Unbelievable Escape: Solo Hiker's Close Call with Death
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2023
- 🔴 Check out this story about another solo adventurer! 🔴 • When a solo adventure ...
Today's story is about Jacob Velarde, a 24 year old solo hiker who had a very close call while hiking in Arizona. He fell a staggering 21 metres (70 feet!!) down a cliff shortly after starting an overnight hike. What follows is his agonizing ordeal and incredible will to survive.
Be respectful in the comments, or may your victim bashing comments go careening off a cliff in the hot desert sun, never to be seen again.
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He is fortunate hikers came by. Some trails dont see anyone hiking for weeks or months.
So lucky!
I went out for a little hike this morning actually! I only went 2km. I realized the day is muggy, I didn’t have extra water or food, and no friends or family members really knew my plans. It is a super easy hike on a well-marked trail but you know what? That’s how a lot of disaster stories start! Also my husband is a former SAR volunteer and he knows I know better. So I turned around and went back to my car. I’ll go again next week and bring a friend along. And water. And lunch. And sunscreen. And a first aid kit. And leave a trip plan with family. 😊
Good call!! That is totally when it can happen, when we are out for a regular hike or walk and no one knows your plans. Recipe for disaster! A friend and I regularly let each other know when we're out and about alone. Always helps to have someone know your plans.
That was very smart!! Good on you!
🤔I wonder how many disasters haven't happened because people such as yourself have learnt from channels like this?
And that’s why women live longer 😅
We keep all of those things in our car at all times. It's come in handy! I'm gonna make it so we can get to it without opening the car. In case someone can't reach it. Whatever.I feel better having the stuff. I got this way from having children. I started with a diaper bag. Now it's survival stuff.
Even the most experienced hiker can get into trouble. A sprained ankle can be devastating!
Preparation saved this young man's life - the whistle, the redundancies (more than one way to get water.....) Amazing. When we manage risk preparation can change the ending for the better.....
Never split up with someone who is with you in the woods ! Ever !!
100%!
Mostly commenting for the algorithm, but I really hope this channel takes off, because you have such an empathic way of telling those stories.
Thanks so much!
Yeah this dude is based@@adventuresgonewrong
I love the "I told you so" 😂. Such a brotherly thing to do! I always have wished I had a brother to torment me this way lol. Siblings must be priceless! Glad Jacob pulled through.
My brother 100% would say the same thing haha.
My brother would say the same, or just call me a t**t lol
Siblings can be horrible just as well.
My brother tried to make our old mother take up a mortgage on her house to pay for his debts although she has dementia. He made her and me as her caregiver absolutely miserable for months and now he isn’t even paying back the monthly sum we agreed on.
I have 2 younger brothers & thats 100% what theyd say
I met a woman who fell off grand canyon and survived. A bush sticking out caught her and it took forever for search and rescue to rappel.down to get her. She was very lucky and her mother was furious at her for risking his life.
Having been a Scoutmaster the one thing I always preach to the boys is the buddy system. Nobody goes anywhere, even the latrine in the night, without their buddy. In 100% of the fatalities in the woods they all have one thing in common, they either were alone by choice or got separated from the group.
And you can eat your mate if things go really awry.
Amen I almost lost my life while ATVing alone in the winter in Idaho.. I never go out alone Now ❤
@@danielwelker1286good. I'm going to remember this story
I do day hikes on my own but not a hike of that level of difficulty. I am pretty risk averse. My rule is that I do not camp overnight alone. So if I were hiking with my brother and he turned back, so would I. I am glad Jacob survived and it was helpful to hear his story. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Skull fractures, that was awful. Miraculous outcome. A wild animal could have taken him. Hope he will not have major problems later on. Video was very well made. Thank you
Jacob is so lucky to have been found. A lot of people don't make it out alive.
Man that poor bugger's face !!
And then the foul play prattle starts.
Great video and well told! My late twin ran a hiking group. Safety in numbers is no lie! Just think about Julian Sands...he was an excellent hiker yet lost his life....no beacon, no one else there, no emergency equipment...no one was told where he was going....lost his life because...more than any other rreaon....essentially...HE WAS ALONE!
Just returned from a four day solo backpacking trip in the Canadian Rockies. The only reason I considered doing this particular trail on my own was because there wasn't any scrambling or technical hiking, the trail was well travelled and I had a satellite phone. Otherwise, I'd only go in a group.
Smart!
Don't know why no one is talking about how this guy went off the trail.
