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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ben on February 05, 2012, 11:11:32 AM

Title: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Ben on February 05, 2012, 11:11:32 AM
From what's mentioned in the story at least, there are so many things they did wrong. Glad they were found alive and reasonably well, but still...

I'm perplexed at the part where for days they heard helos but couldn't signal, but then on the sixth day "crawled" to a clearing to get the attention of airborne SAR. Why didn't they do this on the first day if the clearing was within "crawling" distance? Also, they were found 200 yards from ground searchers. I wonder whether the ground searchers were signaling at all?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/05/family-lost-for-6-days-found-alive-in-oregon-forest/?test=latestnews

Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: MillCreek on February 05, 2012, 11:51:19 AM
Having done a lot of backpacking in exactly that sort of terrain here in the PNW, sound does not necessarily carry very far through the thick forest cover and underbrush with hilly terrain and ravines.  Gunshots, whistles and air horns do, but voices not so much.  One of the reasons why I have several whistles on me at any one time in the woods. 
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Physics on February 05, 2012, 12:00:34 PM
The thing that always gets me is just the sheer size of our forests out here.  Take a look at google maps and search for Gold Beach, where they were lost.  That's a lot of woods right there. 
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Ben on February 05, 2012, 01:20:38 PM
I've backpacked in Northern CA coastal forest in the past, so understand how thick and wet the forests are. It sounds though, like these people just strolled right in with pretty much nothing on them. The article mentions searchers finding a soda can, as well as discarded buckets and clothing (why?). I would be interested to see a list of exactly what they had on them when they went for the walk. Even just a couple of space blankets and/or a trash bag or two could have prevented the frostbite.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Jamisjockey on February 05, 2012, 01:58:18 PM
I've backpacked in Northern CA coastal forest in the past, so understand how thick and wet the forests are. It sounds though, like these people just strolled right in with pretty much nothing on them. The article mentions searchers finding a soda can, as well as discarded buckets and clothing (why?). I would be interested to see a list of exactly what they had on them when they went for the walk. Even just a couple of space blankets and/or a trash bag or two could have prevented the frostbite.

Or a g d GPS with spare batteries, and a back up compass with map.

I mean, *expletive deleted*it.  Even just a compass, with an idea of the direction you left the road from....something is better than being this damn stupid.
Darwin, thwarted again.

 :facepalm:
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: RocketMan on February 05, 2012, 02:26:34 PM
They probably had the buckets for the mushrooms they were hunting.  They were certainly underequipped for venturing into that type of area.  Looking at the pictures, I see aging flower children.

Another more local story here. (http://www.katu.com/news/local/Mushroom-pickers-found-injured-but-alive--138714709.html)
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: MechAg94 on February 05, 2012, 02:30:27 PM
Having done a lot of backpacking in exactly that sort of terrain here in the PNW, sound does not necessarily carry very far through the thick forest cover and underbrush with hilly terrain and ravines.  Gunshots, whistles and air horns do, but voices not so much.  One of the reasons why I have several whistles on me at any one time in the woods. 
Yeah, 200 yards is a long way in thick brush.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Ben on February 05, 2012, 02:57:52 PM
Well anyways, nice shirt for article photo.  :laugh:

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.katu.com%2Fimages%2F120202-Missing-Mushroom-Pickers.jpg&hash=5bc9d74a5ad2d974aa3f2affefe0e3ba96f2debd)
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Ron on February 05, 2012, 05:11:27 PM
It is a good practice to always carry the "Ten Essentials". Doesn't take up much room, could fit in your pockets if need be.

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/ten+essentials.html
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Fjolnirsson on February 05, 2012, 05:48:02 PM
What Physics said about the forests here is correct. Vast, thick, wet and they swallow trails quickly, because stuff grows here at a phenomenal rate. That said, they should have known better to take some gear with them. I won't even hike the county parks without basic equipment in case of an unintentional overnight stay.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: RoadKingLarry on February 05, 2012, 06:07:07 PM
Quote
Darwin, thwarted again.

The real tragedy of the story.
 ;/
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 05, 2012, 06:21:57 PM
It is a good practice to always carry the "Ten Essentials". Doesn't take up much room, could fit in your pockets if need be.

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/ten+essentials.html


Quote
A basic knife should have at least 1 foldout blade (more likely 2), 1 or 2 flathead screwdrivers, a can opener and (though some people will call this a luxury) a pair of foldout scissors.

