Lost Dayhiker... Alive!

“Lost hiker found after two nights in the woods

by Anna Means


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"She did all the right things. She had food, water, matches, stayed put when she realized she was lost, built a fire and even spelled out l-o-s-t with branches."


--Sheriff Robert Taylor



If people have to get lost, Sheriff Robert Taylor wishes they'd all do it like Rosie Piotrowski this past weekend. "She did all the right things. She had food, water, matches, stayed put when she realized she was lost, built a fire and even spelled out l-o-s-t with branches."

All of these things made for a successful rescue Sunday morning after Piotrowski spent two unexpected nights out in the woods.

She credits divine benevolence, prayer, the goodwill of an entire community and her 22 years experience camping with husband Denis for the happy ending.

Day hike
Piotrowski headed out early Friday morning to surprise friends camped at Eddy Lake. She planned to spend the day out and be home by dinner. She packed enough food for a long day plus a little extra, a rain jacket and three quarts of water.

She overshot her mark and by Saturday was on the second no-name creek down from the headwaters of Camas Creek where she was spotted before dawn Sunday morning.

Piotrowski said she'd looked at maps Thursday night and had mistakenly convinced herself there was only one trail to follow. She got onto a saddle, saw a trail and tree blazes and followed it. By 1:00 p.m. she realized she wasn't where she was supposed to be, so backtracked. Unfortunately, the trail wasn't clearly defined, a recent rain made the blazes hard to find, there were many creek crossings and game trails to confuse her way, and by nightfall she wasn't anywhere close to the saddle. She spent the night tending a fire, still confident she could retrace her steps in the morning. Knowing she wouldn't be home as soon as expected, she rationed her food and water.

Saturday dawned, but she still had a hard time finding her way. She knew the trail was used, because she found a quad map dropped by a traveler. Unfortunately, it was one for the Bayhorse area.

Finally, she knew she was lost and had to get out of the trees, build a fire and wait for spotters. She said her fondest hope was for someone to somehow point the way home and she'd walk out under her own steam. She hated thinking she was a source of worry and trouble for family and friends.

Searching
Back in the valley, husband Denis notified the sheriff's office shortly after 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Taylor said they didn't immediately mobilize Search and Rescue, because the rule is 24 hours for an adult to be missing before initiating a search. He did put them on standby to be ready to go out Sunday morning.

In the meantime, the sheriff's office waited to speak to the campers at Eddy Lake coming out Saturday on horseback. Denis made most of those contacts and once they knew for sure Rosie wasn't with that party, they initiated an air search. Friends of the family headed out on foot and horseback that day.

Taylor said they got permission to use the Forest Service helicopter, but fixed wing pilots were on mandatory rest until morning.

Pilot Pete Nelson took Taylor and Deputy Kurt Toynbee up at 5:00 a.m. Sunday and at about 5:30 a.m. they spotted Rosie's fire. Nelson said it was just a little orange glow, but they stayed in the air until dawn to confirm it was her.

Taylor said they made four sweeps at first light to see a person huddled by the fire and l-o-s-t spelled out in branches. They headed into town and came back with a helicopter to pick her up.

Taylor said helicopter pilot Dan Young found a spot to land about a mile from Piotrowski, which saved them a much longer hike had the pilot not been so savvy. Once they hooked up with Rosie, they offered her food, which she ate, but she still had her own water.

Patient vigil
Rosie said she was never afraid or doubtful. She had every confidence that Denis would do whatever was necessary to mobilize a search. She said she also felt the prayers being offered on her behalf from the community and people all over the country. She felt blessed for everything available that kept her safe, like the wood she found for fires and the candle she had in her fanny pack to restart a fire after a hailstorm doused it.

Rosie said the last night, as she fed her fire, she could feel everyone coming closer and knew it was only a matter of time. She knew it was her job to ration supplies, keep the fire going and stay unhurt.

"I did feel stupid," she said and intensely sorry for causing everyone worry and disrupting their weekend plans. "I knew I'd made mistakes early on and there was no undoing it. I realized that I must be very careful from then on to avoid getting hurt."

Rosie is a private person and cringed at knowing she would be the center of attention and the circumstances putting her in the limelight. But, the worst part for her, she said, was putting all those people out due to her mistake. The flip side is she felt honored that people couldn't do enough to help Denis help her.

Once safely back home, she cleaned up and went to church even though, "I would have preferred to crawl into bed and hide."

Rosie said her years of camping with Denis gave her the knowledge she needed to stay safe. On a final note, she wanted to reassure everyone that she extinguished both fires she built and broke up the branches spelling l-o-s-t. She said she didn't spell s-o-s because she didn't want anyone to think she was hurt.

Kudos
Taylor said the sheriff's office appreciates the efforts of Forest Supervisor George Matejko who authorized use of the helicopters, pilot Young for great flying and pilot Nelson for the early morning flight.

Taylor said Helitac foremen T.T. Cain and Eric Lepisto were also very helpful.”

“If she spent two nights in the woods, technically she is not a dayhiker, is she?”

“She is "Rosie the Reluctant Backpacker".”

“If a swimmer drowns...”

“Shows that keeping your head is the best way to cope with being lost in the wilderness.”

“Rosie: I have many questions! Contact Paula in NH. Bless Yah!
last edited: 4/08/06 11:11:08 AM”