Actions of lost hiker debated
PORTLAND, Maine — An Appalachian Trail hiker who died after getting lost in the woods of Maine did the right thing by setting up camp to wait for help, officials say. But the guidance evolved into a gray area, they said, after she went a week without being rescued.
People who’re lost are commonly advised to stop moving, said Rita Hennessy of the National Park Service. That’s exactly what 66-year-old Geraldine Largay of Tennessee did in July 2013 when she left the Appalachian Trail to use the bathroom and became disoriented.
She had most of the items on hikers’ “10 essential” list. She had food, water, shelter, maps, a compass, several lighters, a whistle and cellphone, meaning she was equipped to survive in the woods while awaiting rescue from hundreds of searchers. Her husband also knew her route.
Lost hikers usually are found within a couple of days under such circumstances.
In Largay’s case, she was unable to communicate with her phone, and searchers missed her campsite, which was in a heavily wooded area. Her body was recovered in October. Much of her ordeal was documented in a journal she kept.
Evidence indicates Largay tried to start a fire, which would’ve increased her visibility, officials said. No one heard her whistle.
Whether to stay put for a search that stretches longer than a few days depends on the hiker, said Cpl. John MacDonald, of the Maine Warden Service.
