. I hope that no matter what happened, he didn’t suffer.
My husband and I do a lot of Overland/Random/Boondocking camping and always carry out inReach. We've had to use it after our truck slid off the road a 26 hour hike from the nearest town. Another time it was needed was while mountain biking and we came across a girl who had fallen, the SOS likely saved her life. I can't agree more that if you're out of civilization/cell service/off the beaten path: please have a satellite relay!
I was thinking of the John Denver song "I guess he'd rather be in Colorado" if it's my time to go, I'd rather go out surrounded by natural wonder than in bed.
It's easy to say that if you've never come close to freezing or starving to death. People that go missing in the wilderness do not have beautiful deaths. The scenery rather loses its luster when it is bearing down on you as a menacing maze, killing you. Whether it's fast or slow, it's a terrifying, desperate, agonizing nightmare.
I think it’s really great that you explain what went wrong in some of these cases and what people could have done differently to survive. People underestimate the wilderness far too often and you have no idea how many peoples’ lives you might be saving by bringing awareness to wilderness survival.
I am a Washingtonian, and I always get a chill hearing names I know, have visited, and come to love. This series makes me wish to get trained as a rescuer, and go try to bring some of these missing people home.
You are welcome to Norway. We have endless nature that is truly fantastic. We have mountains, forests and fjords. All Norwegians love to be out in nature and Norway is a safe country to travel to. Now the biggest danger is avalanches if you hike in the North of Norway. There are few dangerous animals too.
I dont know about Baker, but when I was on Mt Rainer, it had fog so thick that you cant see more than 10 feet out. That was a moment when I realized how easy it is to get lost.
The saddest thing is , the people they will never be and the futures they will never see. Everyone has a effect on everybody they interact with, every day, a part of a persons being is left behind with every contact they make, a little bit rubs off. Peace to all the family’s in their loss. Kia ora, the People’s Republic of New Zealand.
When you opened the idea of how she was outfitted, it was a very important observation. You can never, in any activity, completely eliminate risk. All you can do is try to forsee the possibilities of something going wrong and outfit accordingly. For Rachel it is possible that even the sleeping bag she had may not have been rated to handle the weather that she experienced. I mention this as someone who served in the military and got caught not having the right equipment for the weather conditions a couple times. Had enough to survive the elements, but just a little colder and hypothermia would have been my fate. It is truly sad that she got caught out in that way. RIP Rachel.
Hi Kyle, I am French, living in England, I know very well the French Alps and Switzerland as well, and yes it's beautiful. I am more of a skier than hiker, but it doesn't matter, I love your channel and the way you tell those stories. 😊
Portland Oregon here. I hiked in the Apes Caves under My St. Helens ~7 yrs prior to the eruption. Always think about how close in time my adventure was to that event which I watched from my front porch in NE Portland. Thank you for all of these stories to accentuate the danger in the outback.❤
Thankfully I haven't known anyone who has gone missing. Your blogs are very important. Letting family and friends know someone still cares or maybe answer a few questions.
You could be walking calmly along one of our trails here in Idaho.... And then all of a sudden a cougar jumps on your back and sinks his teeth into your head. What? Bear spray? No sir. I didn't have the time. That cougar was waiting for me.
Thank you for always telling these stories. it helps honor the memory of the ones who never returned from their adventures. I hope you feel appreciated.
I live in the Western Highlands of Scotland, our mountains are nowhere as high as those of the Alps or the USA, but the warnings still apply, let someone know where you plan to go, which route you plan to take, and approximately when you expect to return ,check the weather forecast and carry a fully charged mobile phone with you, and most of all, dress appropriately. Every year we lose hikers and climbers, and our mountain rescue teams are all volunteers.
Living near Mt. Hood in Oregon I've seen many stories like these. I have never gone hiking alone. One time I went hiking with a young man who I realized didn't know what he was talking about. We went home the next day. Another time I went hiking with a group on Mt. Hood to a lake. We had a good time. The day we left I was sick. After that my gear was stolen and I only hiked in forest park in Portland.
Bro I was in a tiny little forest one time geocaching. I got lost. I took a picture of the map because both phones were dying, I had two at the time. I knew I wasn't far from anywhere but that was literally terrifying. I can't imagine what these people go through!
What happened to Rachel? She was killed by her own ignorance and arrogance. She’s solo hiking without a GPS phone or A TENT and is warned by descending hikers of the treacherous deadly conditions she’s about to encounter. ☠️ FIFO
@@LiveFreeOrDie2A She obviously didn't make the smartest decisions, but to be fair, it wasn't as common for people to have GPS in 2019. Even solo hikers. She didn't have a tent because she was heading for that cabin, which she would have undoubtedly arrived at before nightfall if the weather hadn't turned. How many people on that hike pack a tent? They all know they're sleeping at the cabin. The tent is added weight. I'm betting most don't take one. Yeah, she was warned by the descending hikers, but they were probably a lot older than her and she thought she could do it. She was young and fit and had been training to do this hike. She didn't even go off trail like the 66 year old. She just wanted to follow a very popular, relatively short trail to a cabin.
As a Swede, I recommend you take a stroll (???) along Kungsleden in Northern Sweden. I am not into hiking, I am maybe to old for that and like some comfort.
I’m from Canada. Two years ago I checked off another bucket list item and spent 10 days trail running near the foot of the Matterhorn. I’ve been to the Theodul Glacier and it is stunning. I remember wondering how many bodies may be buried in that glacier. This climber would have been down there when I visited the glacier. I live in the Canadian Rockies and have 20,000 trail miles under my belt in some of the most beautiful country in the world, but Switzerland made even MY jaw drop. Switzerland is vastly more beautiful than can be imagined. Definitely go! The mountaineering cemetery in Zermatt is a poignantly beautiful place. There are hundreds of very old and some very new headstones that not only say the name and date of the climber and their accident, but what mountain they died on and whether it was rockfall, avalanche, or fall that killed them. In many cases, their climbing gear, ice axe, ropes, or boots are draped permanently over their headstone. It will move you to tears.
Hey I'm from Switzerland and "there was not much info" is the standard here. We never get any details about anything and when something horrible happens there might be a few articles about them but they're quickly pushed under the rug. Even as a local I don't know half the stories that happen here. My theory is that Switzerland tries to hide anything negative because they have a "reputation" to uphold. However, something happened a couple of month ago and I've been thinking about sending you an email about it.
I dare say it has nothing to do with "upholding a reputation", I'd call it decency and respect for the victim and family. Not everybody wants their misery to be dragged all over the internet.
touring the mountains by car i stopped at a tiny gas station to fill up, turned around just in time to see an avalanche cascading from above. nothing damaged, nobody hurt, but owner of station said , oh that happens a couple of times a week”. so beware
All the reason a persons life can come to its end, there is some solace knowing these people died in a place and doing what they loved! Thanks Kyle for remembering them and making their stories forever known!
@Paratrooper.3695 I’ve never understood why people are afraid of dying, we all have to go some time. I’m not religious, but believing in an afterlife has given me a lot of solace.
There some sudden health issues that can pop up out of nowhere. Aneurysms and strokes are a couple, sometimes there are clear signs that these could happen, but there have been people of all ages that get hit with these out of the blue. Yes, he was out hiking in his 60’s, hopefully it was sudden and painless. And he was clearing doing something he loved to do.
I was hiking out on the gravel bar of a river in Alaska, fortunately near town, when I experienced nausea and chest pains. On my way back to the car it suddenly occurred to me that I might be having a heart attack. Fortunately (sort of) it was a gallbladder attack and I made it back. A couple of years later I was hiking in some isolated parts of New Mexico. A month after flying home my gallbladder put me in the hospital for two days with emergency surgery. It's stayed with me how differently both of those hikes could have gone.
