I Forgot to Hydrate

wrote:
On Friday, April 21, 2006, at approximately 4:00 PM, David Stiles, Cody Stiles, my son Shawn and I departed Andrews' en-route to leave my car at the Deep Creek Campground in Bryson City.
Upon our arrival, Shawn and I left our car and got into David Stiles vehicle and proceeded to the Smokemont Ranger Station, on US Hwy 441, where we completed the required permit for back country hiking and camping. We indicated on the permit, we would be spending Saturday evening at Deep Creek Trail Campsite #53.
From there, we traveled up US Hwy 441 to the Clingman’s Dome turnoff and proceeded out that road. We arrived at the end of that road and observed construction going on and turned to come back down to the place where the Ford Ridge Trail comes up the mountain to the roadway.
After unloading our gear, we proceeded down the trail. Our plan was to drop off out of sight of the roadway and find a camping spot to spend the night. Finding none, we proceeded on down the trail thinking we would eventually find one.
About five miles from the road, it began to rain. We dropped our packs and huddled between them using ponchos, poncho liners and tent flies to protect us against the rain. The rain storm worsened and it began to lightning. The rain increased in intensity and the temperature dropped drastically. We were all soaked to the bone and I began to shiver uncontrollably. I kept my son covered and we kept our bodies close together to conserve body heat. David was doing the same with his son. We remained at that location until about 6:00 AM, when the rain subsided.
Walking down the trail, I began to notice I couldn’t seem to get my body heat to increase and was experiencing tightness in my legs and especially in my knees. Having to stop frequently, it began to be increasingly difficult to breath and I felt light headed. At each of the frequent stops, David and I would check our sons and they seemed to be doing fine.
We eventually made it to a camping spot which I believe was campsite 52, where Fork Ridge Trail intersects with the Deep Creek Trail. After wading across knee deep icy water, we managed to build a small fire and we made sure the boys ate something hot to keep their energy and heat up. I told David my knees were really sore and I didn’t know how far I could go.
We decided to go to the next campsite, which I believe was campsite #53. We crossed another fast running knee deep icy creek. Upon arrival there, I told David I couldn’t go any further. We decided, if I didn’t feel better by the morning, he and Cody would walk until they could get a cell tower signal and call for help.
In the morning, I was running a fever and was aching all over. I tried to get Shawn to go with David to get him to safety, but he refused and insisted on staying with me. He kept me warm with his body and what dry sleeping gear we had inside the tent.
At approximately 7:00 AM, David said he and Cody were leaving and he would get someone in to help. He asked me if I was going to try to make it to the next campsite and I said no, I would be right there. David hung up our garbage and a bright red poncho on the bear cable.
At approximately 3:00 PM (Sunday), Shawn and I began preparing the inside of the tent to stay another night. We had plenty of food and began to eat some. Our water was low, but there was a small stream just behind the campsite. My biggest fear was that I would loose consciousness and Shawn would try to walk out by himself and I told him if this happened, just keep me covered up and stay put. Someone would be there eventually.
At approximately 3:30 PM, Shawn said he saw a lady hiker on the trail in front of the camp. I leaned up and looked out the doorway of the tent and saw a small person in a black T-shirt with a badge on it. I knew it was a ranger and began yelling for her.
Upon her arrival, she began talking to me and established my level of consciousness and checked, Shawn to insure he was alright. Next she provided us with water and a couple of candy bars. At her insistence, I drank approximately two liters of water and began to feel noticeably better. I was still weak, but my legs felt markedly better. It was at that point I began to realize I hadn’t eaten any thing except a Pop-tart since Friday evening. In all the terror of the rain and the inability to locate a stopping point until midday Saturday, I had neglected to eat or drink anything.
The Ranger asked me if I could walk now and I began moving around with the aid of my walking stick and I began feeling somewhat better, yet weak. Shortly, several National Forest Service employees and another GSMNP Ranger arrived and began breaking camp and packed everything in two packs for the mile long walk to awaiting vehicles.
Upon loading everything into the two John Deere ATV’s, we began the hour and a half ride out of the park. I was riding on the passenger side of the lead vehicle and Shawn was riding in the cargo area behind me. At several points, the male Ranger ran alongside me and held me in the vehicle in steep places. The female Ranger rode behind me and periodically asked me how I felt and kept an eye on Shawn.
We eventually arrived in the parking lot at the Deep Creek Campground where we were met by wife Audrey, Catherine, Nick, Michael, Penny and my Mother. There were several NFS and Park personnel there as well as another female Ranger, who I believe was Ranger Stewart. I tried to get around and personally thank everyone for the rescue, but I am sure I missed some. I wanted to hug the female Ranger who, I found out, had walked four miles, alone, down the mountain from Newfound Gap to locate me and Shawn, but out of respect for her professionalism and “can-do” attitude, I shook her hand. Shawn and I were very happy to be safe.

