And that was how Fat Freddy found his way home without a flashlight.

Cook the dog!
No child should be made to do that.
Dogs should be raw... and living!

Lucky dog...

It amuses me that people are still going on the James Kim Memorial Highway in the winter.

Walk downhill to a river.

Walk downriver.

You would hit a town on day one, day two if you were crawling on your lips for dramatic effect.


This shiat isn't hard. They deserved to die out there. It's like dying of starvation when lost on a golf course or a largish shopping centre..

How can you be speaking to me when there's a million little bugs crawling around inside your mouth?

Guess they didn't get the carpenter's saw

Bungles: Walk downhill to a river.

Walk downriver.You would hit a town on day one, day two if you were crawling on your lips for dramatic effect.


This shiat isn't hard. They deserved to die out there. It's like dying of starvation when lost on a golf course or a largish shopping centre..

There's the morel to this tale.

Ejacand: Cook the dog!
No child should be made to do that.
Dogs should be raw... and living!

Lucky dog...

That to me is the question. Had they made it the point where they discussed eating the dog? I'm betting all the stuff about snuggling up with it at night is overcompensation for the thoughts they were having.

I once got lost for two days after picking mushrooms, but it turned out I was in my room the whole time. Six days though, wow.

Seriously, though, can't say enough about hand mirrors (or other shiny things like the knife in TFA), flashlights and matches when heading out anywhere more than an hour's walk from a major road. Or as just something you carry in your backpack or shoulder bag or whatever all the time. Doesn't take up much room and a ziploc freezer bag will keep it all safe and dry.

Me thinks they found themselves some magic mushrooms and became Leprechaun's for a few days.

Last name Conne and were living in a tree...

"A FAMILY of three mushroom pickers missing for six days after getting lost in an Oregon forest described how they survived by sleeping in a hollow log and snuggling close to their pet dog for warmth."

I don't see a mention of them drinking muddy water, though.

I don't understand why you would ever venture into the woods without the most basic survival tools. shiat, I bowhunt a mile from my house and I still have a small pack with a space blanket, waterproof matches and a few protein bars.

Bungles: Walk downhill to a river.

Walk downriver.

You would hit a town on day one, day two if you were crawling on your lips for dramatic effect.

At the very least you'd come across someone living in a van...

Pilikia: I once got lost for two days after picking mushrooms, but it turned out I was in my room the whole time. Six days though, wow.

Seriously, though, can't say enough about hand mirrors (or other shiny things like the knife in TFA), flashlights and matches when heading out anywhere more than an hour's walk from a major road. Or as just something you carry in your backpack or shoulder bag or whatever all the time. Doesn't take up much room and a ziploc freezer bag will keep it all safe and dry.

Presumably he dulled the knife while hitting it with a rock to make a fire.

I'm actually baffled by the decision to avoid walking during the day to conserve energy. Which might make sense in a hot desert but... I don't even know how they figured that was a good idea.

I like the mother: "I didn't think we'd get out. I told them that." I bet that was great for morale.

/better luck next time, Darwin

Bungles: You would hit a town on day one, day two if you were crawling on your lips for dramatic effect.

Not on the Rogue River. Southern Oregon is rugged and desolate.

I had to do that?

y'all are slipping.

You know, I once read an interesting book which said that, uh, most people lost in the wilds, they, they die of shame.

What?

Yeah, see, they die of shame. "What did I do wrong? How could I have gotten myself into this?" And so they sit there and they... die. Because they didn't do the one thing that would save their lives.

And what is that, Charles?

Thinking.

If they were out collecting mushrooms (psychedelic jokes aside), how on earth did they not have anything to eat, then?

/yep, they're morans

MusicMakeMyHeadPound: Pilikia: I once got lost for two days after picking mushrooms, but it turned out I was in my room the whole time. Six days though, wow.

Seriously, though, can't say enough about hand mirrors (or other shiny things like the knife in TFA), flashlights and matches when heading out anywhere more than an hour's walk from a major road. Or as just something you carry in your backpack or shoulder bag or whatever all the time. Doesn't take up much room and a ziploc freezer bag will keep it all safe and dry.

Presumably he dulled the knife while hitting it with a rock to make a fire.

I'm actually baffled by the decision to avoid walking during the day to conserve energy. Which might make sense in a hot desert but... I don't even know how they figured that was a good idea.