That doesn't sound so basic anymore.  =|
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: RoadKingLarry on February 05, 2012, 07:33:32 PM

That doesn't sound so basic anymore.  =|

Pretty basic really for $32.00.
http://www.swissknifeshop.com/shop/swiss-army/victorinox/swiss-army-knives/do-it-yourself/swiss-army-super-tinker (http://www.swissknifeshop.com/shop/swiss-army/victorinox/swiss-army-knives/do-it-yourself/swiss-army-super-tinker)
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Mabs2 on February 05, 2012, 07:42:19 PM
Never liked Swiss Army knives...
The blades were too flimsy to be practical to use and the other tools were just too tiny.
I've always preferred to carry a proper multi tool and separate knife.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: RoadKingLarry on February 05, 2012, 07:48:39 PM
I got one as a service anniversary gift a few years ago, I carry it in my hunting belt pack as a back up to a larger fixed blade belt knife.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Mabs2 on February 05, 2012, 07:55:00 PM
They're really cool and nice to have...I just never found much use for them. 

Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: lee n. field on February 05, 2012, 08:01:32 PM
Pretty basic really for $32.00.
http://www.swissknifeshop.com/shop/swiss-army/victorinox/swiss-army-knives/do-it-yourself/swiss-army-super-tinker (http://www.swissknifeshop.com/shop/swiss-army/victorinox/swiss-army-knives/do-it-yourself/swiss-army-super-tinker)


That's the one I bought for myself a couple weeks ago.

Quote
Never liked Swiss Army knives...
The blades were too flimsy to be practical to use and the other tools were just too tiny.
I've always preferred to carry a proper multi tool and separate knife.

They're small enough not to scare people.  Most people who aren't phobic.

I find them genuinely useful.  The only thing it lacks over my Gerber tool is a decent pliers.  I have a Benchmade sharp and pointy clipped to another pocket.

Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: lee n. field on February 05, 2012, 08:02:00 PM
Well anyways, nice shirt for article photo.  :laugh:

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.katu.com%2Fimages%2F120202-Missing-Mushroom-Pickers.jpg&hash=5bc9d74a5ad2d974aa3f2affefe0e3ba96f2debd)

Does anyone else think her face looks a little odd?
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Ron on February 05, 2012, 08:09:00 PM
They updated the photo to something more recent it appears.

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa57.foxnews.com%2Fstatic%2Fmanaged%2Fimg%2FU.S.%2F396%2F223%2FMissingMushroomPickers.jpg&hash=70cea817841ed7aab52c7ac3d093d15e56854417)
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Hawkmoon on February 05, 2012, 08:33:40 PM

That doesn't sound so basic anymore.  =|

It's either a basic scout knife, or a very basic Swiss Army knife.

Camp knife:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthumbs4.ebaystatic.com%2Fm%2FmR9lo_JSHA6oyHNcgCjmSPg%2F140.jpg&hash=72b30a0663234cb5fa551c382efa246521445e72)

Scout knife:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smkw.com%2Fsmall%2Fknife%2FV53042.jpg&hash=b0827c8d89cab983ce01ff3c49b13a67f9db3900)

Basic Swiss Army Knife:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smkw.com%2Fsmall%2Fknife%2FV55121.jpg&hash=0fd82bcd684d2746b5eb7bc912641d15583f36e0)
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: MechAg94 on February 05, 2012, 10:20:05 PM
http://leatherman.factoryoutletstore.com/cat/29517/Leatherman-Squirt-PS4-Multi-Tools.html

I've got an older version of this that doesn't have the scissors.  It is small enough not to notice in the pocket.  The pliers, blade, and flat screw driver head come in handy quite often at work. 

I've got a heavier Gerber that actually has locking blades and tools. 
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: MillCreek on February 05, 2012, 10:23:46 PM
^^^^ The factory outlet store sells these tools for more than from other vendors.  And in some cases significantly more.  So much for a factory outlet.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: MechAg94 on February 05, 2012, 10:29:13 PM
Good to know.  That was just the first link that popped up.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: BobR on February 05, 2012, 11:34:30 PM
Isn't it a little early for most mushrooms, esp the morels that most people in that area search for. I would bet they were looking for the ones that have a reddish orange cap with white spots on it. Just a guess from looking at the pics.  =|

bob
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: MrsSmith on February 06, 2012, 02:03:43 PM
In the article I saw, the family was planning to eat their dog. http://www.lebanon-express.com/news/state-and-regional/mushroom-pickers-lost-hope-considered-eating-dog/article_4aebfa43-6fc1-5b26-a7bd-3b149676d9ac.html (http://www.lebanon-express.com/news/state-and-regional/mushroom-pickers-lost-hope-considered-eating-dog/article_4aebfa43-6fc1-5b26-a7bd-3b149676d9ac.html)

After only a couple days they're prepared to eat Fido? Really?
Quote
They spent the nights huddled in a hollow log and considered sacrificing their pit bull, Jesse, for food.
"She's that good a dog, she'd have done it, too," Conne said.

