Two hikers not prepared for storm
By Joe
Erickson
Thanksgiving
day came none to soon for Roger and Cathy
Caldwell. Young and healthy these two were going
to have a wonderful four day weekend backpacking
in the San Jacinto Wilderness. They were also
looking forward to a future seven day trip
through the High Sierra next year. This was a
preparatory trip, so they carried everything they
thought they would use.
Their
itinerary would be numerous points in the high
country. After leaving the Palm Springs Tram
around 11:30 they obtained the necessary permit
from the Long Valley ranger station. Not wanting
to quit so soon the couple ignored the rangers
warning about an incoming storm, and shouldered
their heavy packs and trudged on.
It was snowing
by the time the Caldwells made camp Thursday. The
heavy packs exhausted them, the altitude made
them nauseous, the cold and exertion dehydrated
them, Cathy pulled a muscle in her thigh and they
didn't have the. energy (or desire) to eat. So
they crawled into their bags and tried to sleep.
In spite of their misery the two pushed on
Friday. Roger had taken part of his wife's
load, but this helped little in their cold and
weakened condition. It took two trips that day to
get all the gear up to the stone cabin just below
the summit. After another grueling day they found
the door to the cabin would not close more than
half way. The wind and snow whipped around the
cabin so much that they pitched the tent inside.
There they
stayed for two more days until Sunday when they
were up and preparing to hike out on Monday. They
were slow to start Monday am, with melting snow
and all so they were going to stay until Tuesday.
A foot of snow
fell over the weekend, and these two only had
summer boots and no snowshoes, so it was good
they did not try and make it to the tram or they
would have been hurting.
Monday morning
a little after 10:00 my pager went off telling me
of the search. I called in to say I was going and
would meet at the Palm Springs Tram (my gear is
always in the car, so there is little delay). My
promptness paid off because as I pulled up I saw
Walt and Kevin putting on their boots, and Kevin
said the chopper was on the way. As Mike Donovan
landed with one of Landells Bell jet Rangers,
Walt, Kevin and I were ready to go. And off we
went.
It is always
nice to fly the high country after new snow fall,
but with the doors off (for observation and
loading ease) it was chilly. Flying over the
fresh snow is most advantageous, because if
someone has traveled over the snow, you can
follow the track quickly.
We followed a
few tracks until they went down to some steep
canyons. Hoping those were not Roger's or
Cathy's, we looked up higher and found that they
had made it to the hut where Roger was standing
by the door waving. The pilot came in close
enough for Kevin to motion 'Stay there!' Kevin
and I were dropped off at Round Valley to lighten
the load so Mike could maneuver the bird and drop
Walt behind the cabin. Walt had them pack up and
get in the chopper. On the way down they picked
me up and continued to base. Mike flew back up to
pick up Walt and Kevin, and the rest of the
Caldwell's gear. Bernie McIlvoy, Craig Beasley
Rick Pohlers, Mark Rhoads and the sheriff
deputies were there to help.
III say from experience that
it is most disappointing to get off work (without
pay) rush to base to find that the helicopter has
taken the first crew up, searched, and found the
subjects. All the while you standing at base
hoping to get to go into the field. Sure, we are
all very happy that they are found quickly and
relatively unhurt, but I am no good in base camp,
and I don't like to be there long.
The mountain
is beautiful and we are looking forward to the
purity and aesthetics of a fine Winter season,
'Slap them boards on and slide downhill.
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