Tough Story
How many of you people saw or read the news about the Utah hiker who was stranded in a drainage ditch for four days? Put your hands up. Ok, put your hands down, I was kidding. This poor fellow stranded with no food and water and a dead cell phone for four days? As the story is being reported by the Salt Lake Tribune, the New York Daily News and ABC News, Mr. Samuelsen was hiking with a friend, near Parleys Canyon, Utah. (just over 10 miles south east of Salt Lake City) when they decided to split up. This was last Wednesday.
During his hike, he came to a Highway and wisely, decided to not try to cross it. He decided that he would bypass it by going through a drainage tunnel under the highway. Upon entering the tunnel, he slipped on the incline and fell 50', shattering his right leg. Now that alone makes me get the willies, but the worst is yet to come. He states that he heard his leg "crack" when he struck the bottom of the tunnel, and upon examining it he realizes the bone is protruding from a compound fracture. What does he do?
Now is where his problems begin. His cell phone is dead and he has no food or water. Finally, after four days of yelling and banging on the tunnel pipe with no response, he becomes frustrated. He's hearing the traffic so close, but so far away, and it led him to think he was going to die. Finally, finding a piece of wood to splint his leg, he crawled for two hours to reach the highway, where he flagged down a driver. The day was Saturday.
He was then taken to St,. Marks hospital where he was admitted and treated for a compound fracture of his right leg, and dehydration. The hospital performed surgery on his leg and the final outcome is yet to be determined. Dr's do not know as yet if the infection is under control or if his leg will have to be amputated.
Lessons to be learned
In hopes that you reader's realize, I am in no any way, trying to take anything away from Mr. Samuelsen with regards to his ordeal. But, he suffered for those four long days, because of some simple mistakes. Can we learn from his mistakes? You bet.
I stress in my blogs, the importance of always taking water, food, shelter, flashlight, a good first aid kit and an emergency radio. I don't care if you are on a day trip or a ten day hike, prepare for eventualities. Plan your trip, plan your gear, plan your exit.
If he had, had these basic items with him, they would have increased the likelihood of his rescue much sooner, or even of not needing to be rescued in the first place. What is that, you say? Let me explain.
The flashlight would have shown him the dangerous slope to the drainage tunnel, before he could fall. The emergency radio can charge a cell phone, so he would not have a dead phone. (probably no reception 50' underground anyway) The first aid kit could have treated his dangerous wounds to his leg to probably have helped stave off infection. Giving him time to prepare to rescue himself. In some situations (such as he found himself) you cannot depend upon others. The food and water could have nourished him in the event that he had to get himself out if there, if indeed his charged cell phone had no reception.
One final note, back to when he split up with his hiking partner? Had they but agreed upon an end of hike meeting time, it might have triggered a rescue sooner if he had not shone up on the agreed upon time. Prepare for any eventuality, no matter how experienced you are.
Remember......plan your trip, plan your gear, plan your exit. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you on the trail.
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