I have subscribed to your channel and I’ve been watching the channel faithfully for about a month now. I’m watching from Galveston, Texas, and I don’t hike. I have no desire to walk up and down mountains in the wilderness or on a trail, therefore I live vicariously through the channel. Hopefully I will remain safe this way. 😊
Kyle: Matterhorn (Mt Cervin in French) was my destination for my 50th birthday anniversary; with friends of mine we rented an app in Zermatt and we ski on the slopes of Matterhorn : fantastic !! Because it was spring we also went for a couple of hikes around, but nothing like what you showed in this video. My point: Zermatt is a unique valley, full of accommodation, you can get their by train (reliable 100%), rented skis, and simply enjoyed the views !!! We are good hikers, but now into mountaineering.
I enjoy your stories. I noticed your ADK banner behind you, I started the ADK's at ten years old which is partly why I did SAR in the military, 30 states and 15 countries. Everyone needs to understand their limits and remember nature is unforgiving of mistakes.
I live in SW Montana and spend as much time as possible hiking in the mountains; 95% of which I solo. I love the stories and knowledge is power. Knowing how some of these hiker’s decisions evolve into life threatening situations is a key to not being there myself.
I've hiked to the Lookout above Hidden Lake many times and, yes, hiking in late October alone is generally not a good idea unless you are very certain about the weather forecast. It doesn't sound like she had done the hike before and that is also problematic. It would have been way safer for her turn around when she ran into the couple who were walking down. The trail itself is difficult because there is one abrupt turn to the right on the way up and if you don't know the trail, it would be so easy to miss the turn and continue straight ahead and thus get lost.
Jack Thomas very likely had a sudden massive heart attack or aneurysm which took him out faster than he knew what was happening. Had he have fallen, and even hit his head, he likely would have regained at least enough consciousness/energy to hit the emergency button. So it's very unlikely that he was taken by the elements. Maybe he was in a little too much of a hurry to get back to the trail and was pushing himself a little too much.
Bowels let go with some medical events. An old man who sh I t his pants told all of us at hospital that he was not a pee on himself dirty person. We assured him we knew that bowels or bladder might let go when sudden medical event happens unrelated to this embaressing events
They do but you need to pay extra for that service. You can choose for it to send your location automatically at given intervals (every minute,5 min,30 min...) so in cases like this your last location is easily determined but battery lasts longer without this service and it's cheaper so most people opt out.
Kyle, Switzerland is extraordinarily beautiful!! Most of the country looks like the most pristine national park imaginable. I hope you get there some day. You’ll be blown away!
The average life expectancy in the US was 76 years in 2021. At any rate, for most people, it's an age at which their physical condition is declining, making it riskier to do stuff like hiking in the wilderness alone.
Hai! I am half Dutch/half Swiss! My mom grew up close to where that climber was found, but I've never heard of it. Very interesting! The kanton (like province/state) is called either Valais, which is the french pronunciation, or Wallis, which is the German pronunciation. I usually spend a couple of months in the area with family every year and definitely recommend going there! Especially to Wallis since the area has so many massive and beautiful mountains, though in my biased opinion I'd say the German 'half' of Wallis is way more fun!
Hi, viewer from Germany here. I hike a lot and even though it is far less remote in the alps and there is a large professional search ans rescue with search dogs, helicopters and so on.. there surprisingly still are more cases of disappearing hikers than you would imagine. Always be careful out there and do your research about the area you go to and what gear and emergency equipment you need!
Since you asked, I'm from Jackson, MS, USA, but I mostly grew up in Italy (although I went to high school and college in the States). My mom is Italian and my dad is American and I moved back to Italy with my mom when my parents divorced when I was 2. I'm a dual citizen and currently live in South Texas (though I have lived all over both the US and Europe). The Alps are absolutely gorgeous and are my 2nd favorite place on Earth, second only to Alaska.
@yanabo7220 I forgot to say with my brother, I need to correct that. I think it was an adventure, my mom was a little lady, but very tough, she probably figured what's the worse that can happen, I raised 12 kids in poverty without any help.haha
My SIL wants to hike the AT, she’s mentioned it enough times I think she’s sincere. She’s 68, overweight & out of shape. I’ve told her about the feral people supposedly living in the woods but she seems undeterred. Is there a short, easy portion of the hike? Or do you have any other suggestions I could share? I’m getting close to sending her the really scary TH-cam videos of murders etc. And the documentary “They Called Him Mostly Harmless.” She may be preparing and I’m just unaware but I seriously doubt it. Thanks for reading and for any suggestions you can offer.
It's so easy to get lost hiking. Easier than people think. Growing up in Oregon, we would backpack in the Mt. Hood National Forest often. Help just isn't around. Of course, when I was a kid in the 80s, there weren't cell phones, sat phones, or navigation tools other than compasses and maps. Our parents had my older sisters and myself wear whistles, and we were taught that if we were lost, to find a "tree buddy" and hug the tree trunk and blow our whistle until we were found. Four experiences from our family camping trips will stay with me forever- three terrifying, and one funny. I was about 8 when we took a week-long trip to a beautiful spot call Eden Park next to Ladd Creek. We went for a day hike from our campsite, and I was up ahead of my family when I spotted something that caused me to dash forward. It was a little black bear cub, and I fully intended to pet it. The roar from my father behind me stopped me in my tracks and made me cry. But he was right. The lesson I learned was that a mama bear is always near her cubs and will protect them. On a different trip, the scariest and funniest moments happened. I was little, and still slept with my blanket, a big orange thing named "GiGi". On the way to the trailhead, I insisted that GiGi would come with us. "No" was my parents' response, telling me I was old enough to sleep without him. I stopped negotiating, but when we got to the trailhead, my dad started loading my pack with the lightest items- the freeze-dried food we would eat for the trip. He finished attaching the tin pots and pans to my pack and started packing the rest of the packs. I quietly went to the backseat and unloaded all the food and put GiGi it my pack. Off we went, the pots and pans clanging against my leg.. We hiked all afternoon and had almost reached the campsite my Dad had picked when my sister, Leslie, had to pee. Leslie was shy and went a little too far to find privacy. She didn't come back. Over an hour passed, and my parents worry grew into an almost-frenzy. After 2 hours, they left my oldest sister, Lynn, with me and they hiked off in different directions into the darkening night. Dad eventually got all the way back to the car where a very scared Leslie was waiting. He was PISSED when he had to go back a second time for the food I had left on the back seat of the car. The third trip was higher in elevation, and was more remote than we had ventured as a family before. Lynn was goofing around and ran ahead without looking. My Dad starting running after her, and caught her arm right before she got to the edge of a sheer cliff. Lynn didn't die that day, but she did die in another tragic event. A different story for a different time.
Great video Kyle. I have to admit I thought for a while you started doing videos for click bait and sensationalism but I have changed my opinion. Your respect for the families of these people is obvious, as well as your desire to educate the hiking community of dangers out there and how to mitigate that risk. Your passion for hikers and the hiking community is greatly appreciated 👍
Budapest, Hungary here. I don't hike, I bike, but I do find these stories fascinating, I've watched your entire series. Switzerland is just as advertised, but crazy expensive. If it's no problem, go for it! If it is a problem, I can recommend just about any place in Austria, or the Black Forest in Germany instead. And if you want to go super low-budget, go to Transylvania, but watch out for bears!
This is Bud Carr, thanks for the kind words. Rachel passed away from exposure to the elements. Very accurate representation of her case and facts surrounding it. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.
Thank goodness there are people like you out there, it takes guts to do what you do but don’t worry, you’ll never have to rescue me, I’m scared stiff of heights, I mean terrified, my legs and brain go to jelly, even stairs without a hand rail are beyond me. Have fun and be happy doing what you love. ❤
Thanks for what you do sir.
Keep it up. If your competent no one can tell you not to search and try to help because your not a "recognized" group.
Hi Bud. I'm sure your efforts brought her friends and family closure. That's a wonderful gift to give. Thank you for all your hard work. ❤
@@jenniferholden9397 Me Too!! Legs literally turn to noodles. I can't even hold myself up! It's crazy! Glad I'm not alone lol.
