Lessons learned from the Oregon tragedy

wrote:

Matt Whiting wrote:

I know that is the standard advice, but I'm not sure I could follow it
for more than a day or two. Personally, I'd rather die trying than die
sitting waiting on someone who may never come.

I know what you're saying Matt, but I don't think I've ever heard of
anybody dying in their car when they got stuck. I'm sure there's a
couple of cases, but from all the stories I've heard in our general
area (you're in Montrose right?) the vast majority of exposure deaths
were when people left a protective shelter.

About 12 years ago, a person named Dewitt Finley drove into the same area
in his camper, and got stuck in snow. He stayed with the truck, and they
found him next spring. He had kept a diary, meticulously noting the
passing days, and anticipating rescue. He starved to death after about 2
month's wait.

The irony was that he got stuck only a few hundred feet from an open road
that he could have easily walked along to safety, but he apparantly never
left the truck to look around.

James Robinson wrote:

About 12 years ago, a person named Dewitt Finley drove into the same area
in his camper, and got stuck in snow. He stayed with the truck, and they
found him next spring. He had kept a diary, meticulously noting the
passing days, and anticipating rescue. He starved to death after about 2
month's wait.

The irony was that he got stuck only a few hundred feet from an open road
that he could have easily walked along to safety, but he apparantly never
left the truck to look around.

Ok. So there's one case. I did say there's probably been a couple of
cases. This once incident you cite doesn't make leaving the
car/airplane a good idea. If anything, I think it strengthens the
advice to stay with the car... The guy lived for 60 days!! Almost
amazing that he wasn't found in that time.

wrote

Ok. So there's one case. I did say there's probably been a couple of
cases. This once incident you cite doesn't make leaving the
car/airplane a good idea. If anything, I think it strengthens the
advice to stay with the car... The guy lived for 60 days!! Almost
amazing that he wasn't found in that time.

But nobody ever said to not get out of the car. The point was to not leave the
protection of the car, for a walk out. I would think that you should be out
making markings with branches for air visibility. Get some gas and some pine,
and the battery or something for a point of ignition to start a quick signal
fire. A small hike on nice days to see what is around you, and what might be
used to increase survival chances, such as food, water, roads, houses, wire
right-of-ways.
--
Jim in NC