Hiking, especially solo hiking, is always a risk. But there's alot of very well known tips to mitigate risks. And adhering to them can easily make it as safe as running your block. Because there's risks to that too.
Extra precautions for extra risk. Heat? More water. Cold? More clothes. Weather? Rain gear and shelter options. Taking on a trail you know is technically challenging for you? Bring a buddy and redundant ways to call for help.
If you're using a chainsaw it's advised you wear ear protection, eye protection, head protection, and chainsaw leg guards... And even still to use the chainsaw with things like kickback in mind.
All potentially hazardous endeavors are done safely daily with caution and precautions.
Anyways keep safe out there and happy hiking :)
So glad he made it and that the family happened by him. Thank goodness he had the gear left with him that he did. Very helpful. But folks, please, please get yourself a rescue beacon if you are going to hike challenging trails in remote areas where there is not cell coverage, especially if doing so alone!
Glad that ended up well. That’s a hard lesson. Sounds to me like a number of mistakes for an experienced hiker.
If he researched this hike how did he end up there without a gps track to follow. If one don’t have a gps track or coordinates to follow and if counting on following an obvious trail, never move forward when it seems like you don’t see a trail. Always backtrack to the last location when you had a visible trail and try to find the trail from there. Proceeding ahead without a trail and a gps track, especially when you are getting down a slope is reckless.
On the other hand, if the plan is to explore a terrain without a trail or a gps track for the sake of adventure, expect for things to go wrong and make sure you have an emergency satellite communicator in the pack.
Solo adventures are fine, just don’t be reckless, know your limits and be ready to turn back when needed.
Yeah people are talking like his major mistake was not having his brother but seriously if you're a hiker you have heard "stay on the trail!" A hundred times and more.
It's the most basic piece of trail safety.
Always have a map is also an extremely common piece of advice.
It seems to me he was too excited by the challenge to stop and think and that was his (thankfully not) fatal flaw.
Back in the early nineties when I was a young newly divorced mother I used to do day hikes with my children. There’s a day that lives in my memory as a dumb risk I took that I was very very lucky to walk away from with no regretful tragedy. I had a toddler in a baby pack and a pre schooler on foot and we ventured out onto a rocky outcropping that created an island in the middle of a stream. I didn’t realize until we got out there that the water that looked like a mellow stream became deep swift channels between the rocks and I found myself helping my four-year old daughter with my baby balanced on my back, climbing rocks. We were fine, thank goodness, but my kids are 30 and 34 now and I still scare myself remembering how much more precarious it was than it looked.
Scary! But I think many of us have stories like that, where something could have gone wrong but we lucked out!
Glad Jacob survived however, he was reckless indeed, he knew how harsh the desert environment can be and all of the potential dangers because he lived there. One thing that is seldom mentioned by any of these adventure seekers, is the enormous cost of being rescued when things go wrong! Many thousands of dollars are spent each year rescuing them, many take great risks to rescue them, and searching for them alone, can take many paid resources as well! Taxpayers are paying for all that, take it into consideration when you are doing your thrill seeking!
You’re not the only one to being up the rescue costs. And it’s a valid point, putting others at risk when you don’t prepare yourself enough. Not to mention the cost…
Rescue people people die rescuing people..
I'm born and raised in roughly the sane place this man went missing. The wilderness here is absolutely beautiful but it's very dangerous... I got lost for 30-someodd hours and truly thought I was gonna die. Glad this dude made it out too
Glad you both made it out! I can’t even fathom the heat your experience there.
@@adventuresgonewrong Oh it gets very hot, but my dumbass did it in January in feet of snow... that sucked too. Around here, all the locals have to enjoy our wilderness in the winter because its overrun with tourists in the "nice" seasons. I went on a typical winter, snowy hike with my dog but foolishly didn't check the weather beforehand (I was a dumb 20yo), and a total snowstorm hit me and erased all my tracks. 30-ish hours later I was lucky enough to hear one of the Sheriffs blaring their sirens on a forest road he managed his way onto and climbed down a pretty steep slope to get to him. I've never been so happy to see a Police Vehicle lol
The only reason they were looking for me is because I told multiple people "I'm just going for a hike, I'll be back before sundown." When nightfall came, they called. ALWAYS TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOURE GOING
@@Jenultyep, Arizona native here. I agree with the tourist thing, we have to get our kicks off season, especially near the Sedona area. Traffic has become a nightmare there.
