Lost hiker survives 27 days

Never realized the search and rescue folks documented things so well. I am pretty impressed actually.

Gerry Largay really had all she needed including a compass, small SAK, matches, bic lighters and so forth. Based on the report, she seemed to have picked an un-usual spot for her tent. Maybe it was more protected from the elements than the open woods not far away.
 
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During the last 15 or 20 years of her life, my grandmother's body really began to shut down, though her mind remained sharp. Seeing her in such a truly frustrating and difficult state for so long was very difficult for me and although I am grateful for all of the time that I got to spend with her, I came to the conclusion that I never want to reach a state like that. Once I get upwards in age and approach the point that I cannot care for myself in even the most basic of ways, I would much prefer to just wander off the trail and live out the rest of my days in the woods, fully incapable of surviving, rather than rely on numerous loved ones (or their money/hired helpers).

I'm not familiar enough with the story to even suggest that might be what this lady did, but in any case, I can imagine much worse ways to go out of the world than beneath treetops in the wilderness.
 
Something that crossed my mind while reading all of these news stories, comments, and maps... how difficult it would be to find me.
I wouldn't stay in those shelters. I don't visit with other hikers. No one meets me at trail crossings. And I only hike solo. SAR folks, good luck! :D
 
"trail" is a very generous description of what parts of the AT look like. You can easily walk right across it and not realize what you've done. But geez, how far off trail do you have to go in order to "go"? 10m should be plenty, as long as you bury it.
 
alewn said:
..10m should be plenty, as long as you bury it.
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It will actually decompose much faster if you DON'T bury it. The living creatures and bacterias disappear quickly as soon as you start going underground. Someone here in BF made an experiment in his own land. He went out to crap in different places, some of the products were buried at different depths, others left exposed. The exposed one dissapeared faster.

Anyway, it seems to me that she HAD to do something very wrong to get lost while getting off trail to take a leak.

But hey! We humans do stupid (VERY) stupid stuff even when going to pee or crap... I remember once we were all roped up going through the Monte Rosa Glacier (Douforpitzthe, Swish Alps) at night, with a couple inches of fres snow over the ice. I was going first since I was the lightest. No previous tracks (covered by the recent snow)... I needed to take a leak and I have a shy bladder. So I told my partners to just shut up a couple minutes so I could do my stuff. One of them (not really familiar with the issue) kept poking on me. I got SO MAD, that I untied the rope, walked straight to one side for 50 yards, switched off my headlap, and did my stuff. I could have easily fell into a crevase, unroped, forever.... Once I came back, I promise that this friend of mine didn't ever think again about making any more jokes.

But it was SOOOOOO STUPID....
 
once I get like that, give me a couple of plastic bags, a big rubber band, rubber sheet, motel room, diaper and a lot of sleeping pills. I have no desire to suffer for several days on my way out, nor make a big mess that others have to clean up.
 
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while it's "disappearing", flies are in it and people are smelling it, so bury it, dude.
 
alewn said:
"trail" is a very generous description of what parts of the AT look like. You can easily walk right across it and not realize what you've done. But geez, how far off trail do you have to go in order to "go"? 10m should be plenty, as long as you bury it.
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Nope. At least 200 feet from any trail, water source, drainage, and/or shelter/known camp site. And you still bury it 6" to 8" deep. No deeper or it'll be below the biological actions which WILL take care of it. No shallower or the TP will later "bloom".

And I'm willing to bet you haven't hiked much of the AT. One of the best marked and most heavily used trails in America.
 
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