Lost hiker wearing only shorts spends cold night in concrete tube, Arizona cops say
A lost hiker wearing only shorts was rescued after spending the night off trail in a concrete tube, Arizona deputies say.
A pair of friends went for a hike on Black Canyon Trail in Black Canyon City the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 22, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
However, on their way back, one of the hikers got lost about 7 miles from the trailhead, deputies said.
Temperatures were predicted to dip to 50 degrees Friday night, according to the Weather Channel.
Deputies and the sheriff’s office’s search and rescue team made their way to the trail.
The hiker’s friend and search and rescue volunteers spent most of the night scouring the trail for him, deputies said.
Then, “just after sunrise,” he was found, deputies said.
While awaiting rescue, the man, in his 50s, “spent the night with just his shorts in a concrete tube just off the trail,” according to deputies.
Rescuers flew the hiker, who was in good health, via helicopter back to Black Canyon City, deputies said.
Another rescue
A short time after the Black Canyon City rescue, deputies said they responded to another hiker rescue near Wilhoit.
While the man was hiking a mountain Friday, Nov. 22, “he got lost in thick brush and became exhausted,” deputies said.
The hiker stayed put overnight, and in the morning deputies hiked up to his location.
When deputies determined the hiker would not make it from the mountain without help, the rescue helicopter left the Black Canyon City rescue to hoist the man from the area, deputies said.
Rescuers flew the hiker back to Wilhoit, according to deputies.
Black Canyon City is about a 50-mile drive north from Phoenix, and Wilhoit is about 110 miles northwest.
What to do if you get lost while hiking
If you think you’re getting lost, experts say it’s best to stop where you are and not panic. You should go over how you got to that point and if you’re able to see any landmarks around.
“Do not move at all until you have a specific reason to take a step,” officials with the U.S. Forest Service said.
You should come up with a plan but stay put unless you are “very, very confident in the route.”
There are steps hikers can take to avoid getting lost and be better prepared for the unexpected:
Have more than enough food and water with you.
Take a compass that you know how to use, or have a GPS device on hand.
Don’t rely solely on your cell phone. It probably won’t work because of a lack of signal or a depleted battery.
Study the terrain and your route, and you should know how you’ll return.
Have the right clothing. Sturdy hiking boots and layers can help you be prepared for rapidly changing weather.
Pack a blanket, flashlight and matches.
Check with a local ranger for special warnings. They can tell you about “fires in the area, bear sightings, flooding, trail or road closures.”
This story was originally published November 25, 2024 at 12:55 PM with the headline "Lost hiker wearing only shorts spends cold night in concrete tube, Arizona cops say."