I’ve been traveling to that area my entire life, and I do feel summers in Sedona feel hotter than when I was a kid in the 90’s. I remember them hovering around 95 Fahrenheit, but now over 105 is the norm. The water is cold as ever, though! 😂
Glad you made it out okay! The desert and wilderness out here is so very beautiful, but is no joke. If he would’ve fallen anywhere else in the state, I could almost guarantee it wouldn’t be near a water source. That was nearly a miracle in AZ.
Before hearing this story I would have done it on my own, but not now. Thanks for the great story, well told.
Same, at first I thought what an awesome trail then I researched it and I’d definitely try it but not alone.
Although I live in Arizona and am an avid hiker I haven't done this hike. This is a reverse mountain...the hike in is usually easier (unless you fall).
I have hiked alone many times but on trails I know well. My rule is never go alone if I don't know the trail. Has served me well over 50 years of hiking.
Things can go wrong in an instant for an infinite number of reasons. It's always best to find a mate to go with you and even then be prepared for the unexpected. I know two people, husband and wife in their late 20's, that almost died climbing Mount Washington in the Fall. It was a warm day but the weather changed and it got cold and windy. In a rush to descend the Mountain they got dunked in a stream when the log broke. They thought they were going to die but made it back to their car just before pitch black that evening. Their level of preparedness was woefully lacking. They weren't prepared for anything but a nice Fall hike on a warm day and it almost cost them their lives.
I bet they learned from that experience, wow.
I live a mile from the Blue Ridge Mountains in NC . Even on day hikes I bring the basics if I needed to stay over night. Now a days hiking emergency beacons are a must, you can them 100 and up. Our day hikes can take you into remote areas so be prepared
I will never hike alone. I’ve been hiking my whole life, and this is something I will never do. I have had to go get help for injured people, I have been injured a few times and had I been alone I would have been in trouble. I have turned back several times because I believed the trail to be too hard for me or for others. In the end, It’s not worth pushing and it’s not worth going alone.
I hiked the lava field on Hawaii Big Island with a friend, and an hour before sunset we lost the trail on the way back. It was nothing but hardened lava all around us for miles. I knew which direction we had to go, but walking on dried lava without a trail is dangerous. My friend stepped on a part that was hollow underneath, fell, and started rolling down the lava hill. I was terrified. He survived with just some nasty scratches. Dried lava is very sharp. We were lucky to eventually find the trail, after an hour or two. I always remember this experience when I watch "I shouldn't be Alive".
In the snow, in the creeks, or on the rocks... Always test where you're going to step... Don't step too hard... Always test your step...
I almost fell off a cliff and somehow climbed down what I believed to be impossible. To this day I believe God sent an angel preventing my fall of 70 feet onto boulders... Even to this day, I feel terror reliving it.
Wow, scary indeed!
@@adventuresgonewrong I was so sure I would fall, I literally told myself, every foot you make it down, it is one less foot you will fall...Told God, please let me die, dont leave me paralyzed...The fear was so off the chart, it consumed me. I was 26, fearless until that day.
Brother, I believe you, absolute terror, no?
I have a recurring dream that I find myself very high up in that kind of situation. The things Im climbing differ but I always get to a part where I have to do some kind of maneuver and Im gripped by just abject horror. Even in the dreams I know i have the dreams and I will actually be thinking "this isnt one of those dreams, this is actually happening." I probably have the dream like every 3 or 4 months, for the last maybe 5 years and I just never get used to it. I wake up terrified and kind of traumatized for the next couple days. If I got like chased by a serial killer and ended up in a situation like that (the only way I would be there) I honestly think I'd have a heart attack and just die of sheer terror, or just pass out and die from the fall. Thats amazing that you kept your cool and made it when there was no margin for error.
ONCE I REALIZED I had no other route off the cliff except where I climbed up, I sat down and knew I would fall since I almost fell climbing up. Climbing down would be much harder. I figured, I will fall. Just try to descend one foot at a time, one less foot you will fall. As I lowered my body over the edge, I only had tuffs of grass to hold me up. Letting go of my last hand on the edge of the cliff was the hardest thing I have ever done. Once I let go, I had to immediately grab another tuff of grass. One handful would never support me. And I knew once I let go of the rocky overhang, I would probably fall 70 feet. But there was NO other way down. What kind of fear would you experience as you let go of the cliff.
First time running into this channel,and it's right in my wheelhouse. As a hiker, camper, adventurer...I'm sure I can take away many lessons.
