Lost hiker with dying phone runs out of food and water on Oregon mountain, cops say
A lost hiker texted for help with a dying phone before running out of food and water on a southern Oregon mountain, deputies said.
The 40-year-old man from Central Point left his home at about 7 a.m. Sept. 28 to hike Mount McLoughlin, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
He reached the summit and started to make his way down the mountain when he lost his way, deputies said.
The hiker spent hours trekking through broken volcanic rock, trying to find the trail.
But after no luck, he texted his girlfriend at about 5 p.m. telling her he needed help, deputies said.
His phone was dying and he was running out of food and water, rescuers said.
Rescuers tracked his location through his cellphone and told him to hunker down in one place, deputies said.
He waited for rescuers in the dark only wearing a cotton T-shirt and shorts. At this point, he had run out of food and water.
He was also experiencing cramping from being dehydrated and tired, deputies said.
Rescue teams found him at about 9:30 p.m. They gave him water and fed him high-energy snacks before helping him hike back out, deputies said.
He was returned to his vehicle and drove home after midnight.
Mount McLoughlin is 9,493 feet tall.
The hike to the summit is about 8.6 miles out-and-back, with an elevation gain of 3,825 feet, according to AllTrails.
Other hikers have described this trail as challenging and steep.
The mountain is in southwestern Oregon.
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 cellphone. 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 September 30, 2024 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Lost hiker with dying phone runs out of food and water on Oregon mountain, cops say."