And clearly they've never watched Dual Survival either:
Quote
The Connes spent the first night in rain, sheltering under a pile of brush. The second day, they built a lean-to, but it fell down. Trying to find their way out, they discovered a hollow log they could all three squeeze into, and they stayed there, covering the opening with bark and hiking downhill to a creek to fill plastic bags with water. When it rained, they tried to plug the leaks with bits of wood.
"It was pretty tight in there," Dan Conne said. "I'm sure a bear would have been real comfortable in there."
They were never able to start a fire, having no matches or lighters.
"Every other time we been out there, every one of us had lighters, except this time," Dan Conne said. "Rubbing sticks together? That don't work. Slamming rocks together? Only on TV.

Another example of a humans who should not have bred.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: BobR on February 06, 2012, 03:33:19 PM
Quote
After only a couple days they're prepared to eat Fido? Really?

I saw that also. I also read somewhere that they couldn't get a fire going. It seems that everyone of them carries a lighter but this time none did. That would have been Fido sashimi, probably not much more palatable to them than the mushrooms they tried to eat.

Some people should be eaten by bears.

bob
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: wmenorr67 on February 06, 2012, 03:51:07 PM
I think if they tried to eat Fido, he would have won that battle.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: gunsmith on February 06, 2012, 09:54:36 PM
in an interview in pit bull times the dog revealed there were plenty of tasty mice and rats & that there was plenty of edible plants too.
When told of their plans to eat dog, the dog smiled and said "shuuuurrre"
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Viking on February 07, 2012, 07:55:11 AM
Quote
"Every other time we been out there, every one of us had lighters, except this time," Dan Conne said. "Rubbing sticks together? That don't work. Slamming rocks together? Only on TV.
Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better about your incompetence and unpreparedness.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: lee n. field on February 07, 2012, 09:00:11 AM
in an interview in pit bull times the dog revealed there were plenty of tasty mice and rats & that there was plenty of edible plants too.
When told of their plans to eat dog, the dog smiled and said "shuuuurrre"

What I was thinking.  They're going to kill a pit bull.  With no tools.  And eat it, with no tools.   Riiiight.

But, we already knew they were deficient in the sphere of planning.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Jamisjockey on February 07, 2012, 09:12:40 AM
When someone is lost in the woods, the FBI should run a profile on them. If it is found that they are dipshits, like these morons, the rescue should be immediately called off. 
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on February 07, 2012, 09:54:19 AM
What I was thinking.  They're going to kill a pit bull.  With no tools.  And eat it, with no tools.   Riiiight.

But, we already knew they were deficient in the sphere of planning.


lol  lost 2 more weeks  dog is found  alone  well fed
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Ben on February 07, 2012, 10:02:24 AM

lol  lost 2 more weeks  dog is found  alone  well fed

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi279.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fkk155%2FJamimaPanAm%2Ffarside.jpg&hash=060c87b3f8194734071d982b18ec97b30065044e)
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on February 07, 2012, 10:23:14 AM
and the average iq of the group rises with each meal
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: brimic on February 07, 2012, 10:42:40 AM
Quote
When someone is lost in the woods, the FBI should run a profile on them. If it is found that they are dip*expletive deleted*s, like these morons, the rescue should be immediately called off.
Darwin tried real hard, but failed this time around.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: wmenorr67 on February 07, 2012, 10:55:32 AM
Well the biggest problem is that the parents have already reproduced.  Sounds like only one needed to go to cleanse the gene pool.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 07, 2012, 12:02:41 PM
Had they any decency whatsoever, they would have used a cellphone to videotape one another slamming sticks and rocks together to make fire. Trying to picture it is just not as amusing.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: wmenorr67 on February 07, 2012, 12:11:35 PM
Damn hippies.
Title: Re: Lost for Six Days in an Oregon Forest
Post by: geronimotwo on February 08, 2012, 09:08:14 AM
Damn hippies.

 ???  everyone knows that hippies are "one" with nature, and therefore do not need to fear long exposures with no food.

i remember as a kid my dad would always make a point of taking matches on a hike.  he also would leave interesting reading material around, such as "AF MANUAL 64-3" which i considered good reading.....and it was fun to practice making all the snares, deadfalls and shelters that were suggested.  speaking of which, i should leave that out for my girls to find.