Very well done and thank you.
There’s so many of us out there, thx for watching!
Incredibly terrifying. That particular trail i would not have done alone just because of the heat factor. Other trails i might go it alone. However, I'm fairly safety conscious.
Just returned from a camping/ day hiking trip. There were signs around the parking area. Do not walk on walls. Stay behind barriers. What they didn't say was on sections of that trail there was no barriers. Complete drop off into abyss. As a photographer being drawn for "the shot" had to keep aware of footing. I had decided to stop. But a friend went on because of an overlook she heard about. I somehow managed to keep up with her. Told her i would leap over her and run to get help.
(Me... with bad knees & ankle already in need of surgery.) The views were amazing but that section gave me shivers at the possibility thought of falling as the cliff could collapse.
Last night before watching your excellent program i googled to see about deaths in that state park. Scary to learn that a skilled state trooper on a high angle recovery training day died on that trail 10 years ago!!! Gave me chills.
Wow that's pretty scary about the drop off that has no barrier! And that state trooper, so sad.
You have to recognize the ground that your on, red sandstone is not a firm ground, usually looks good but there's a lot of soft areas and gives way to any type of weight, never go in steep areas made of red sandstone.
Jacob blessed to be alive glad he made it out! Never go alone ! Thank you as usual awesome story on an awesome channel! ❤
I'm glad Jacob is ok! Thankfully that family found him and not some wild animal. What a bad fall.
No way I would go on along! I’m too clumsy and have issues walking on our property…lol! Love the stories with happy endings! He was lucky he only had minor injuries. Good job Stacy!
love your channel! You are a geat story teller and veru respectful. And You don’t use cheap ‘eery’ music like a lot of these type of channels.
I appreciate that! Thx for watching.
He's definitely lucky to be alive! I would not have continued on the hike alone, not on such a difficult trail. Always so much danger in places like this. The terrain, wild animals... no way!! I've not heard this story before, I enjoyed the tale!! 👍👍
Glad to find your first hiking themed video was a story I hadn't heard yet. Good video, thanks!
Thanks for posting!
Adventures gone wrong, with a side order of overconfident ego is totally my jam✌🏼 Thx again : )
Haha it can happen to any of us at any time! 😂
I went hiking with my teenage son to Devils Bridge in Sedona. I had a couple bottles of water, should def have brought more. But my son ended up leaving his 2nd water in the bathroom and didn't realize until we were halfway through the hike. I had to share my water with him when I didn't even bring enough for myself. It was a beautiful hike but ROUGH without the proper amount of water. Lesson LEARNED. I'm from Ohio and was not used to that dry climate. Wow.
Wow! Quite a tumble! Glad he's good!
Not gonna lie I watch these to feel better that I don’t do these crazy things
I would’ve kept going alone he was prepared at all . Thank goodness he survived.
What heroes. I love these stories that confirm that most humans are great and will go far out of their way to help someone in dire need. It seems “the news” makes it easy to believe otherwise-and easy to forget they’re only reporting on the worst .00001% actions of humanity.
You stories always start making me want to get outside and hike and then they make me happy sitting comfortably inside with a hot coffee in my hand 😂
🤣🤣
Don't go alone! If his brother was w/him & the fall was more serious he at atleast would've had help.
So glad those people found him. Head injuries are no joke..
I love solo hikes, hiked the pacific crest trail and the great divide trail in Canada. It’s safer than living in a city or driving a car BUT always carry a sos device like the Garmin Inreach.
You’re adorable and I love listening to the stories you tell. Thanks for keeping us entertained :)
Great narration. Loved how the story was presented and Jacob’s post adventure wisdom. Just subscribed.
I love when people admit they made a mistake and learn from it, thanks for watching!
Never go swimming alone, and never go hiking alone.
Thx! Love your storytelling. Glad Jacob made it out in one piece.
If I lost the trail going forward I definitely wouldn’t have kept going, I would’ve backtracked out.
This has quickly become one of my favorite channels. I love this woman and the stories she tells.
That’s awesome, love to hear that people are digging the channel. Appreciate your support!!
@@adventuresgonewrong Yes. Love the stories you pick and the way you tell them. Also love your voice. Do you have a patreon?
I don't have one yet. I will start one up when I can offer more videos, don't want to start something when I can't really offer anything beyond what I can now. The videos take a lot of time to create but I do see a Patreon in my future. I'll keep ya'll posted!