I like the mother: "I didn't think we'd get out. I told them that." I bet that was great for morale.

/better luck next time, Darwin

Exactly. They were really, really lucky. I used to carry a fixed-blade Buck knife with my freezer bag "kit," but I replaced it with a Leatherman when I moved from the sticks to the city. The only biatch is remembering to swap the kit to my checked luggage when flying. So far so good, but one of these days I know I'll forget.

PC LOAD LETTER: Some trailer dwellers went out without any food or water in a part of the woods they never were in before and got lost and I am supposed to feel sorry for them?

Those of us that live out in these parts are collectively saying "you know how we all know you're not from here?". Shiat, and it's been a very mild and rather dry winter so far. But to be fair, Oregon has it's share of trailer dwellers too. They wouldn't know how to handle a hurricane or -30F temperatures.

God help them they at least knew how identify edible mushrooms. And berries. And edible roots and other plants. And....and.....next time when planning to spend a couple days roughing it, take some goddam equipment with you DAD.

Survival isn't brain surgery. I hunt and fish...spend a lot of time hiking in backcountry areas. I've been lost, too.
You need 3 things to survive...a knife, a lighter and the ability to think clearly under stress.
If you don't have #3, then also carry some water, an energy bar and a couple space blankets.

But for God's sake...buy a freaking lighter, if nothing else.

moops: Bungles: You would hit a town on day one, day two if you were crawling on your lips for dramatic effect.

Not on the Rogue River. Southern Oregon is rugged and desolate.

Not THAT desolate. There's lots of little hamlets, weed growers, ranchers, campers, hermits, hikers, loggers, fishermen, forest service people, hunters...other shroom pickers. There are people roaming around.

Lucky for the dog they weren't Asian.

GPS receivers have been on the market for 20 years or so. Compasses have been around for centuries. I guess I don't have to ask what kind of idiot wouldn't take either with them on a trek into the woods.

J. Frank Parnell: You know, I once read an interesting book which said that, uh, most people lost in the wilds, they, they die of shame.

What?

Yeah, see, they die of shame. "What did I do wrong? How could I have gotten myself into this?" And so they sit there and they... die. Because they didn't do the one thing that would save their lives.

And what is that, Charles?

Thinking.

thinking is important but staying put when lost so rescuers can find you is advice that has been given to people for many years.
previous articles on this family do cast shadows of doubt on their collective
decision making abilities & life choices.
+1 for search & rescue personnel. what a rush it must be to find survivors
and get them help. bless their hearts.

fanbladesaresharp: moops: Bungles: You would hit a town on day one, day two if you were crawling on your lips for dramatic effect.

Not on the Rogue River. Southern Oregon is rugged and desolate.

Not THAT desolate. There's lots of little hamlets, weed growers, ranchers, campers, hermits, hikers, loggers, fishermen, forest service people, hunters...other shroom pickers. There are people roaming around.

Maybe, but "just follow a creek" is not good advice. I can think of quite a few places in the BC backcountry where the creeks lead to impassable cliffs.

I was snowshoeing in the backcountry on Saturday. For a 8km hike I took extra matches, dry socks, water purification tablets, small hand saw, pocket knife, extra zig zags, energy bars, extra dog kibble, space blankets, duct tape, first aid kit etc etc, and I wasn't planning to be out there for long and I had no children with me. These people are recklessly irresponsible.

KrispyKritter: thinking is important but staying put when lost so rescuers can find you is advice that has been given to people for many years.

If you think beforehand, you don't get lost. And if for some reason you do still get lost, thinking will keep you from remaining in one place, inside a log, covered in branches, during the day. In a previous article it was emphasized how mysterious it was that they had gone missing, because they had combed every inch of the area they could possibly be in. Well now we know why: They were hiding from rescuers inside a log.

And these people were dehydrated, even though there was a freshwater stream nearby. They tried getting water from it, someone got hurt, and they apparently thought the river gods were angry with them and lived in fear of the water source from then on.

I don't imagine the rescuers felt a rush when they found them as much as a strong desire to smack them for wasting everyones time.

The pilot that found him was the same guy that found that family off the logging road from a couple years ago. Best Seeker ever.