Lessons to live by:

1. If the event takes place in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, check with the Ranger Station for advice and discuss your plan. These are the folks that will be responsible for saving your life if things get bad. Let them in on your plan and strategy for dealing with unforeseen events. Ask them for their advice, they are the professionals, not you.

2. Start early in the day, to enable flexibility in strategies dictated by weather changes and/or unpredicted terrain demands.

3. Keep weight of total pack below 30 pounds.

4. A small shelter for each person is better than a large one for multiple people. In the warmer periods of the year, a plastic fly or lean-to will do. A poncho will serve the purpose nicely.

5. A good sleeping bag is the most important item carried. If you become sick, it is your best way to maintain body temperature. Do not be optimistic about the temperature at night..

6. Do not carry cans of food, no matter how much you like them. The weight of can goods far exceeds their desirability. More wholesome food is available in dry form and considerably lighter.

7. Warm food is a necessity and will go a long way to lift the spirits. Always have a minimum of two sources for heating food besides an open fire. Also, lighters and matches should be packed in waterproof baggies or containers.

8. IF caught in rain, nothing works better than a poncho to keep you and your equipment dry. An individual rain top is also recommended. Combined with a hooded sweatshirt, the rain top protects against wind and rain while the sweatshirt maintains body heat.

9. Wet equipment weighs twice as much as dry equipment. If you cant keep water out of your pack, make sure it has drain holes from which the water can escape.

10. Put everything into plastic zip lockable baggies. Even packaged cigarettes will get soaked if not in a plastic baggie.

11. Insure you have an excellent topographic map of the area you are traveling in. Keep track of where you are on the map. Remember that a mile on a trail seems a lot more like three miles on the streets.

12. Have a good compass with you. I always carry a military type engineer’s lensatic compass so I can take azimuths when available to pin point my location. Keep in mind, the main purpose of the compass is to orient the map. Limited visibility will hamper attempts at locating land marks and will only be useful on overlooks or on high ground where other terrain features might be visible. Become familiar with map reading and the process of section and resection as well as azimuths and back azimuth techniques.

13. In sure you have a fully charged cell phone, in a plastic waterproof zip lock baggie, in the OFF position. In an emergency, you can get on high ground to find a signal.

14. Take a signal mirror with you. One of those AOL advertisement cd’s which come free from grocery stores or cereal boxes works great and even has a sight hole in the middle.

15. If available, a mobile walkie-talky in a frequency monitored by the Park Rangers is highly advisable. Remember to take extra batteries and keep both in a waterproof zip-lock baggie.

16. Carry a plastic garbage bag to carry out garbage. Simply tie it to the outside of your pack.

17. Take a pair of lightweight flip-flops to wear while boots are drying or airing out.

18. Do not try to carry all your water with you. It is nearly impossible to carry enough water for an extended trek. Spend the extra money for a water purifying device. It will be money well spent in keeping you healthy.