I've been lost in the wilderness a few times on solo hikes...I had a bad habit of going to beautiful places in the middle of nowhere, smoking too much Mary Jane, which led to some wrong turns, bad decisions and running out of food quickly..Somehow I survived that phase, only by the skin of my teeth...Happened a few times elk hunting too..I still hike alone, but am always armed, have a compass, phone and Garmin, along with the other essentials..No matter what you have, it's still a serious risk every time..
The last thing I would think of doing in a survival situation is...take a selfie. That’s just insane.
There’s a difference between a selfie and documenting injuries
Thank you for sharing this story... I don't have the best sense if direction, so solo hikes are not for me
Fair enough! Good to know your limitations.
It's strange how people who go out to the wilderness, get in trouble, but survive and come home never report a wilderness serial killer who almost got them. When they disappear, though, everyone says OMG a killer was waiting out there for anyone who comes by!
If for no other reason than I wouldn't want my brother to be alone all day and all night in the vehicle, I would have quit the hike and gone with him.
It seems to be a somewhat common theme in the stories I cover - people almost get tunnel vision and really want to complete their goal. He prepped for quite a while for it and was looking forward to it so maybe he was just so determined, he didn't think it thru enough.
There's a hiker lost in Yosemite, right now, I'm hoping for a good outcome. I camp & ride my ATV in the Oregon Coast Range by myself and have been pinned under it for several hours & gotten turned around (lost) on reserve and spent a cold night in the mountains
Oh no, just looked that up. Hopefully he’s found soon. A 16yo girl just got lost in BC for 2 days but she was ok and made her way out. As for your ATV incident, there was a terrifying story in something similar on ‘I Shouldn’t Be Alive”! The guy barely survived.
You're a fantastic story teller! I very much enjoy your videos. Thank you!
I have over 21 summits in GNP Montana even backcountry skied Rising Wolf …
and one thing I learned …,
Climbing down an unfamiliar route is very sketchy It looks great until you are Cliffed out and stuck like Chuck …
I never do it ….
My climbing partner and I got cliffed out on way down off Reynolds …. By mistake missed a side hill section in our excitement on the descent and had to climb back up 800 vertical feet to get corrected…and already tired from the summit push .
and late in day already .
I slipped on gravel climbing a granite dome some years ago. Luckily, my fall was broken by a cactus. It took hours to pull all those needles out of my belly. Still, it was better than faceplanting on granite.
Big learning point here is to stay on the trail and avoid tempting short-cuts
I have done many things on solo hikes that could have ended badly, mainly when younger! But I try never to go hiking in 100F + temos, that's brutal
Same, why are we so reckless when young? 😆
So glad I found your channel. I love your story telling. 😁❤️
Welcome!!
I've been to the bottom of West Clear Creek several times, yes, rough & steep but Beautiful...
You're a good one, appreciate your hard work on these. Very interesting, diverse, well-researched and not previously covered content.
Just found your channel and I love your style of video making!
Woot, welcome!
Great story Stacy, wow!
Amazing that he made it out alive.So glad he made it After reading Jacob's story;I wouldn't hike alone.
Better to hike with others or at least let friends know your trip plan!
Yes, you can hike alone, but that trail sounds very risky. Maybe if he had done it with others before it would been ok to go alone to that trail, but not as the first time.
Also, not seeing a clear trail and just setting down a hill side is extremely dangerous! So many people have got into trouble like that. I would not have made that choice. The point of hiking a trail is that *there is a trail to follow!*
So glad that he is ok!!! It was so close to being a disaster!!! The fall that he took...people die falling on pavements so he is extremely lucky to be alive and not suffering from permanent life altering damage!!! Glad of the happy ending! ❤
Great story, thanks for sharing 👍
love these videos they always seem so authentic
I hike alone a lot of the time, but I know my limits. I'm with his brother...no way. Too dangerous. I'm glad he made it out alive. God sent that family just at the right time.
Ouch. That was a great description
Great story. Wow. No way would I go alone!
Great stories and analysis
I hike till I can't see my truck 😂
Gorgeous scenery!!! Wow!
I think he did the right thing and stayed for he was. He was pretty wounded and was pretty weak. That is a beautiful area. I’m sure a lot of people hike through there a lot, so he was smart and what he did. I’m glad he got out of there alive. i’m sure he was most grateful for those people being there.👍🏼😁😎
So glad he is okay! And so thankful that family stubbled across him!