Bill_Wick's_Friend: extra zig zags

In case you need to roll an emergency joint?

moops: In case you need to roll an emergency joint?

Yes.

Trapped in the woods overnight would suck. A puff would make it suck significantly less.

Bill_Wick's_Friend: I was snowshoeing in the backcountry on Saturday. For a 8km hike I took extra matches, dry socks, water purification tablets, small hand saw, pocket knife, extra zig zags, energy bars, extra dog kibble, space blankets, duct tape, first aid kit etc etc, and I wasn't planning to be out there for long and I had no children with me. These people are recklessly irresponsible.

At first I thought you wrote "space heater." Which made me laugh.

FTA: taken to Curry General Hospital Buffalo Wild Wings in Gold Beach to be treated for dehydration and hunger

Why are we wasting a hospital's resources on dehydration and hunger? Just give them a pass to Golden Corral.

Bill_Wick's_Friend: Maybe, but "just follow a creek" is not good advice. I can think of quite a few places in the BC backcountry where the creeks lead to impassable cliffs.

You follow it upriver. It's flowing down a cliff not up :p.

Still not the best plan unless it's your only choice. If you have the chance, follow the sun instead. If they were travelling at night they could have followed the moon, a bright star or constellation (they never heard the song "follow the drinking gourd I guess?). It would have at least kept them in a general direction. Going in one direction is at least better than wandering around aimlessly or in circles. That's also the problem with creeks and rivers. They can wind in various direction, and change course significantly. Or if you follow a springfed creek you could reach the mouth right in the middle of the woods, then where do you go? The only time it's a great bet to follow a waterway is if you know generally where it goes. With a major river or something you know there's probably people living somewhere along it if you keep going, or you might encounter boaters or something that can help you. Random creeks and rivers can just keep you going in various directions indefinitely.

Of course you can avoid all of that and just bring a compass. Duh.

Oh, or better yet; It's 2012, what about a handheld GPS? I have an older one and it's still decent for leading you back to your general area. If you're gonna go wandering out into the woods, they're a good idea. Maybe not always super cheap, but what is your life worth? $250 bucks isn't much to prevent yourself from ending up lost in the woods, and you can get some decent ones for less than that if you look around.

what the family may have looked like

....the family, originally from Oklahoma,


You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons.

Bungles: Walk downhill to a river.

Walk downriver.

You would hit a town on day one, day two if you were crawling on your lips for dramatic effect.


This shiat isn't hard. They deserved to die out there. It's like dying of starvation when lost on a golf course or a largish shopping centre..

Exception: In Hawaii, rivers lead to waterfalls

Kanemano: Bungles: Walk downhill to a river.

Walk downriver.

You would hit a town on day one, day two if you were crawling on your lips for dramatic effect.


This shiat isn't hard. They deserved to die out there. It's like dying of starvation when lost on a golf course or a largish shopping centre..

Exception: In Hawaii, rivers lead to waterfalls



You are allowed to circle out to go down a waterfall on shallower slopes. You're not a train on wheels.

There are very, very few places on earth where you could possibly be without being prepared (so outside the Amazon, the deep mountains, etc). where you won't hit a bridge or settlement by walking down a river for 2 days.

Bungles: There are very, very few places on earth where you could possibly be without being prepared (so outside the Amazon, the deep mountains, etc). where you won't hit a bridge or settlement by walking down a river for 2 days.

You need to take into account the terrain and how fatigued people are. 2 days of walking can sometimes only be a few straight miles with tired people in rough terrain. Or if you have to go around water or terrain you can't pass. If you have food, water, and supplies 2 days of walking may not be bad, assuming the people are in decent shape. If you are hungry, cold, wet and tired, it is.

And there's not only a FEW places where this applies. I know various places in Missouri and Arkansas this can happen, and our forest is nothing like some of the areas in the northwest or Oregon. Especially if you're somewhere that's a national wildlife refuge, you may go quite a ways without finding anyone.
I could easily see getting lost and not finding anyone in the right areas of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, among some others, all places that aren't as rugged as the forests of Oregon.

Not to mention in a heavily forested area you can be right near a house and never see it. In many cases people aren't going to build RIGHT on a river or creek due to flooding, so their houses can be hidden by trees.
I've walked right past clusters of houses/cabins before and never knew they were there until I went out another time.