On behalf of Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, thank you very much for the shout-out and the resulting donations! We appreciate it very much!
Thank you for all you guys do!!
Thank you for all your work! Donating! We need you guys ❤
Former SVFD here.
God Bless you
I don't personally know anyone who has needed assistance from any rescue group during a hike. But I wanted to thank all the volunteers who give their time to help others. You truly are the unsung heroes. 💚💚💚
God bless! Thanks for what yall do
I'm 65. It's a funny age, you feel like your old self inside, and you're still walking and doing chores normally. It's easy to forget that your endurance, flexibility. strength, balance, and balance, etc have declined. I recently had to sit myself down and have "the talk" with myself. No more solo hikes.
Great memories though ❤
I'm 66 and hike with my dog who will be 10 next month ( 60in dog years) we both think we can do things and then when we do our bodies ask "What the "F" were you thinking?" But, if I'm gonna die, I'd rather it be in the back country rather than sitting in a chair eating cupcakes....
I recently asked my 92yo grandma how old she feels, she said “Oh, about 30 inside, but around million outside”.. She still travelled by herself couple years ago and lived independently until few months ago. Im nearing my 50s and Im kinda amazed Ive made it this far :)
I’m 65, and do daily wilderness hikes with my dog and several solo overnight backpack trips. I have a mini InReach and use it. I have hiked all my life and what I might be lacking in physicality due to aging, I’ve gained in experience. The younger version of me took way more risks that could have had serious consequences. So, just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean that you’re at increased risk.
@@janemiettinen5176 Asked my grandmother the same. She said "19 inside" and laughed. Guess it's something we all get to experience.....if lucky
My dad was a volunteer SAR president for years, I used to be the “lost hiker” in training exercises and they would carry me off the mountain. There were lots of late night phone calls where they would have to go out and find someone. I was always so proud of him for that.
❤
Don't lie.
Very cool. Check out a book called "The Last Season"
My husband does SAR too. Sometimes it's scary when he takes off on a rescue but I'm so proud of him. ❤
God bless your father.😊
Thank you for mentioning Rachel. She was my friend in high school. I miss her alot and think of her always. She was such a kind soul, and she would help anyone who needed it. Rachel was a person who had a contagious smile and laugh. She would always make me laugh when we talked. I met Rachel in 9th grade, we had intro to drama together so we would have to be on stage pretending to be trees or animals. It was funny then our junior year we had stage craft together so we would get the theater stage ready for shows me, her, and 3 more students. That class was fun because we were always able to play with the props. After high school me n rachel lost touch but I always considered her a friend, and always will. I still talk about her even now, and I know that if she was here she would still be the free spirit she always was, with her red hair, and amazing smile..that is how I remember her. I still can’t believe she’s gone. 😥 but I think of her as a guardian angel to her friends and family. I hope she is resting in peace.
My condolences. People like that are few and far between
Thanks for sharing your memories, she sounds like a lovely person.
😢🙏
What a sweet sentiment to Rachel! I'm sure she would say the same about you. May God continue to Bless you with more wonderful memories.
Hi Kyle I'm a Brit who has hiked in a lot of places around the world. A huge difference between Europe and North America is that the backcountry areas in Europe are nowhere near as large and remote as you have and you are much more likely to come across, or be seen by, other hikers (unless you fall down a crevasse or something), so less likely to just disappear for years. I once trekked up Wolverine Pass outside Golden BC and in nine hours didn't see a soul. Very unlikely that would happen in Europe. Enjoy the trip!
I live here in BC. What you say is accurate.
I live in Europe, Croatia, right under mountain Biokovo. Every summer someone get lost, missin, found dead.... Usually people from Poland and Czech but they are not the only one. I hike on biokovo almost every week, we have a second highest peak in country, 1762m and believe me i almost never meet another hiker.
I'm a brit aswel and can tell you that you are wrong.
Well, living in Sweden you can go for days without seeing anyone. Even in some areas in the south.
Depends where in Europe. Isnt the same crowded UK than Russia, Lapland or Inland Spain or France.
The most incredible part of this story is that a man who was a part of Bud’s team is named Kevin Dares. Kevin’s girlfriend, Samantha Sayers, went missing 3 years before on Mt Vesper, also in the North Cascades. She has not yet been found. He understood deeply the pain of Rachel’s family. You are amazing and selfless, Kevin!
30:34 thanks for the good advice. I appreciate it. 🇨🇦🍁🙂
Very familiar with this as I live nearby. Peace.
Sus.
The health of a 66 year old varies WILDLY. Some are very much declining, others are physically more like someone in their 40s. My great-grandmother lived until 103, my father is currently closing in on 80 and he's still doing quite adventurous things - he just came back from a photography trip in Norway and has another one planned in February for the Serengeti.
My 80yo neighbor is outside mowing his lawn right now and I have no doubt he could do a day hike. And there's people in their 70s at the climbing gym who are stronger and fitter than I am in my 40s. There's also plenty of 35yos who couldn't manage a day hike. It's not fair to just look at age. It DOES put him at higher risk and that's totally fair to point out. Some of us are willing to accept that risk to be out there. Whatever happened was fast enough he couldn't call for help. If that was medical, he wasn't going to make it no matter where he was. If it was an accident I'm glad he went fast.
p.s. I asked if his fancy riding mower was broken down and he said no he just thought he'd come out and get his exercise. Use it or lose it!
Alex Honnolds mom at 70 climbed El Cap with him ...and of course ...with ropes ;)
Yeah, I’d guess something like a stroke or heart attack is most likely in Jack Thomas’s case. Some people just get unlucky.
I’m closing in on age 75. I traversed 404,000 vertical feet in 2023 and am on track for a 10% increase in 2024. I am one of the lucky ones I admit and certainly am thankful for. But I know that as we all age the ticking time bomb that is our body can go off at any time 😉. Quite possibly Thomas’s fate.
I worked in that area for the Forest Service for about thirty years and knew Jack as an acquaintance. He was in good physical condition, knew all the landmarks, and knew his way around that area. Sadly, he was found only about 15 miles from the trailhead, almost all downhill on a clearly discernible trail to the trailhead. Many medical events, such as kidney failure, stroke, and heart attack, cause you to feel like you have to go to the bathroom immediately, and that might explain the inside-out jeans and underwear.
Maybe he ate some bad berries! Can really mess up your digestive system!
Is it possible that Jack Thomas was eaten by Sasquatch? I now believe in Bigfoot and stuff like that after listening to all these stories on TH-cam.
Thank you. That explains a lot. The inside out pants and shoes off didn't make sense.
Wouldn't paradoxical undressing from hypothermia make more sense?
Thanks for the volunteer SAR team shout out! We are everywhere :) pay our own way and fundraise for our gear, dogs, trainings, etc.
As soon as you said Oct, I thought NOPE! I’ve been in an ice/snowstorm with 70mph winds at that elevation, (in a shelter and carrying extra emergency food,) in AUGUST! Never ever underestimate mountains. Motorcyclists have a mantra…dress for the fall, not the ride.
we got snowed on in yosemite one fourth of july weekend. luckily we were pretty much prepared for anything
Close..we say "Dress for the SLIDE, not the Ride."
I’m not even a climber and that sent off alarm bells in my head
I'm from Albuquerque NM. I was at Zermatt Switzerland and on way to Matterhorn's viewing area by tram in 1958 when a body floated down the river there, released from the snowmelt off the glacier area. It was of a climber that had perished decades beforehand (old climbing gear/clothes).
So long ago? 😮
You should do some videos on people who were missing for a long time but were found alive
It'd all be stories from my neck of the woods. I live in Humboldt and that happens all the time. People come up here to disappear, their families freak out thinking they were killed by some weird pot kingpin with their own lil kingdom in the mountains, then they turn up like 5 years later after they get sick of trimming and living in someone's shed. The death to weird pot warlords thing only happens once in awhile!
