Have you ever...?

[Daryl]

Have you ever been in a situation on a hike where you feared for your safety, or someone elses in your group?

Examples:
You got “turned around” (we never get lost) for a few hours.
You had to spend the night, unplanned.
You, or someone in your group, got an injury that slowed you down or kept you from moving.
Caught in a storm in a bad place to be caught in a storm.
Ran out of water.
You, or someone in your group became ill.
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[Daryl]

Yes. Twice in the same month (during monsoon season) I got caught in bad storms.
Once was on the way down from humphries peak. I saw the storm coming in from the peak and knew I'd need to huff it down. It hit just as I got back into the trees. Lightening was MUCH too close for me.
A week later I was on an un-named, un-trailed mountain near Yarnel. There, the wet rock and poor visability due to the down pour was probably more dangerous then the lightening, but both were a factor. To compound the problem the person I was with was not much of a climber and would have had problems down climbing that on a perfect day.

Since then I keep better tabs on the weather and did some weather research on how to predict/spot a storm on the way.
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[evenstar]

Yea, August '03 coming up from Dripping Spring on the GC Hermit Trail; was hit my huge, wind driven downpour. Rain blown so hard into my face it actually hurt. Found a slight alcove in the side wall to hide in that gave some slight protection; storm only lasted half an hour or so, but that was more than enough for me.
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John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902

[IAHiker]

Yes. Back in September my wife and I were hiking near Moab to Bowtie and Corona Arch. It was a little hot when we started and then it started to sprinkle. The light rain felt great to cool us off. We hiked up to below Bowtie arch (which is basically an overhang with a hole in it). At this time the rain got a little stronger, so we decided to hang out beneath Bowtie until it stopped. But wouldn't you know it, the rain started to pour heavily causing a waterfall to come through the hole in the overhang. We became a little freaked out, because we were stuck there, with a pool (that the waterfall formed) slowing creeping up. Luckily after about a half hour of standing up hugging each other to stay warm (our clothes were soaked), the rain let up enough for us to hike down.

This was my first time hiking in Southern Utah, and I read about slot canyon flooding before hiking, but now I know the same warning goes for hiking at other areas too. That experience ranks on my list for scariest moments while hiking, especially since my wife was five months pregnant and my stupidity could of cost me more than my own life. Actually, that experience ranks up there on my most exciting hikes also. It's not very often you get to stand next to a waterfall in Moab.

I have another scary story about a friend of mine hanging by his fingertips on a cliff, but I will add that later when I have more time.

-Mark
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"Strive for Excellence"

[kurthzone]

Yes, two years ago coming up out of the canyon on Barnahard in a terrible thunderstorm with two of my daughters. That area is very exposed and I'm out there with my external frame and other metal items just asking for it. The nearest the lightening got was about an 1/8 of a mile, but that was enough to cause great alarm amongst us as we walked through the rain and mud with our cheap throw-away ponchos tearing on our packs and gear. Fortunately we had wrapped our sleeping bags in plastic garbage bags.
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;o)>

[Trishness]

Yes, I ran out of water in August in Garden Valley. A lesson learned the hard way and now I always carry MORE than what I think I'll need.
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~~~Trish~~~

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains." � J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings.

[plummer150]

Yup, read my post from last January. http://www.arizonahikers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=333&highlight=#333
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"IRONMAN" cometh, hiketh, destroyeth

[Andy]

Judging from the percentages so far I guess i've been pretty lucky! (Knock on wood!)
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http://community.webshots.com/album/136917818udlQWZ

[azhiker96]

Yes, my own on two occasions. The first was driving out from Roger's Trough TH after 18 hours of rain. That dirt road was slick and sloppy. The second time was when I ran short of water on the Superstition Ridgeline trail. I was very stressed on that one. After drinking 2 liters of fluids I was still a gallon low.

[ck1]

Considering I do about 95% of my hiking with Tony, these apply to him as well...

[Hikngrl]

Ok, all of you who were on the WFW know that my answer to this question comes mostly out of the middle of the third or fourth pool that I had to swim through not knowing for sure if my limbs were actally swimming cause they were so cold! I was scared then... but will never regreat doing it and will do it again and again if I get the chance cause that was the hike that taught me I could do any hike if I really wanted to!

My other experience of actual fear on the trail was watching the bolt of lightning strike only a matter of a few hundred feet behind Sheri out at Horton Creek. That wasnpt a fear that lasted for any length of time as we were almost out when it happened but is scared the beegeebies outta me!

As of yet I have never been lost or had to stay out when I have not planned to or any of the other afore mentioned situations. I have been a very blessed hiker!
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~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

[Daddee]

More times than I care to mention.

I've had to call in a rescue unit once, and been on a rescue unit twice.

Hypothermia twice and once with someone else.

Lost...um...n-e-v-e-r....

Personally injured twice.

Others in my group injured - I don't remember how many times. Serious injury - 3 times.

Thrown by lightning once (struck about 7 ft away - knocked me down and left my ears ringing for a day or so)

A hiking buddy had heat stroke once.

Serious dehydration - a couple of times.

And those of you who have hiked with me know that I am generally very well prepared and I don't take unecessary risks. I've just been involved in my share of extreme situations over the years.
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"Only small minds want always to be right."
- Louis XIV

"...haven't you lived long enough to know that two men may honestly differ about a question and both be right?"
- Abraham Lincoln

[Lizard]

[Wiz]

[maryphyl]

Yes, too many times to count. Everything you can name I think except lost.
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Shikekeh hozhoogo naasha.
I walk in beauty.