Disoriented hiker gets lost in fog for hours on ‘extreme terrain,’ Wyoming rescuers say
A hiker who had become lost and disoriented on top of a steep cliff in Wyoming was rescued just as darkness set in, officials said.
Hours before her rescue, she had gotten lost in thick fog that clouded the mountain peak in Teton County, officials said in a June 15 news release on Facebook. Cold, wet and disoriented, the hiker followed the ridgeline until deadfall — a tangled group of fallen trees and branches — and “extreme terrain” stopped her.
She had been following the wrong ridgeline, officials said. Not only was the hiker exhausted, now she was totally lost.
Realizing she had no chance of finding her way out before dark, she called for help.
First responders from Star Valley Search and Rescue rode motorized dirt bikes up the mountain and then hiked several miles to her location, officials said. Because it would take hours to help her down the mountain and daylight was quickly fading, the volunteers requested help from Teton County Search and Rescue.
Volunteers with that agency sent backup ground teams and a helicopter team to short-haul them out of the backcountry — by hoisting them with a rope attached to the helicopter’s belly. The helicopter team got her to the valley floor just outside Afton right before 9 p.m., officials said.
The hiker did not need medical care and “wished to express her gratitude to all responders,” officials said.
The helicopter team flew back to Jackson, about 70 miles northeast of Afton, and landed “just five minutes before dark.”
What to do if you get lost while hiking
If you think you’re getting lost, experts say it’s best to stop where you are and not panic. You should go over how you got to that point and if you’re able to see any landmarks around.
“Do not move at all until you have a specific reason to take a step,” officials with the U.S. Forest Service said.
You should come up with a plan but stay put unless you are “very, very confident in the route.”
There are steps hikers can take to avoid getting lost and be better prepared for the unexpected:
Have more than enough food and water with you.
Take a compass that you know how to use, or have a GPS device on hand.
Don’t rely solely on your cellphone. It probably won’t work because of a lack of signal or a depleted battery.
Study the terrain and your route, and you should know how you’ll return.
Have the right clothing. Sturdy hiking boots and layers can help you be prepared for rapidly changing weather.
Pack a blanket, flashlight and matches.
Check with a local ranger for special warnings. They can tell you about “fires in the area, bear sightings, flooding, trail or road closures.”
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