Like Elivis.
@@edwardzignot2681trimming?
@@i.ehrenfest349do you know Humbolt? 💨💨💚😶🌫️😂😘
@@CyborgMaMa nope
For those of us not too fluent in the Search and Rescue jargon "finding" a lost hiker very often means finding their remains, as was the case in these three circumstances.
I live just a few miles from where Rachael was lost and then found. She was found in a tree well in her bag. The snow that time of year up here is what we call Cascade concrete, it's wet and heavy. The storm lasted for days when she was lost would severe and a GPS unit would not have worked due to the heavy snow and weather conditions. We have had a bunch of missing people in this area. Some found some not.
Check into Patricia "Patti" Krieger, who was lost on Sauk Mtn. This is a very popular hike, but she is still missing. Her dog showed up many miles from where she was last seen.
BTW i am 66 years old and a solo all the time, I have been hiking and backpacking since I was 12. And yes, you never know when your number is up no matter how careful you are. ;)
@ImaRandomFemale she was found next to a tree in her sleeping bag. Speculation is she hunkered down under the tree. If I remember correctly, the snow was not deep enough at the time to produce tree wells. It was a nasty storm that she was in.
I live nearby. High strangeness.
@HikingwithGus, it's not "when your number is up no matter how careful you are", it's more like you under estimate the fury of mother nature, even if your an expert, FAFO.
I spent a week with Rachel in Northern Ireland and she was one of the sweetest people 🥺
sorry you lost your friend
I was a friend of Rachel’s since high school. She was one of the nicest sweetest people I have ever met. She had such a pure heart. I miss her always.
Brittany, how did you meet Rachel?
This is very important. Never let the summit fever get to you. Even if the summit is already visible and seems close enough to touch, if for some reason you have doubts and a bad feeling or are totally exhausted, then turn around! You only have one life, but you can try again. I tried three times on Kangchenjunga, unfortunately I had to turn back three times. In the end, I and two others succeeded the following year. I think if I hadn't turned back, I would have stayed on the mountain.
Agreed. I don't know who originally said it, but I've adopted it as my hiking mantra and repeat it every time I head out solo or with my kids: "Getting to the summit is optional, getting safely back down is not. If we have to sacrifice one for the other, we'll sacrifice the summit every time."
100%😢
I think that's why these videos are so good, they help drive that point home. The proper respect for wilderness is important. Know your limits or Darwin gets you.
I thought this video was about people who disappeared but found years later ALIVE :(
😂😂me too
Nope. Wrong channel for that.
Hey, yeah!
Same
I think we are all aware that the title of the videos are only for clickbait and the titles actually don't have anything to do with the video period. I'm pretty certain that the person who gave the title to this video had no idea what it was about.
Kyle is trying to help you survive and enjoy nature. If you are reading this, subscribe, like and share! He is paying forward, so you don't have to pay with you or your loved ones lives. Thanks ever so much Kyle!
Yes. Have real respect for the wilderness. Too many think it's some kind of Disney park. In the wilderness, it's very possible no one is going to be there to save you from big mistakes.
I love how you promote the GPS trackers & support the search & rescue. Thank you
Watching from the UK. I haven't been to Switzerland but I did live in Germany, Bavaria and its almost impossible to describe the dreamlike, fairy tale landscapes over there, in summer and winter. I remember once jumping on the wrong train and ending up in the foothills of the Alps in a small quaint little station that must have been at least a hundred years old. It was a frosty but sunny morning and the view was unforgettable.
Amazing
Are you a writer?
@@Faristol7 Hello. Not really: I write a little bit as a hobby :)
@@jackspring7709 Me too! I love writing long, detailed descriptions of scenes or situations!!
I’m obsessed with Germany. My grandma brought me as a 13 year old. Then my husband and I have been twice 5 and 7 years ago. STUNNING stunning part of the world. I’d love to move over there.
So, I was the injuree of an attempted murder/carjacking, with a nice smashed up leg n stuff, and as much as i used to love hiking and the outdoors, I don't get out much any more...regardless, i still like watching your stories and enthusiasm for the outdoors...i think you will get to a million for sure!!!
You poor dear.
Damn! I'm so sorry that happened to you! Hang in there, dear!
Oh, that's terrible! Did the police find the person who did this to you? How are you doing now - can you walk without assistance?
@laurenrowell9251 unfortunately no, when I came back to consciousness in the hospital, shortly after a police officer came into the room and started asking me questions about it, which i didn't remember too much of, then cant remember exactly how he said it, but he asked why did i set my car on fire and burn it? Lolol...apparently they found it somewheres burnt up, so ya, no evidence, and I don't remember enough to even know where to begin looking for this person...but ya, I was like, how the heck did I run over myself, drag myself several hundred feet, smashing my body and road rash everywhere, then somehow light my car up? Even if I had full coverage and you think I did some insurance scam, on a several years old minivan! Like Im gona mess my whole life up for some pocket change 🤣 silly cops...i guess they gotta do their due diligance...but even if they found that person, I would forgive them, it doesn't hurt anyone bit yourself when you hold grudges...
Blaming the victim is the method of an imbecileCop
An emergency shelter is one of the 10 Essentials, which should even be carried on day hikes.
Plus warm clothing, thermos of hot tea and a good book.
@@TDubya811 not exaxtly...
I had a day hike turn overnight because of weather. We all carried the ten essentials. We had a great time even if we were late.
@@shakyarcherwhy not- you can make a fire with a few sheets of Paper!
A mylar blanket and a lighter works pretty good too. 😆
Hey Kyle I’m watching from NZ. You should look into the story of Ondrej Petr who died on the Routeburn track. It is a too common story of ill prepared hikers doing a trail in winter, in fresh snow with none of the correct equipment. They left no intention information. He tragically died in the mountains and his inexperienced girlfriend did not know what to do. She found a guides hut and broke into it (it was shut up for winter). She had food and shelter. The hut had a radio but she didn’t know how to use it and did speak much english. She stayed there alone for a month and was only found in Spring when the trail guides visited to get the huts ready for summer.
It breaks my heart when young people die needlessly. Rest in peace young, beautiful Rachel.
Really appreciate your videos, from California! Non hiker, 78 , but still riding my horse!
Riding horses is one of the hardest things to give up!! It's so amazing and peaceful and exhilarating and fun! Being one with your horse... Good for you. 💜
I do dream of selling everything I own, and buying a 🐎 horse.
Get off that darned horse. LOL
@@teresaoconnell4790 You'd have to pry him off with a crowbar. 😉😉😄
@@LaughingblueSu Me too, but I don't own enough. 😂
Your advice about the tent/bivy gear on a short, steep solo overnight to a cabin in late October is 100% on point.
It's not overkill or armchair quarterbacking. Doing a literal "post-mortem" analysis on these cases is a critical component in comprehensive risk management.
You tell these stories with so much heartfelt concern, it shouldn't stand out as much as it does. But it does. Let's hope that approach goes viral.
It's time for the internet to grow up and make itself useful!
It reminds me a little of the accident reports for airplanes or OSHA. Let's learn what we need to change to be safer going forwards. But also, you can do everything right and nature will kill you anyway if she wants to, and we should all remember that while we're out there so we can make the best decisions.
Silly. None of us tune in to get "tips" or be nannyed on hiking. This is all just curiousity on people dying. There are other channels I would go to if I wanted to be preached to. No one is going to listen to this kid's advice anyway.
Also it really is armchair quarterbacking. No one can plan for every contingency, and 99.9999% of the people that hike have no major problems. So should we all carry around 200 pounds of equipment just in case that 0.0001% occurance were to arise?
Let's not forget that carrying additional weight is also a problem that can cause death/falling/getting lost etc. It's a lot easier to slip and fall with extra weight, especially since the weight is carried on the upper body making one more top heavy. More likely to become exhausted, have a heart attack, suffer altitude sickness, etc with that extra weight. Potentially more likely to get lost from being more weary and less attentive from being bogged down with the weight. More likely to slip in a stream, drown, etc with that extra weight. etc etc.
