Hypothermia has been described by some as a comfortable, almost pleasant way to die. You get cold, you feel uncomfortable, you fall asleep, you die. But freezing to death is an entirely different matter. The frostbite gets you well before hypothermia does, and extreme dehydration happens quickly. Eating snow only lowers your temperature, causing you to freeze faster. But worst of all must be the hallucinations. The idea that someone is coming to rescue you, but only for them to never arrive. This is the story of Madison and Blake, who’s encounter on the mountain taught them the importance of preparedness, and taught them some important lessons about taking precautions while hiking.
Blake and Madison were planning on a day hike to the top of Algonquin Peak, the second highest mountain in New York. It’s about 5,000 feet high, and it was a pretty cold day. But the forecast was clear, so Blake and Madison left, taking their first steps toward disaster.
Something that must be understood is that Blake and Madison reached the top of the peak before the fog rolled in. They were tired, and being tired leads to mistakes. The fog covered the summit, making the trail disappear, and Madison held on to Blake with an iron grip. They tried to make their way down the mountain, but suddenly the trail dropped off, and they tumbled down through the snow.
When they landed, they were perched atop some snow covered trees, bent over by the snow. The couple was equipped with snow shoes, and attempted to climb back up the side of the mountain, but their attempts were ultimately fruitless. They were trapped.
So the couple attempted to build a snow wall, trying to protect them from the intense flurries of snow, and then struggled in an attempt to start a fire, using Madison’s backpack as fuel. Again, their attempts were thwarted, most likely by the material the backpack was made from. Their phones were charged, but with no service, they were left without an ability to call out for help.
They duo spent the rest of the day shouting and yelling for help, but there was no one to hear them. Madison started to lose feeling in her toes, and Blake dumped the contents of his backpack and wrapped it around her legs. He spared her feet, but in doing so, he lost some tools, including a crank light, a knife, and their food. They also lost their gloves while attempting to warm their hands under their shirts.
The pair began hallucinating, and while it’s unclear from my research what they saw, it’s hard to imagine them not seeing rescuers. Hypothermia was settling in, and they were both dehydrated. They encouraged each other continuously to raise morale, and Blake melted a frozen water bottle against his skin to help Madison stay hydrated.
The Rescue
It wasn’t until 4:30 of day one that the two hikers were reported missing. The park Rangers at the time dismissed it, saying it hadn’t been long enough to start a search, but by around 8:00, they began to look around. Their car was still parked, and the two had signed on to the trail, so the Rangers launched a search. They were out searching until approximately 3:00 AM.
On Monday morning, Day 2, more than 20 Rangers were out searching, but with poor conditions, there was little to be done. Helicopters were grounded by snow and high wind, and visibility was still very low.
Day 3 started on a more positive note. The State Police SRT Team and two State Police helicopters were dispatched to the search area. This is when the two hikers would finally have a stroke of luck. They could hear the hikers screaming for help from the helicopter. At first, the duo thought they were hallucinating, but when they both could hear it, they knew the helicopter was real. Their screams reached the helicopter, and a rescue team hit the ground running. The newly rescued duo was given food, water, and warm coverings. It took two additional hours to get them pulled off the mountain, due to the weather conditions, and they were immediately transported to the hospital, where they were both found to be suffering from hypothermia and frostbite.
Lessons Learned
Ultimately, there’s a few lessons to be learned.
First off, any time you’re out hiking, it’s a good idea to bring a flare or chem light, anything that can be used as a beacon for your location at night. This may not have served them in this case, but there’s also the possibility that it could have gotten them out sooner.
Next is fire starting equipment. When it comes to snow or rain, it’s really hard to determine how successful you will be starting a fire. Maybe it goes well for you, maybe it doesn’t. Again, this would have been an excellent time to use a flare. The super high heat levels put out by the chemicals burning in a flare, and the reasonably long lasting nature of the fire could have vastly helped their situation.
Third, Madison was apparently not wearing snow shoes. In conditions where there’s a lot of snow, this can be a serious killer, and may have contributed to what kept them from getting down the mountain in the first place.
Fourth, dumping out the bag so quickly, without considering the consequences, could have come at a serious cost. A knife, a light, and their food were lost, starving them of some of the energy they may have needed to survive.
Fifth, they were reportedly located a fairly good distance from the trail, with some saying they were on the opposite side of the mountain. During incredibly low visibility events, staying put and securing a shelter can be your best option. I personally always carry a tarp on even the shortest of hikes, and this could have proven to be a valuable asset for them.
Conclusion
Ultimately, these stories are one of bravery, commitment, and strength. Mistakes were made, but good communication and a strong response by emergency services ensured a good, strong outcome. Hopefully you guys have learned something from this story, and can use the information available to think through your own emergency responses. As always, keep your mind open, your eyes up, and your skills sharp.
modernsurvivalarkansas.com 