Interesting hiker rescue

“two lost hiers find the backpack of another lost hiker (from a year ago) and use his supplies to make their stay in the woods more comfortable.


Link: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/10/losthikers.found.ap/index.html”

“Now that's freaky.”

“Sea Breeze, a former AT thru hiker, was the man whose backpack helped those two”

“Wow - that is a strange story, kind of neat for those two that were rescued - and maybe a tiny silver lining and a chance for some resolution for those who knew and loved the backpack's owner.”

“Good thing they didn't find Violin's backpack.”

“That is a great story. What a lucky pair of hikers, to come across a backpack that was all set up for the PCT.”

“god looks out for the idiots”

“Financial convention... mmm yea. They were lucky to live 3 nights.”

“was it an ultra lite pack and gear? think it's for sale?”

“John Donovan was a member and a former present of the ODATC. I met him briefly at a club meeting. He was a great guy, an avid backpacker and a good friend. He is missed terribly by everyone who knew and loved him.

He would be pleased to know that his gear saved the lives of other hikers.
last edited: 5/11/06 7:16:02 AM”

“Thats Cool! Creek, he must have been a great guy. I prefer to think he died doing what he loved. Sounds morbid but I know too many people who die in a nursing home or in a hospital bed. To be able to know you are where you love being....WOW>”

“Folllow up story with more details:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/11/AR2006051102047_2.html”

“I've put myself in some predicaments. Sometimes bushwhacking, you get into ne-return situations, especially in winter. I tend to carry the kitchen sink with me, so it's helped me out of jams. (ice axe, crampons, rope & determination)

Gorges can be difficult, especially if you don't know they are there. Narrow ravines too.

Break thru the ice into a deep gorge & ravine and it could easily be impossible to get out alone. Catching the edge with your armpits with both feet dangling 30 feet (or so) above the bottom will certainly get your adreniline flowing.

Again, I'm extremely careful around water.”

“Maybe his remains have been scattered by scavengers.

That would be a fitting way for a true hiker to go.

Remember thou art dust and unto dust thou must return.

My kids have instructions to take my ashes, one film can at a time, to various places that I have hiked to and toss them to the wind.”

“MArk0,

I requested my kids to scatter my ashes in my favorite places, until one of them suggested flushing them down the toilet since I spend a lot of time sitting on one.

I told that it wouldn't really matter to me.”

“I would't mind kicking-the-bucket in the woods, but I'd probably get a stroke & watch some critter knawing on me.

I don't believe in funerals or wakes but would like my ashes spread in the woods. My wife would like hers in the(Hawaiian)ocean.”

“Tough luck about the crapper, Chuck.

My boys are wise asses, I don't know why they haven't come up with that one........yet.

Yeah cats, I would love to die face-down in the snow.
I had better make it the Adirondacks, I want it to be good and cold.
It would totally suck to only freeze half way.”

“I'm with MarkO - I'll keep this thread away from my kids.”

“Thanks for the follow on link. Eerie”

“Search for missing hiker yields body

The Desert Sun
June 4, 2006

Volunteers looking for a man who disappeared more than a year ago in the San Jacinto Mountains found a body Sunday afternoon.
The decomposed human body was found during a search for John Donovan, a 60-year-old Virginia resident last seen on May 2, 2005.

"They did find some remains up in the mountains," said Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Juan Zamora.

The search for Donovan gained momentum last month when two lost hikers found his backpack and credited their survival to food and clothing inside.

"The search (was) concentrating on the area where the backpack was found," Zamora said.

The Sunday search was planned in advance and conducted by volunteers, according to Zamora.

The body was near where the backpack had been found, he said. Once the body is brought down from the mountains it will be transported to the coroner's office for a positive identification.”