Visitors to the West, Please Be Aware!
 

This sad item reached our local newscast, but probably not the national news. I'm posting it here for all our visitors to the western US.<BR><BR>A young couple, he from London, she from Massachusetts, took a jeep out in the Escalante/Grand Staircase Monument last week. They got stuck, ran out of gas, stayed with their vehicle for 5 days surviving on only Skittles, sunflower seeds, and snow.<BR><BR>After 5 days, they tried to walk out and the girl couldn't continue after the 1 day of walking. She encouraged him to go for help &amp; he hiked out 20 miles before 2 local ranchers found him. He was taken to the hospital delirious, but by the time the rescuers got to the girl, she was dead.<BR><BR>Please, please don't underestimate the wilderness. It can be a fatal mistake in summer or winter. Whether you are hiking for the day or 4 wheeling:<BR><BR>1. Don't go alone. Groups are best - either 3 -4 vehicles or people.<BR><BR>2. Know where you are going! Have a detailed map, know the distance, talk with local authorities about current road conditions.<BR><BR>3. Be prepared to save yourself - there is basically NO cell phone coverage.<BR><BR>4. Be prepared to survive - have warm clothing &amp; sleeping bags, several days of food &amp; water, matches, candles. A candle can heat an entire car. Have emergency first aid supplies.<BR><BR>5. Be sure your vehicles are in top condition.<BR><BR>6. Check the weather reports. Dirt roads can become impassable, slot canyons deadly dangerous during downpours.<BR><BR>7. Have good hiking boots and packs with you. If you have to walk out, even a day 4x4 trip can get very long!<BR><BR>8. Just because you have a 4x4, doesn't mean you are invincible. Most of the time, it just lets you get into bigger trouble!<BR><BR>Enjoy the beauty, just please don't let ignorance ruin a vacation. And happy trails to all!

PS: One more important point: Register with the local forest service or sheriff's office. Let them know where you plan to go and when you expect to return. If you get stuck or lost, at least someone will know you're missing and where to start looking.

I saw that story too. Very sad, and my heart goes out to the couple and their families. <BR><BR>Sadly, they didn't follow some basic rules of travel in the Western wilderness in the winter. I don't remember all of the specific details, but what was reported here in London included the following: <BR><BR>Apparently, they didn't tell anyone where they were going. Indeed, their roomates thought they were taking a flight back East for a birthday party. Therefore a search party was not able to be sent out earlier, and even when it was realised the couple were missing, nobody even really knew where to begin to search for them. <BR><BR>They did not have appropriate winter clothing with them nor had they brought provisions along (probably thinking they didn't need anything as they were just going for a &quot;three hour cruise&quot;). Yes, temperatures might be mild in winter in Las Vegas, but the high desert is another story. <BR><BR>From my understanding, the route they took in the Grand Staircase is listed as out of bounds in winter... and even very remote and dangerous in the summer, but they took it anyway without researching road conditions. <BR><BR>Sadly, they didn't realise that mobile phone signals don't work everywhere, especially in the West. <BR><BR>Although it is a really tragic story, maybe some other visitors to the West can learn from their mistakes. Dayle has listed some of the basic rules of the road for the great American Western Wilderness - which pretty much hold true winter or summer. <BR><BR>One other point I'd like to add to Dayle's list: <BR><BR>Fill your car with gas/petrol whenever you can as you never know when or where you will see the next open gas/petrol station. <BR><BR>

<BR><BR>This story should be required reading for anyone who ventures off the beaten track.

Just wanted to top this once more so more people could see it.<BR><BR>Take care!

Also a good reminder to NOT ski out of bounds as I see so many folks do!!!