Loud sounds lead lost hiker to safety in Death Valley

[Rex Sanders]

Speaking of being prepared:

He had “no food, inadequate warm clothing, did not feel well, and was over 60 years old,” the release said. To make matters worse, temperatures were supposed to drop below freezing overnight.

…

Luckily, before a helicopter search was needed, two quick-thinking park rangers “located the hiker by making loud sounds, and guided him towards the road”

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/loud-sounds-lead-lost-hiker-safety-18-mile-17815171.php

— Rex

[Paul Wagner]

An excellent effort and response by the rangers–and an ideal result.  Those who love to armchair quarterback hikers will find lots to criticize here.  But the guy was lucky, and it is always better to be lucky than good!

[Dan]

Why are they are being so cryptic about the specific details of the  “loud sounds?”  Inquiring minds want to know!  :-)

[David Thomas]

“Loud sounds” they didn’t want to specify might have been firing off their 9 mm Glocks periodically.  The hiker had a cell phone, so they could have told him to listen for the gunshots and walk in that direction.

A car horn or air horn would have been preferred, I’d think, but perhaps couldn’t be heard at sufficient range?

[Author]

Posts