Author Topic: I survived a day hike...  (Read 972 times)

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Offline Victor3

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I survived a day hike...
« on: June 11, 2010, 03:45:18 AM »
 My Wife, Son and I spent last week in King's canyon/Sequoia. One day was spent on a 12 mile (round trip) hike. We carried a pack with food, water, light jackets and a few general survival items. There was no cell service.

 A friend of mine had described the trail as easy and it was for the most part. It only gained ~1600' of elevation, most of it in the last 2 miles. We took our time and with an 11 year old stopping for every interesting bug, it took us 8 hrs in and out.

 Wife and kid, shortly after reading a sign that basically said "Don't fall into the river because people drown in it regularly." They wanted to go out further to where the water was moving fast under the tree but I said no...



 A teenager died near this point last year after slipping on slick rock, falling about 50' and cracking his skull...



 Beautiful views of glacier-carved granite everywhere...



 The last section of the trail did me in. We live at sea level and hiking to 6500' the first day of being in thin air doesn't agree with me. I was getting a headache, light-headed and had to stop to rest frequently. My 'mountain goats,' who never seem to tire at any altitude, kept calling back to 'grandpa' to keep up.

 At 5:00 PM, they wanted to keep on but I noted that we'd seen nobody on the trail for over an hour, dark clouds were rolling in and the temp had dropped about 20 degrees in half an hour. I used my veto power; it was time to turn back.

 A ways down the trail ahead of me I heard the Wife yell at my Son. He wasn't paying attention to where he was walking and was coming close to this rattler...



 I ran down to see what the problem was and in so doing slipped and fell hard at a steep area of the trail. My hip and shoulder slammed into rock and I slid down about 10'. I was okay but boy was I sore the next day.

 The rest of the hike out was uneventful except for what my Son called "Devil Deer" (after he saw the eyes in this picture he took). He walked toward us with obviously evil intent and I raised my staff to within 2' of him before he turned away...



 Anywhoo, we got back to the trailhead at 8:00 PM. Our truck was the only vehicle left. I asked "What could have happend today if one of us were injured and there was no help? What would we have done in the case of a snake bite, broken leg, etc? How could we have been better prepared if we had to spend the night up there?" We discussed it, took stock of what we had with us and decided that next time we would have more substantial 1st aid, means for making a shelter and more clothing (it got down to <40 degrees that night). We also determined that we would take a day for me to acclimate to the elevation before hiking, leave earlier in the day and plan our time better.

 Anything else that would have made us better prepared?
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Offline blind ear

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2010, 04:43:25 AM »
Would a couple of small CB radios be of any use for your family to use and also just to check out possible contact with the outside world?
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Offline Dee

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2010, 04:44:04 AM »
Sounds to me like you had a good time. Fire and a good knife?
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Offline RB1235

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2010, 05:53:56 AM »
 Thanks for sharing your trip with us. Those were some beautiful pictures. I would recommend a good wilderness survival book. The knowledge gained will give you the ability to be prepared and the know how to fashion things from the environment. Tom Brown has a pretty decent one out.

Offline Almtnman

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2010, 11:47:07 AM »
Nice photos and interesting story about the hiking trip. You gained some useful experience and will probably know what to bring next time and what time to start the hike.

It's been a few years since we went and I miss going. Most of our hikes were on one of the many trails in the Smokies. One of the most interesting hikes we made was to a not very well known trail named "Fiery Gizzard Gorge Trail" near Tracy City, TN. It was very scenic and an unusual trail. At one point down in the gorge, we passed a group of tall rocks that had the most unusual shape of any I have ever seen. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck as it felt as if something was there watching us. I always carried a sheath knife on my belt when we hiked, a very stout hiking stick that could be used as a club if needed and when we hiked into black bear country, I carried about 5 or 6 bottle rockets on my hiking stick to set off the spook the bears out of our path in case they didn't want to move. One of the old time hikers back in the Smokies told us that they carried an umbrella to snap open and closed and it would keep the bears away if they got too close.
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Offline teamnelson

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2010, 03:21:15 PM »
Looks like that was a great hike!