@@markgunther2502Yeah, not silly. Not preaching. Definitely not armchair quarterbacking. Glad to see the hypocrisy when you speculate on what might have happened. Some of that was truly ridiculous. That said, it could have been Bigfoot. Did you think about that?
@@markgunther2502 I tune in for tips. I think learning from other mistakes is a good way to hopefully not make the same mistake myself.
@markgunther2502 also you have 44 comments on this channel complaining about "this kid"... you okay bro? You seem to be fragile
I’m guessing the first guy either had a heart attack or a stroke- had to be something so incapacitating that he couldn’t push a button- it could have just as easily killed him in his living room if that’s what happened
True but the whole pants/underwear thing is bizarre.
Bigfoot
@@darthlaurel May be he was ...well, you know going to toilet out there /sorry i'm not native english no idea how to say it without saying something rude! ) and then suddenly he felt bad, may be he felt a big heat, his blood pressure was not okay, went high, he wanted to get the satelite thing to send a signal but suddenly had no idea where it was and took down his clothes to look in his pocket and then he went forward and died suddenly...a stroke, a heart attack, something that confuses him first before it went fatal.
@@zeva66 the thing is, his remains were not found near the pants and underwear. Now maybe they could've gotten dragged off or blown by the wind, but what about the one boot, and where was the other boot? It's all pretty sketchy. I still say Bigfoot
Animals could have pulled off the clothes- bears are especially dexterous and would have no problem pulling the pants off to get at the meat- other scenario is he was unknowingly suffering from hypothermia- which would explain why he didn’t call for help, as it can cause delusions and extreme confusion. Also in the end stages of hyperthermia, your body tells your brain you are actually hot, and a lot of people who die from exposure are found naked- sometimes even with blankets and sleeping bags nearby
Hi Kyle, My strange hiking story took place in the summer of 1961.
My dad led our family on a 2-day hike/climb to the summit of Half Dome in Yosemite. I was 8, and my brother was 6, both in cheap tennis shoes. We didn't see one other person on the cable, not like the crowds of today.
We all made it up and down without tragedy, and I don't think it caused any ptsd. But looking back, I do wonder who in their right mind leads a hike to the top of Half Dome with two little average kids?
Thanks for your good work, Kyle.
Who in their right mind would give an 8y old and 6y old I-pads? You should be thankfull to your father.
Good memories. I bet you're a man now
When I was little (mid 60s) my Dad would take me and my two older brothers out into the Everglades fishing. They would often let me out of the boat to play at the waters edge. I know. He should have known better. Got a few stories from then. Later in life, my brothers and I would go out on multi day trips in the ENP, Okefenokee, Blue Ridge, etc... My Dad said once that he wished he'd never taken us out in the Glades and one day we'd never come back. He said, there's things out there that have never been seen Well, we had some great trips and managed to survive. Too old for that stuff now. It's easy to make mistakes in judgement and those mistakes can be serious. Panic is your enemy in the wilderness.
My family did this also in the 60s when I was 9
@@robertbates6057what thing?
Thank you Kyle- I’m addicted to your chanel and story telling .I’m a 53 year old mother and ultra trail runner from Kuwait, where you can only find concrete and desert, nowhere to hike, but I do camp and sleep in the desert through our short winter every year. However, I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to travel around the world and hike/run/camp in different trails partially for leisure and mostly as part of my race training . I’ve been to the mountains of Taiwan, Oman, Turkey, I ran The Alps in Italy, Swiss, France, as part of my UTMB race , and I also hiked in the Rockies in Colorado and in the AT Virginia . Planning to visit Vancouver this year . Saving money for my hiking /running and camping around the world is what I do when I’m in flat pancake Kuwait 😅 thank you and never stop your amazing content ❤
I like the way you don't sensationalise and protect identities. Its very respectful. 👏👏
Hey Kyle, idahoan here, hadn't heard of this story. Thank you for the donation to the rescue organization and all the others you donate to.
Kyle always reminds you that these aren't just stories, but real life situations that we can & should learn from!
I live in the Canadian Rockies area, and many hikes I've gone one-with others and never solo here, many times we've been the only people on the trail that day. It's so vast, so many hikes to suit any ability and interest. I once did a solo hike through a gorge in Crete Greece, but I also crapped myself as I got out a parking area too early and thought I wouldn't get back to the car and will never go solo again.
Please always go with others, be safe and don't separate.
Hi Kyle, I’m Brazilian but have been living in California for a while. I do hike, but I usually go for short and easy/moderate hikes. I love nature and also love backpacking, but the thought of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere scares me.
The fact that private citizens trying to solve missing persons cases is controversial is so sad to me! Law enforcement has limited time and resources for these long term cases, which is understandable. They have to focus on the most urgent cases. I just don't see why it would be bad for people to help
I agree, although I think basic training on things like preserving evidence and not moving or interfering with gear, clothing, remains etc might be helpful and help volunteer searchers connect with law enforcement.
Yep just look at the private dive team that solved the missing girl case within 20 minutes of showing up on scene. they have found many missing people in submerged cars since. cops don't like it because it makes them look bad.
@@rhetorical1488I think you’re exactly right, egos of LE! Years ago I saw a story on ID of missing teens from the 40s/50s/60s? Can’t recall details but decades later their car was found in a body of water directly on the route they would’ve taken home from the party they attended, not far off the bridge. Like, how do you not drag a lake or river for decades?? As I recall it was volunteers who discovered the car. Poor families never had closure on their children’s fate, in what was an easily solvable accident.
The nearby town next to SF has a binder of hundreds of "unsolved murders" They don't even bother to investigate. The "Trailside killer" killed a local girl and the cops were told about a strange stalker that kept contacting her at her bank job. They never followed up on the tip and he killed many more while the cops sat on evidence of the "missing" girl.
Yeah, Controversial??? Ridiculous. If officials have stopped the searching,what is Controversial at that point. It helps the family and cost no one any money. So sick of everything being labeled Controversial. Does anyone keep their hats on indoors, does anyone keep their elbows on the table, that was once controversial.
I am 66 years old and I am an active mountain biker, day hiker and car camper. I am smart about what I do and try not to put myself in excess peril . I used to backpack when I was younger, but I don’t know anyone interested in going anymore. I really enjoy your hiking videos especially the Foothills trail as I live in South Carolina. I liked the videos with you and Flossy. They remind me of all the stupid shit I did when I was younger. 😂 Doug
@@douglaslangella7782 isn’t it wonderful that you are so competent and capable. makes me feel a failure in my wheelchair
I think that 66 is not that much. If you are active hiker, you stay in good shape.
My friend is 80 and he just cycled from Ireland to Switzerland last summer 😅😂
He is quite unbelievable really! 😅
It depends of a lot which kind of life you lead otherwise.
My husband used to maintain the Hidden Lake trail (many years ago). It’s such an incredibly beautiful area but it is easy to get turned around and lose the trail as the forest canopy and undergrowth is so thick. The North Cascade mountains are often called The American Alps. If you ever get a chance to drive over the North Cascades Highway, I highly recommend doing it.
I'm from Scotland. You would NOT regret coming here for a hiking adventure. Our mountains are not that big but they present their own challenges, not to mention they're spectacular.
Never go swimming or hiking alone. We were taught this as small children.
The reason so many long-missing people are being found in the Alps is because the glaciers are melting rapidly, revealing the bodies. Just as with Ötzi, the famous "ice Man" who was revealed by melting glacial ice high in the Alps after having been buried for over 5,000 years.
The only benefits to the receding glaciers.
@@soph4381I guess we could always go back to the ice age🤷♂️
@@soph4381 No. The Archeological record is being serious injected with tons of valuable information from all kinds of flora and fauna melting out at the moment. A lot of this is human history but tons of it is other types of history; from viruses and bacteria to animal and human technology/tool remains. Human, Neanderthal and other hominin artifacts re-surface on a daily basis and all we need to preserve, study, and excavate this material is more funding and skilled workers.
