Suddenly, at about 11:30pm, my cell phone after more discussion and looking at Heather’s many cuts and scrapes, especially along our
rang. (Earlier I had tried to make a call, but the injured knee, we decided to start moving. shins. Heather had the worst time, recovering
phone had gotten wet, making it impossible Monique took the lead. I stayed back with from the knee injury, but when the next
to call out.) It was my mother. The call lasted Heather to help clear the area in front of her by weekend arrived, we gathered at a friend’s
for less than a minute until the signal drifted tramping down brush and breaking branches. place for a barbeque. Needless to say, our
off. During that short minute I learned that Within 30 minutes, we hit another stream and adventure proved the main conversation that
authorities had been contacted, but only my a sharp incline on the other side. We made it evening. «OO
father was out looking for us at the time. across and up the incline, then headed into
Rescue would probably come the next day. more swampy terrain. By this time we could
Disheartened, I crawled under the mound hear aircraft flying around.
a simple survival
of branches. Monique and I placed Heather Around 5pm, at the end of a horrible walk
kit to bring on all
between us, so she could warm herself with around a swamp and after being attacked by
some of our diminishing body heat. every biting insect in the area, we sat down your hikes
Sleep avoided us that night. The cold, the on a rock, discouraged. None of us wanted
EXPECT PROBLEMS when going on
bugs, the hard rock and a sense of isolation to spend another evening in the bush. I
a three-hour hiking trip. Here’s a list
seemed to press in from all sides, along with believed we were close to the main ridge, but
the considerable weight of the branches. didn’t know how far it was, or in what
of basic items to take with you. All fit
Next morning, when the sun had started direction it lay.
easily into a small day or fanny pack.
to poke some light through the trees, we rose “Listen. I’m going to try to find some high
• Map
from underneath our natural comforter. After ground so we can figure out where we are,” I
• Matches or lighter
checking my cell phone, to my surprise I found said. After a brief discussion, I left. • Fire-starter
it had a signal. After some effort I reached my Breaking into a slow run through the • Space blanket
work supervisor. I filled him in on the situation, woods, I scrambled up a small hill and then
• Small first aid kit
and told him approximately our position. He through some thick brush. Slowly the woods
• Pocketknife
relayed the information to authorities. Now started opening up, until I could see rock
• Signaling whistle
we knew a search and rescue effort was really outcroppings. The terrain looked like the
• Compass
underway. top of the ridge–something very familiar.
• 10 metres of parachute cord
All search and rescue manuals counsel lost A little further, the proof emerged; this was
• Rolled up, large plastic bag (for
people to stay in one place. It makes searching the main ridge!
easier. So we waited. At one point, I climbed In no time, I retraced my steps to Monique
shelter)
a tall tree to get a better view of our location and Heather; soon all three of us were at
• Extra water
and to flag down a passing aircraft, if any the top of the ridge where we had stood the
appeared. Several times small planes crossed previous day. My cell phone had just enough
fiVe key surViVal ingreDients
through the area, but none noticed us. Once, power to make one quick call, so we called the
a helicopter flew directly over our position, police and said we were standing on top of the
1. Attitude. This includes the
but completely missed seeing us wave an ridge. A short while later an aircraft appeared
knowledge of how to survive.
orange t-shirt. overhead, and dropped a streamer indicating
2. Shelter. Even a large plastic bag can
Questions assaulted us: Is there a search our location. In ninety minutes a rescue party provide shelter.
and rescue operation underway? What (consisting of my father, brother, brother-in- 3. Water. No one can survive more
should we do? Wait? Get moving? Try to law, and several volunteers) reached us just
than several days without water.
rescue ourselves? Not knowing what was as the sun set on the horizon.
4. Fire. This provides warmth and
happening made waiting more difficult. It
comfort, and helps when signaling
proved a restless morning. fOunD!
for rescuers.
We tried to keep a positive outlook, but “Great to see you!” Our excited, cheerful
5. Food. This is the least important
it was difficult. My cell phone only worked yells rang out over the escarpment. It took
sporadically. This added to the uncertainty. some minutes to bandage up Heather’s knee
item of the five, because people can
If we could start a smoky fire, that would in preparation for our trip down the ridge, but
live for weeks without food, but not
help rescuers, we reasoned. But, we had no soon we were moving slowly through the dark
without water.
matches, and rubbing sticks together proved using flashlights, looking for trail markings.
futile. Despondency descended on us. Our spirits were soaring.
if yOu are lOst...
At the base of the trail, we met the rest of
“let’s gO. we can DO it.” the search and rescue team. Here Monique,
• Never move quickly or run.
Around 1pm, with still no sign of any rescue, Heather and I expressed our collective
• Never split your group up. Stay
we talked our situation over as a group. We gratitude, appreciation and apology. together.
needed to do something to maintain our By 11pm Monday night, exactly 36 hours • Find a place in the open where
spirits. Both Monique and Heather, who had after starting up the hill, we were back in my
you’re likely to be seen, and wait for
shown remarkable good spirits throughout truck. Over the next days, concerned with the
rescue.
this ordeal, were eager to get going. We knew, mental and physical condition of each other,
roughly, the direction we needed to travel, so we kept in close contact. All of us nursed
16 OTTAWA >> SUMMER/FALL 2008 www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
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