I have hiked Flatiron outside of Phoenix Arizona and I can attest there were some SUPER sketchy spots! One slip and that could be any of us! Love and prayers ❤
He lucked out!
American Natives lived in such wilderness and somehow made a living.
Subscribed! I love your videos, and your storytelling ability is fantastic! Thank you for quality content.
Awesome, thanks for watching!
I almost commented that the photo on the community tab looked like AZ, but thought “what could be the odds?”. Apparently very high! Cool to hear a story from my neck of the woods (/desert)
Ha too funny! Beautiful area you got there.
Absolutely loving your videos and your style. Brilliant 👏☺️✨💓
No way in the world I'd be attempting to hike up that loose broken and extremely slippery shale rock. Hell no😱
Very glad Jacob made it out in one piece. It really is a miracle he wasn't severely injured or killed in that horrendous fall from such a great height and at such rapid speed. His guardian angel was with him that day👼🙏
My sense of direction isnt always the best, so for my safety, i have to stick to the known trail (im a beginner). I would turn back if needed, but i just have a lot of respect for how fast you can get stuck by yourself.
Love your channel, just subbed. I hope you upload many, many more vids😊
I’ll never understand hiking alone. Or doing other adventures alone. It never seems to end well.
Brilliant, thanks
The survival whistle is the walkie talkie of the wilderness that does not break. While he had it, he always had some kind of chance.
Love your channel!
Love the personality or style or telling details
I appreciate that!
Nope! I would not hike alone ever! So glad he made it out alive and relatively unscathed!
Ouch! Thank goodness he had the water filter.
Great story, lucky guy!
Years ago, when I was 17, I was in sea cadets which is kinda weird since I live in Alberta lol; regardless I wouldn’t change anything!! So back to the story our cadet group decided we were going to go to Saunders a stop on the N Saskatchewan river and canoe it!! This is 32 years ago already so I’ll do my best! May long weekend, 10 canoes, 3 days, 2 trucks to meet us at each stop. Some of the rapids omg!! The 1 if I remember correctly is called Devil’s Elbow (I think? Devils something anyway) there’s another one called the Brylies!! Holy crap!! We all made it safely but there was a few times!! Geez!! Last day we made it back home to Rocky Mountain House exhausted but relaxed!! A truly amazing weekend of my youth. But if you go solo in whatever you do: Boy Scouts Motto!! Be prepared!! For anything!! Thank you for your great channel!! Be safe 💕🙏🏻
I'm from Alberta and had no idea there are sea cadets there haha. Glad you made it out ok!
I have to be honest, I disagree with most of the comments. I think there’s a lot of joy in solo hiking. It’s a special kind of solitude for the introspective soul. I’ve been in a situation like this hiker. Lost my way from the trail, got up on a steep ledge, couldn’t go back down or climb further up. The key is to stay calm and assess all options, treat every step as life or death. I had to climb on all fours down and back up 3 different routes before I made it off that ledge. It takes practice. You can’t take chances, especially when you’re alone!
That's fair and you can do it safely by letting people know where you are, when you're returning, and to not stray from that plan! Also have sat phone, emergency supplies, etc, etc.
I admire Emma and I’m very sad to here about the tragic end of her life. Very good sorry thank you
The area he was in is called, "West Clear Creek" East of the town of Camp Verde. There are objective hazards and subjective hazards in the outdoors. The objective hazards here are, very steep terrain, approximately 1500' elevation change. Loose rock, "scree" difficult footing. Exposure risk with a possible class 5 level of climbing, lots of exposure here. Also high temps in summer, and an unmarked trail. The subjective hazard was he simply failed to accurately assess all of these hazards. And not having the experience to devise a plan to minimize the exposure risk. I've known many people that make the claim they're "experienced hikers". And then things like this happen. Primarily because of the poor risk assessment. He should have contacted the Forest Service for detailed, first-hand knowledge of the area. There are many hiking clubs that could have given him a real world description of the area and explained the difficult objective hazards. Food for thought, glad he's ok. And yes, I've been into the canyon.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing, hopefully others heading on that trail will follow your advice.
As a solo hiker and backpacker for over 30 years, I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same, but I’m always as prepared as possible. One rule I follow is to never move separately from my pack. I always carry a personal locator (currently a Garmin Messenger that pings my location every 20 min among other things). That being said, being on trail is always a risk. Anyone can fall. I’m glad he survived to tell the tale.
Amazing survival story 👏 🙌
I would not have continued on my own. Safety first.