This is relevant to any of this, how?
@@robertwinn4458 Of zero interest to anyone with a hatred or aversion towards science, archeology, anthropology,. modern humanity, ancient flora and fauna, and the the Anthropocene. So, you I guess but billions of others show great interest and curiosity about what the receding glaciers are uncovering. This is a treasure-trove of fascinating discoveries...but not for you. Pathetic.
Every time I listen to the stories I think how good Kyle is at reporting these stories. 👍🙏✨️
Hi Kyle! European viewer here 🙋♀️
I'm Italian and so, apart from sharing the Alps with our neighbours France, Austria and Switzerland (a WONDERFUL country you absolutely have to visit), we also have the Dolomiti, a very unique mountain range, set in South Tyrol, a fantastic region with delicious food and wine and top professional hospitality.
I'm sure you will enjoy your stay in our mountains!
I'm pretty sure you also 'share' the Alps with Slovenia.
@@dekikkerfan ahhhh right! 😭🙏
I was thinking about the north, Slovenia is such an amazing country, the Soča valley is unimaginably beautiful and the mountains breathtaking.
My country sadly contributed to bring war and destruction to such beautiful places, I visited Kobarid and its museum which should be definitely more known and left an everlasting impression on me.
Been through South Tyrol staying in Cortina d’Ampezzo Cinque, Torri, area just gorgeous. I luv Italy my family is from Puglia.
hi from switzerland! there's multiple factors that make hiking in certain places extremely dangerous, even for experienced hikers. the biggest factor is the abrupt weather change in the mountains: it can go from a beautiful sunny day to extreme winds, rain and even hail in a matter of minutes. the mountains are fairly high and steep, so one wrong step can cause you to slide and fall. another factor is people misjudging how much of an 'expert' they are, tending to go off the trail despite having been advised not to do so. so mix arrogance and brutal nature and you get missing hikers!
Thanks for covering these stories. You'll never know how many lives you have saved by sharing this information.
Hiking in Switzerland is INCREDIBLE. Spending a day going up a trail around the side of a mountain eight hours from civilisation in any direction to find an inexplicable hut selling hot chocolate as you look down on snow covered peaks is one of the highlights of experience
I love the diligence and respect in your videos. The way you use these real life tragedies to educate others while also keeping their names and memories alive is admirable.
I am someone who not only lives in southern idaho but also is a pretty regular solo hiker and nature enjoying person. Idaho has more hiker and hunter disappearances in the backwoods than most are aware of as the news coverage usually doesnt go much farther than local news.. I as a solo hiker here always take all the necessary gear and then some as Idaho has unpredictable weather wildly varying conditions on trails and it is rather easy to get lost off trail or even at times on trail as many are backcountry or rarely maintained not to mention the wildlife dangers like mountian lions, bears, wolves,, ect (depending on area of idaho) It is so easy to become a victim of the beautiful rugged woods of Idaho
Idaho is gorgeous but like much of the rockies unforgiving...weather can change super quick. It isn't suburbia, lots of wildlife to contend with. I hike a lot, and had a freaky experience, with dogs. The dogs stopped cuz around the bend of the trail came a herd of deer spooked by something. But they almost ran over us. Not run over by a reindeer but certainly a fast moving herd darting around us, surreal. Never saw or heard anything chasing them, nor did the dogs.
@@savannahsmiles1797 I dislike when people take their pets along hiking, put yourself in danger, but most importantly, put the dog in danger. If you love your dog, don't take him with you, because if there is a bear, or mountain lion, he will put his life in danger and be taking out. It's not fair.
This is Shreya, im 23 and im from Chennai, India. I am lowkey obsessed with your channel. It has been amazing to watch you grow kyle. your passion for hiking and the respect you show for the fellow hikers is so unique to this channel. it is funny to think, literally across the globe and across a hemisphere, i am able to listen and take lessons from you.
Watching from Switzerland! The Matterhorn is often underestimated. My husband goes hiking in the Alps with three friends for a week every year, and in all the years they've been doing it, they have never even discussed tackling the Matterhorn.
At 66, even an otherwise healthy person could experience a medical emergency such as a heart attack or something. Jack Thomas took plenty of precautions and he had experience. Unfortunately anything can happen to any of us at anytime. He could have fallen, been attacked by a bear, etc. I hope that no matter what happened, he didn’t suffer.
Amen. Exactly my thoughts. Thank you so much for expressing them in so impactful words. 😊
My husband and I do a lot of Overland/Random/Boondocking camping and always carry out inReach. We've had to use it after our truck slid off the road a 26 hour hike from the nearest town. Another time it was needed was while mountain biking and we came across a girl who had fallen, the SOS likely saved her life. I can't agree more that if you're out of civilization/cell service/off the beaten path: please have a satellite relay!
I was thinking of the John Denver song "I guess he'd rather be in Colorado" if it's my time to go, I'd rather go out surrounded by natural wonder than in bed.
It's easy to say that if you've never come close to freezing or starving to death. People that go missing in the wilderness do not have beautiful deaths. The scenery rather loses its luster when it is bearing down on you as a menacing maze, killing you. Whether it's fast or slow, it's a terrifying, desperate, agonizing nightmare.
I think it’s really great that you explain what went wrong in some of these cases and what people could have done differently to survive. People underestimate the wilderness far too often and you have no idea how many peoples’ lives you might be saving by bringing awareness to wilderness survival.
I am a Washingtonian, and I always get a chill hearing names I know, have visited, and come to love. This series makes me wish to get trained as a rescuer, and go try to bring some of these missing people home.
You are welcome to Norway. We have endless nature that is truly fantastic. We have mountains, forests and fjords. All Norwegians love to be out in nature and Norway is a safe country to travel to. Now the biggest danger is avalanches if you hike in the North of Norway. There are few dangerous animals too.
There are some dangerous Finnish dudes out there; ask the Hungry Ghosts of the Karelian Peninsula. 🎉
Norway is somewhere I would love to visit and some of the nicest people in the world
I'm of Norwegian descent and it's always been a place I want to visit!
I'm of Norwegian descent and it's always been a place I want to visit!
As a Swede I agree. Norways nature is FANTASTIC to hike in! Swedens northern parts are beautiful too but norway is something else!
I dont know about Baker, but when I was on Mt Rainer, it had fog so thick that you cant see more than 10 feet out. That was a moment when I realized how easy it is to get lost.
The saddest thing is , the people they will never be and the futures they will never see. Everyone has a effect on everybody they interact with, every day, a part of a persons being is left behind with every contact they make, a little bit rubs off. Peace to all the family’s in their loss. Kia ora, the People’s Republic of New Zealand.
Our lives aren't just our own. Our lives also belong to those that we choose to be around or who choose to be around us.
Your words and feelings are so very beautiful. Thank you.
As a mother I was in scouting for 12 consecutive years. One of the biggest pieces of advise was the buddy system. Never go alone always take a buddy.
When you opened the idea of how she was outfitted, it was a very important observation. You can never, in any activity, completely eliminate risk. All you can do is try to forsee the possibilities of something going wrong and outfit accordingly. For Rachel it is possible that even the sleeping bag she had may not have been rated to handle the weather that she experienced. I mention this as someone who served in the military and got caught not having the right equipment for the weather conditions a couple times. Had enough to survive the elements, but just a little colder and hypothermia would have been my fate. It is truly sad that she got caught out in that way. RIP Rachel.
