Friday, November 19, 2010

Lost and found a trek into Tonto National Forest

Trip into…

Monday around 1pm I arrive at the Peralta trailhead in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, AZ.  I am backpacking and camping for one night in the Tonto National Forest.  I take out my directions for my hike and all my gear which includes (and other items that are tiresome to mention)

Sleeping Bag, Leatherman multi-tool, assortment of granola beef jerky and other food items, 4 bottles of water (this is important), hooded sweatshirt, jeans, knit cap, and a windbreaker.

I step into the Tonto National Forest; my first portion of the journey is up a mountain.   As I trek up the mountain eating my apple I realize the climb is quite steep and my pack is heavy so I take enough breaks.  I am not in a hurry.  I am simply enjoying the beautiful scenery and weather (sunny with a slight breeze and about 75º).  I pass two hikers coming back down the mountain.  The trail head was full of cars.  Little do I know that these will be the only hikers that I will see moving forward.

I reach the apex of the initial mountain and I see a green valley surrounded my mountains and mesas that look like they belong in a Roadrunner cartoon.  I snap a few photos and continue on as the trail heads to the west.  I pass through dry creek beds and over mountains and into a number of canyons the change trails a couple of times until I finally decide to camp for the evening.  I set up a camp and relax under the stars.  I do not have a watch so as I wake throughout the night I have no idea what time it is, and then I feel drops of rain on my face.  So I pack everything up and I curl inside my sleeping bag (luckily it was just a light sprinkle).  The next morning I wake up and eat a bit of pineapple and I save the juice in an empty water bottle.  I am now down to a few ounces of pineapple juice and 2 bottles of water.  I begin my journey the way that I came.  I could continue to make the loop by I am ready to go home and this should be shorter returning this way.

Journey back

I start back and soon I realize that I am not on the right trail.  I seem to be walking on the wrong side of the dry river bed.  But, I am going the proper direction so I don’t panic.  I continue walking and I walk and I walk.  I come to intersections of trails (none of which are the trail that I should be on).  But I realize that I am on the Dutchman Trail which goes to where I started from (I would learn later that the Dutchman Trail is over 30 miles long).  So I continue walking on the trail then I find that I am walking through a dry river bed I have left the trail.  Soon it does come up again.  The sun is getting higher in the sky it is becoming warm and water is beginning to become a bit less (I am down to less than one bottle).  

I continue walking, crossing trails and I hope that I am getting close.  It is hard to tell because everything winds around and all the canyons start looking the same.  It must be close to mid day.  I am really tired, water is running out.  I have maybe 8 ounces left.  I am walking up to a ridge I am exhausted.  I reach a flat point as I cross over I hope that when I reach the other side I see the green valley.  When I reach a point where I can see all that is there is mountains and a trail that I have no idea where it goes.  Water is almost out.  I am LOST and have no idea where I need to go.  I have not seen a single soul since I passed two hikers 5 minutes into my journey.

I see a shade tree, roll out my sleeping bag and I fall asleep (who knows how long, could have been 15 minutes or 2 hours).  I wake up a bit refreshed by thirsty so I drink a couple of ounces of water…

Planning for the worst

I make the decision that I cannot move from this spot all the while thinking I may not make it out of here alive.  I will need to be rescued.  It is the smart decision, lost with no water, I have no option.  So I begin to build a HELP sign with rocks that can be seen from above.  It is the afternoon.  I should be arriving home about now so I know that no one is looking for me.  I am THIRSTY…  So I write in my journal that I brought along…

I hope this isnt my last journal entry Im LOST, I’m so scared.  I just want to see Isabella and Victoria again.  I want give them a big hug and tell them I love them so much.  I love them so much.  I’m so scared and thirsty.  I drank the last few oz of my water about 2 hrs ago.  Can’t be sure about time.  No Watch.  From the sun it appears to be maybe 4 pm.  Hart to Say.  Izzi Tora Daddy loves you!!!  I love you so much I would cry if I could (my body can’t produce tears).  So sad at the thought of never seeing you again.  I love you.  Someone please find me.

I settle in for the night the stars are glorious.  The big dipper moves across the sky each time I wake in the middle of the night I can see the stars are in different sections of the sky.  This is how I know time is still passing by.  I sleep on an off through the night until I awaken and I can see the faint glow of the Sun off to the east.  I take out my Leatherman and I begin to start cutting down green branches so I can make a signal fire.  I also collect dried grass and a bunch of dead hollow wood that burns really well.  I write in my journal…

Awake and set up fire will light it once I hear a helicopter or small plane.  Attempted to get liquids from cacti… no luck.  I am really thirsty but otherwise feel fine.  It’s a cool morning just after sunrise.  Please someone come soon, please

A number of small aircraft pass through the area but not close enough to see my fire.  It is very discouraging to be at the mercy of the elements and not have control of the situation.  I am very thirsty, so I cut off a prickly pear cactus section and begin plucking the spines off.  I am sitting under my tree with my fire smoking.  My hope is I can get the spines from this section of cactus off and then peal away the outer covering leaving a moist center that I can gain some moisture from.

Glory

I see a hiker come up on the trail.  I am found.  I stop her and tell her my situation.  Luckily she gives me water and her car is only a couple of miles away.  I am so relieved I am overcome with emotion.  There is a combination of joy, excitement, relief.  I gather my things and we walk back down the mountain.  While walking we can see a search and rescue helicopter.  I then reach my car and I see a Pinal County Sheriff.  I let him know I am OK, just tired and thirsty.  The next bottle of water I drank was great.  Life continues…