Rescue on PCT

[schmalz]

Yeah, same couple. We were basically there when they launched the search. I'm very happy to hear of a good outcome. That's pretty rare when people are out for 5 days on what was supposed to be a dayhike.

Apparently, some searchers on foot found some footprints leading down into Cucamonga Canyon and a helicopter followed the tracks and eventually found the couple next to a campfire.

It sounds like the couple slid down the slope and decided to descent down into the canyon and eventually got lost/stuck down there so they hunkered down but were outside of the main search area. Overall they seem to have made mostly good decisions but probably shouldn't have moved so far away from where they were supposed to be.

[Jimr]

I was talking with some of our bank vp's yesterday about the situation and they brought up going down canyon and eventually hitting civilization. I educated them on the folly of that decision in these mountains. Heavy bushwhacking, cliff outs, moving far from last known location, etc.

[schmalz]

Yeah, but it can get pretty cold up there and they presumably didn't have much warm clothing, ground insulation, etc. Hiking down canyon probably elevated the night temps into a safer zone and gave them access to timber that was dry enough for them to start a fire. I'm not sure that staying right at the scene of the slide or close by would have played out better. They got really lucky with good weather.

[Jimr]

I agree. They were talking about hiking down and out. I'd much prefer getting down a bit into tree line. Good thing they had something to light a fire with. It probably helped save their behinds.