Hi Kyle, I am French, living in England, I know very well the French Alps and Switzerland as well, and yes it's beautiful. I am more of a skier than hiker, but it doesn't matter, I love your channel and the way you tell those stories. 😊
I know nothing about hiking, but this channel has me locked in. I'm on a binge like never before
I subscribed however I do hike what I call day trips
Portland Oregon here. I hiked in the Apes Caves under My St. Helens ~7 yrs prior to the eruption. Always think about how close in time my adventure was to that event which I watched from my front porch in NE Portland. Thank you for all of these stories to accentuate the danger in the outback.❤
Thankfully I haven't known anyone who has gone missing. Your blogs are very important. Letting family and friends know someone still cares or maybe answer a few questions.
You could be walking calmly along one of our trails here in Idaho.... And then all of a sudden a cougar jumps on your back and sinks his teeth into your head. What? Bear spray? No sir. I didn't have the time. That cougar was waiting for me.
You are so right. I agree completely.
Good job leaving his name out. He didn't respond so he probably wants to be left alone. Good on you!
Thank you for always telling these stories. it helps honor the memory of the ones who never returned from their adventures. I hope you feel appreciated.
I live in the Western Highlands of Scotland, our mountains are nowhere as high as those of the Alps or the USA, but the warnings still apply, let someone know where you plan to go, which route you plan to take, and approximately when you expect to return ,check the weather forecast and carry a fully charged mobile phone with you, and most of all, dress appropriately. Every year we lose hikers and climbers, and our mountain rescue teams are all volunteers.
I like how respectful and sensitive you are regarding the hikers and their families.
Living near Mt. Hood in Oregon I've seen many stories like these. I have never gone hiking alone.
One time I went hiking with a young man who I realized didn't know what he was talking about. We went home the next day.
Another time I went hiking with a group on Mt. Hood to a lake. We had a good time. The day we left I was sick.
After that my gear was stolen and I only hiked in forest park in Portland.
Bro I was in a tiny little forest one time geocaching. I got lost. I took a picture of the map because both phones were dying, I had two at the time. I knew I wasn't far from anywhere but that was literally terrifying. I can't imagine what these people go through!
Wow, that Rachel was such a beautiful girl. RIP to her and props to the team who finally solved the mystery.
... it didn't seem like a very long hike. There's the relationship aspect that adds to other possibilities....
@@janefreeman995Hummm, yes.😮
What happened to Rachel? She was killed by her own ignorance and arrogance. She’s solo hiking without a GPS phone or A TENT and is warned by descending hikers of the treacherous deadly conditions she’s about to encounter. ☠️ FIFO
@@LiveFreeOrDie2A She obviously didn't make the smartest decisions, but to be fair, it wasn't as common for people to have GPS in 2019. Even solo hikers. She didn't have a tent because she was heading for that cabin, which she would have undoubtedly arrived at before nightfall if the weather hadn't turned. How many people on that hike pack a tent? They all know they're sleeping at the cabin. The tent is added weight. I'm betting most don't take one. Yeah, she was warned by the descending hikers, but they were probably a lot older than her and she thought she could do it. She was young and fit and had been training to do this hike. She didn't even go off trail like the 66 year old. She just wanted to follow a very popular, relatively short trail to a cabin.
@@janefreeman995 she was alone when the other hikers encountered her… it was the storm
As a Swede, I recommend you take a stroll (???) along Kungsleden in Northern Sweden. I am not into hiking, I am maybe to old for that and like some comfort.
Jack Thomas - probably injured and then suffered from hypothermia/freezing. Overheating and quickly taking off clothing is a symptom.
Or died suddenly and animals removed his clothes after being undiscovered for so long.
Or perhaps aliens came down and stripped him so they could wear them and pass as humans!
Your alien theory is the most logical.
I bet he had a medical issue that killed him quickly. Otherwise, he would have used his gps device to contact help.
@@SMaamri78 I would say a fall...those can disorient even the most experienced hikers of any age.
I’m from Canada. Two years ago I checked off another bucket list item and spent 10 days trail running near the foot of the Matterhorn. I’ve been to the Theodul Glacier and it is stunning. I remember wondering how many bodies may be buried in that glacier. This climber would have been down there when I visited the glacier.
I live in the Canadian Rockies and have 20,000 trail miles under my belt in some of the most beautiful country in the world, but Switzerland made even MY jaw drop. Switzerland is vastly more beautiful than can be imagined. Definitely go!
The mountaineering cemetery in Zermatt is a poignantly beautiful place. There are hundreds of very old and some very new headstones that not only say the name and date of the climber and their accident, but what mountain they died on and whether it was rockfall, avalanche, or fall that killed them. In many cases, their climbing gear, ice axe, ropes, or boots are draped permanently over their headstone. It will move you to tears.
Hey I'm from Switzerland and "there was not much info" is the standard here. We never get any details about anything and when something horrible happens there might be a few articles about them but they're quickly pushed under the rug. Even as a local I don't know half the stories that happen here. My theory is that Switzerland tries to hide anything negative because they have a "reputation" to uphold. However, something happened a couple of month ago and I've been thinking about sending you an email about it.
I know Switzerland and agree with you
I dare say it has nothing to do with "upholding a reputation", I'd call it decency and respect for the victim and family. Not everybody wants their misery to be dragged all over the internet.
True at tourist places everywhere, locals don’t want negative news coming out.
@@raybod1775you mean like all the US National Park Service disappearances that David Paulides’ Missing 411 shows?
touring the mountains by car i stopped at a tiny gas station to fill up, turned around just in time to see an avalanche cascading from above. nothing damaged, nobody hurt, but owner of station said , oh that happens a couple of times a week”.
so beware
All the reason a persons life can come to its end, there is some solace knowing these people died in a place and doing what they loved! Thanks Kyle for remembering them and making their stories forever known!
I love sleeping.
@@Ron-d2s I think that's how alot people wish they go!
It's scary
I'd rather fall off a cliff & have a heart attack, Rather than just have a heart attack
@Paratrooper.3695 I’ve never understood why people are afraid of dying, we all have to go some time. I’m not religious, but believing in an afterlife has given me a lot of solace.
There some sudden health issues that can pop up out of nowhere. Aneurysms and strokes are a couple, sometimes there are clear signs that these could happen, but there have been people of all ages that get hit with these out of the blue. Yes, he was out hiking in his 60’s, hopefully it was sudden and painless. And he was clearing doing something he loved to do.
I was hiking out on the gravel bar of a river in Alaska, fortunately near town, when I experienced nausea and chest pains. On my way back to the car it suddenly occurred to me that I might be having a heart attack. Fortunately (sort of) it was a gallbladder attack and I made it back. A couple of years later I was hiking in some isolated parts of New Mexico. A month after flying home my gallbladder put me in the hospital for two days with emergency surgery. It's stayed with me how differently both of those hikes could have gone.
When it's my time, I think there are probably worse ways to go than quickly while hiking in a place I love
Swiss hiker/viewer here - Thanks for also diving into international cases! You're welcome anytime to the Alps & we'll bring you on some nice hikes!
I have subscribed to your channel and I’ve been watching the channel faithfully for about a month now. I’m watching from Galveston, Texas, and I don’t hike. I have no desire to walk up and down mountains in the wilderness or on a trail, therefore I live vicariously through the channel. Hopefully I will remain safe this way. 😊
I'm from Zimbabwe, Southern Africa. Just watched this video and loved it. Will be binge watching your videos this week😄
Glad you found him! Kyle's videos are awesome! Hello from England! ❤🇬🇧
I hear theres lots of amazing mountains in Zimbabwe, have you hiked?
My goodness Zimbabwe!
You live in a dangerous yet beautiful country.
Mad respect for you. 😊💯
Dangerous??? How do you mean?
@nai6474 how about you Google just that, and you'll find your answer.
Regardless of all the tragic: I absolutely understand Rachel's obsession with that cabin - breathtakingly beautiful, that panoramic view, up there!
I wonder if the hikers she met told her what the conditions were?