How are you at sea level, do you walk/run on a regular basis? How much water did you take with you, and how much was left at the end?
I started packing a plastic drop cloth in the bottom of my day pack, for emergency shelter; some folks I know pull out the cheap back board on the low end day packs, and replace them with tarp or heavy drop cloths - just as firm, but useful if you're stranded. And I also have an elastic neck gaiter (military issue) which makes a fair cap - helps to regulate temperature through your head when the sun goes down. That nice broad rimmed one your wearing is good to keep the heat off and keep you cool during the day!
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Offline Victor3

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2010, 01:07:21 AM »
 TN - I do okay at sea level and bike anywhere from 5 - 30 miles a week (without many hills though). I don't run much but probably walk ~1/2 mile a day at work. I drank two pints of water and probably peed about the same volume. I'm gonna take your advice on the drop cloth or something similar. We sometimes carry those thin plastic emergency ponchos with us but they're pretty flimsy.

 Almtnman - Bears were one of my concerns; we didn't see any on this hike but did see several smallish ones over the week we were there...



 There were signs posted all over the place about how one should deal with bears if they get close. "Throw small rocks, yell and wave your arms." There were also signs stating that all firearms in the park must be unloaded and inoperable. Somehow I didn't notice those particular signs until we were on our way home.  ;)

 RB1235 - Good advice on the book. My Wife did carry along a botany handbook covering the Sierra Nevada mountains. Between plants and animals, the place is like a grocery store compared to most places we hike. I have most of Ron Hood's videos and have learned some from them.

 Dee - We were not well prepared as far as knife or fire go. I had only a folder and a Bic lighter. I usually pack a fixed blade and more fire stuff but didn't see the need on a short hike. However, one often doesn't see the need until it's too late!

 eddiegjr - Yes, I've been thinking about radios because the Wife and Son often go off somewhere. This past trip they went about a mile up from our cabin for about an hour before I woke up. I was a little upset she didn't tell me where they were going. We'll have them next time. I have a fancy walkie talkie from pre-cell phone days somewhere. Need to dig it out and see if it still works.

 The main thing I need to do to survive is get in better shape. The real danger I face isn't from bears or snakes; it's suffering the possible embarassment of being body-slammed by a girl...




"It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly, one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts."

Sherlock Holmes

Offline blind ear

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2010, 06:55:23 AM »
She looks like it would be great to suffer. Realy enjoyed your story and pictures.

Humans live longer and survive better living in hunger than any other way. That is a great consolation to you I'm sure. eddie
Oath Keepers: start local
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“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
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An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
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St Judes Childrens Research Hospital

Offline don heath

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #8 on: June 15, 2010, 03:34:13 AM »
Good going....

You would never belive how many clients arrive on safari and fail after 5-10 miles - usually due to blisters or inappropriate boots (for africa- any boot must be full leather in front including -especially- the tounge- otherwise spear grass works in and burries itself in your foot casuing a nasty ulcer).

I am forever poping blisters, applying mole skin, feeding intersting pain killeers and getting my spare tracker to carry someones kit! And mostly these guys 'say' they have trained and broken in their kit....

It only takes a couple of two day hikes in the mountains to sort out necessary from totally worthless items of kit!

Offline Victor3

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2010, 12:04:46 AM »
 I made the mistake of wearing not-broken-in shoes on a hike once but never again.

 I don't know nut'n 'bout no African spear grass, but if you ever find yourself waliking near this stuff (Cholla cactus) don't get close or God forbid step on it. I did once and it penetrated the sole of my boot. I think I'd rather have a tooth extracted without anesthesia...

"It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly, one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts."

Sherlock Holmes

Offline Swampman

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2010, 12:48:29 AM »
Looks like a lot of fun.
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Offline mechanic

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #11 on: June 16, 2010, 01:57:42 AM »
What a great day!  Thanks for sharing.

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Offline WD45

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Re: I survived a day hike...
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2010, 05:31:18 AM »
Ya know it really makes one think about how quick things can turn sour in an environment like you were hiking in. Back in my young and dumb days I took a little hike to the bottom of the grand canyon and back out with a couple of guys of course thinking how tough could this be. All those warning signs were just for  old people right ? One of the other guys almost died. He neglected to tell us he had asma. The other guy twisted an ankle bad enough he could hardly walk. That was a hard lesson