Boy Scout Troop 325 Scoutmaster Minute

Felton Rescue

Dec 7, 2010
Andy Duprey, Scoutmaster

FELTON - SJ Mercury News-referenced on 12.6.2010

According to the Mercury-News a woman, who lives in Felton and who is a tri-athlete, went jogging on or about Thanksgiving Day, on an unmarked trail in the northern portion of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. She had been running up the path close to the edge when she lost her footing and twisted her ankle. It was dark, so she decided to seek shelter under some trees in an uphill ravine among loose logs near a creek. She could not get out, due to her injury, and she remained there with an injured ankle for six days, developing a case of hypothermia. She had four layers of clothes and a downed tree for shelter. She survived six days in the woods before a man and his son found her Saturday. She was taken to a local hospital by the Sheriff and EMT's.

This woman was very lucky and this story has a happy ending-will you be so lucky? My advice is that you should rule out luck as much as possible.

Let's review what she did right:

1. She did not panic
2. She did not stray from where she was injured.
3. She found a source of water
4. She made shelter out of what she had
5. She had clothing and shelter warm enough to survive five nights with temperatures in the 30's
6. She was very fit to begin with

Let's review some things that would have helped her be found much more quickly

1. She ran alone-hike/run/ride with at least another person. Always think, when you are hiking or jogging alone-how far could I travel alone if I was hurt? Runners and cyclists often forget how long it can take to walk 3,4 or 10 miles, miles that fly by when you are running or riding.
2. She did not leave a note or notify anyone where she was going-She left the Sheriff and her friends to guess whether she had been abducted, was lost or what had happened to her.
3. She ran on a unmarked trail
4. She did not, according to the story, try to signal or put out any non-nature colored items to help searchers.
5. She had only one of her ten essentials-warm clothes. She was missing:
   1. Food and water
   2. A cell phone, walkie-talkie, whistle, mirror or other signaling device
   3. Map and Compass
   4. Headlamp/flashlight -
   5. First-aid supplies-
   6. Fire-starter/Matches
   7. Knife

Again, she was lucky. We don't expect you to become separated from the group, or to hike alone. If you did, we would have failed you badly. But, please expect to enjoy the best experience in the wilderness and plan for the worst. I hope if you or anyone you know is in a situation where you need your ten essentials, that you will think quickly, act decisively and survive without injury.

Thank you and good night scouts.