Kyle: Matterhorn (Mt Cervin in French) was my destination for my 50th birthday anniversary; with friends of mine we rented an app in Zermatt and we ski on the slopes of Matterhorn : fantastic !! Because it was spring we also went for a couple of hikes around, but nothing like what you showed in this video. My point: Zermatt is a unique valley, full of accommodation, you can get their by train (reliable 100%), rented skis, and simply enjoyed the views !!! We are good hikers, but now into mountaineering.
in italy they rented an apt
I enjoy your stories. I noticed your ADK banner behind you, I started the ADK's at ten years old which is partly why I did SAR in the military, 30 states and 15 countries. Everyone needs to understand their limits and remember nature is unforgiving of mistakes.
I live in SW Montana and spend as much time as possible hiking in the mountains; 95% of which I solo. I love the stories and knowledge is power. Knowing how some of these hiker’s decisions evolve into life threatening situations is a key to not being there myself.
I've hiked to the Lookout above Hidden Lake many times and, yes, hiking in late October alone is generally not a good idea unless you are very certain about the weather forecast. It doesn't sound like she had done the hike before and that is also problematic. It would have been way safer for her turn around when she ran into the couple who were walking down. The trail itself is difficult because there is one abrupt turn to the right on the way up and if you don't know the trail, it would be so easy to miss the turn and continue straight ahead and thus get lost.
I know, this is so sad for her. I wish she had taken a guide, and checked the weather. Poor dear, beautiful gal.
Jack Thomas very likely had a sudden massive heart attack or aneurysm which took him out faster than he knew what was happening. Had he have fallen, and even hit his head, he likely would have regained at least enough consciousness/energy to hit the emergency button. So it's very unlikely that he was taken by the elements. Maybe he was in a little too much of a hurry to get back to the trail and was pushing himself a little too much.
Bowels let go with some medical events. An old man who sh I t his pants told all of us at hospital that he was not a pee on himself dirty person. We assured him we knew that bowels or bladder might let go when sudden medical event happens unrelated to this embaressing events
You’ve quickly become one of my favorite TH-camrs! I don’t even hike much bc we live at the beach. But your stories are incredibly well done 🫶🏼
Those GPS things should have a "where's my phone" sort of ping service.
They do but you need to pay extra for that service. You can choose for it to send your location automatically at given intervals (every minute,5 min,30 min...) so in cases like this your last location is easily determined but battery lasts longer without this service and it's cheaper so most people opt out.
Rio Rico Arizona here, very thankful for the work you put into the stores you tell, good job my friend...👍💯
Kyle, Switzerland is extraordinarily beautiful!! Most of the country looks like the most pristine national park imaginable. I hope you get there some day. You’ll be blown away!
Hey Kyle, I know you’re young, but seriously, 66 isn’t that old!
I'll turn 68 in three weeks, 66 isn't old. 😊 ❤
@@LeighChambers-de7cp early Happy Birthday!🎈🙂
The average life expectancy in the US was 76 years in 2021. At any rate, for most people, it's an age at which their physical condition is declining, making it riskier to do stuff like hiking in the wilderness alone.
@@ItIsYourMom Thank you, that's so sweet!
I’m 55 and no longer think 66 is old LOL
Hai! I am half Dutch/half Swiss! My mom grew up close to where that climber was found, but I've never heard of it. Very interesting! The kanton (like province/state) is called either Valais, which is the french pronunciation, or Wallis, which is the German pronunciation. I usually spend a couple of months in the area with family every year and definitely recommend going there! Especially to Wallis since the area has so many massive and beautiful mountains, though in my biased opinion I'd say the German 'half' of Wallis is way more fun!
Hi, viewer from Germany here. I hike a lot and even though it is far less remote in the alps and there is a large professional search ans rescue with search dogs, helicopters and so on.. there surprisingly still are more cases of disappearing hikers than you would imagine. Always be careful out there and do your research about the area you go to and what gear and emergency equipment you need!
Since you asked, I'm from Jackson, MS, USA, but I mostly grew up in Italy (although I went to high school and college in the States). My mom is Italian and my dad is American and I moved back to Italy with my mom when my parents divorced when I was 2. I'm a dual citizen and currently live in South Texas (though I have lived all over both the US and Europe). The Alps are absolutely gorgeous and are my 2nd favorite place on Earth, second only to Alaska.
Ohio here, my mom hiked half of the Appalachian trail in her 60s.
I bet that was a fun adventure
Alone?
@yanabo7220 I forgot to say with my brother, I need to correct that. I think it was an adventure, my mom was a little lady, but very tough, she probably figured what's the worse that can happen, I raised 12 kids in poverty without any help.haha
@@anniebalsbaugh2093 That's amazing! Seriously tough!!
My SIL wants to hike the AT, she’s mentioned it enough times I think she’s sincere. She’s 68, overweight & out of shape. I’ve told her about the feral people supposedly living in the woods but she seems undeterred. Is there a short, easy portion of the hike? Or do you have any other suggestions I could share?
I’m getting close to sending her the really scary TH-cam videos of murders etc. And the documentary “They Called Him Mostly Harmless.”
She may be preparing and I’m just unaware but I seriously doubt it.
Thanks for reading and for any suggestions you can offer.
It's so easy to get lost hiking. Easier than people think. Growing up in Oregon, we would backpack in the Mt. Hood National Forest often. Help just isn't around. Of course, when I was a kid in the 80s, there weren't cell phones, sat phones, or navigation tools other than compasses and maps. Our parents had my older sisters and myself wear whistles, and we were taught that if we were lost, to find a "tree buddy" and hug the tree trunk and blow our whistle until we were found. Four experiences from our family camping trips will stay with me forever- three terrifying, and one funny.
I was about 8 when we took a week-long trip to a beautiful spot call Eden Park next to Ladd Creek. We went for a day hike from our campsite, and I was up ahead of my family when I spotted something that caused me to dash forward. It was a little black bear cub, and I fully intended to pet it. The roar from my father behind me stopped me in my tracks and made me cry. But he was right. The lesson I learned was that a mama bear is always near her cubs and will protect them.
On a different trip, the scariest and funniest moments happened. I was little, and still slept with my blanket, a big orange thing named "GiGi". On the way to the trailhead, I insisted that GiGi would come with us. "No" was my parents' response, telling me I was old enough to sleep without him. I stopped negotiating, but when we got to the trailhead, my dad started loading my pack with the lightest items- the freeze-dried food we would eat for the trip. He finished attaching the tin pots and pans to my pack and started packing the rest of the packs. I quietly went to the backseat and unloaded all the food and put GiGi it my pack. Off we went, the pots and pans clanging against my leg.. We hiked all afternoon and had almost reached the campsite my Dad had picked when my sister, Leslie, had to pee. Leslie was shy and went a little too far to find privacy. She didn't come back. Over an hour passed, and my parents worry grew into an almost-frenzy. After 2 hours, they left my oldest sister, Lynn, with me and they hiked off in different directions into the darkening night. Dad eventually got all the way back to the car where a very scared Leslie was waiting. He was PISSED when he had to go back a second time for the food I had left on the back seat of the car.
The third trip was higher in elevation, and was more remote than we had ventured as a family before. Lynn was goofing around and ran ahead without looking. My Dad starting running after her, and caught her arm right before she got to the edge of a sheer cliff. Lynn didn't die that day, but she did die in another tragic event. A different story for a different time.
Great video Kyle. I have to admit I thought for a while you started doing videos for click bait and sensationalism but I have changed my opinion. Your respect for the families of these people is obvious, as well as your desire to educate the hiking community of dangers out there and how to mitigate that risk. Your passion for hikers and the hiking community is greatly appreciated 👍
My brother and I were in Europe in 2016 and Switzerland was one of our favorite countries. It is absolutely beautiful.❤❤
Budapest, Hungary here. I don't hike, I bike, but I do find these stories fascinating, I've watched your entire series.
Switzerland is just as advertised, but crazy expensive. If it's no problem, go for it! If it is a problem, I can recommend just about any place in Austria, or the Black Forest in Germany instead. And if you want to go super low-budget, go to Transylvania, but watch out for bears!