# Weird lost hiker story **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 16, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856 "2010-11-16T14:18:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/1 "2010-11-16T14:18:43Z")
[Story here.](http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=95300&provider=top) > [@](#): > > Rescuers at Allegany State Park are asking for the public’s help in their search for a missing 92-year-old hiker. > > They’re trying to figure out where a stone structure, seen in the hand-drawn picture to the right of this story, is located inside the park. The strange part is the daughter [rendered a very detailed drawing](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1030/5181274527_7981c396f1_z.jpg) of a structure she said was near where she left her father. I hike a lot. I don’t think a thing like that could escape notice in any of the parks I hike in - especially on a trail. But after a couple of days there is no information on what this Item is. I hope the old fellow is found unharmed an OK. [UPDATE.](http://www.buffalonews.com/city/police-courts/police-blotter/article254717.ece) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/2 "2010-11-16T15:27:05Z")
Maybe it’s the foundation of an old shed or commercial building? I’m surprised no one has recognized it. Teens often find places like that for parties/drinking. We had a couple near my old high school. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/3 "2010-11-16T15:31:41Z")
Come on people! It’s 2010. If you are going hiking in the woods, carry a GPS. Billions of dollars of infrastructure are orbiting our heads right now for the sole purpose of locating stuff in the woods. Use it! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/4 "2010-11-16T17:19:39Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Come on people! It’s 2010. If you are going hiking in the woods, carry a GPS. Billions of dollars of infrastructure are orbiting our heads right now for the sole purpose of locating stuff in the woods. Use it! Not needed, don’t want it. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/5 "2010-11-16T17:36:17Z")
Do they have any idea where the daughter exited the woods? Can’t they use satelite image from there to try to find/identify the structure? Odd that it has been days and they’re still baffled. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/6 "2010-11-16T17:53:21Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Not needed, don’t want it. Sometimes I carry one and sometimes I don’t but if I was 92… ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/7 "2010-11-16T18:11:14Z")
A structure that size should be visible from google maps. If they are so interested in finding it, why haven’t they givent he public the full path information? (i.e. they started out here, she was found on the road here. . .) She’d have to be pretty stupid to have made up that level of detail. It’s also strange that they describe it as “remains.” laquered rocks don’t stay bright and shiny very long. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/8 "2010-11-16T18:17:21Z")
Appears to be some sort of drain. Here’s some good news about another man: > **[Missing hiker found alive after 6 days in Joshua Tree National Park](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-oct-01-la-me-hiker-20101001-story.html)** > > Missing hiker found alive after 6 days in Joshua Tree National Park I want to emphasise this part: "_For someone on a day hike, Rosenthal was very well-equipped. Joe Zarki, a park ranger, noted that he had three or four liters of water, snack food, a space blanket, a whistle and flares._ He hiked for about a day and a half, descending almost 2,000 feet down the canyon, and then he ran out of food and water. “At that point, he realized he was in some difficulty,” Zarki said. “_Once he found his spot, he thought he was better off staying there and that’s what you’re supposed to do."_” 1. Have some survival gear- signaling, fire, blanket, extra layer, water, food. 2. Once you realize you are lost, find a good spot and hunker down. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/9 "2010-11-16T19:13:54Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Not needed, don’t want it. You don’t need matches to start a fire either but I bet you carry some. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/10 "2010-11-16T20:11:09Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > You don’t need matches to start a fire either but I bet you carry some. Depends on the hike. I don’t carry any emergency kit when out for a trail run usually. On a summer day hike my emergency kit is pretty small; some F/A stuff, a lighter, compass, and a few other items. Overnights and winter day hikes have correspondingly more stuff. Unless I’m planning to bushwack I wouldn’t consider a GPS here in the northeast. Out west I would consider it more seriously. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/11 "2010-11-17T18:51:41Z")
Maybe she was hallucinating. Did they try bloodhounds? Can’t they track back to where she started? ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/12 "2010-11-17T19:13:01Z")
Were they following a trail? How well marked are the trails in the park? Did they decide to start bushwhacking? I got lost on a hike a couple months ago, but realized I was going in the wrong direction on the trail I was on. I always use a map and research the trail online before I go anywhere new. I always carry a small first aid kit, snake bite kit, matches, flashlight, space blanket and all the water I can carry comfortably. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/13 "2010-11-17T19:34:14Z")
Sounds fishy to me. She leaves him out there in that state, miraculously finds her car and has some wild story. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/14 "2010-11-17T19:50:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > “_For someone on a day hike, Rosenthal was very well-equipped. Joe Zarki, a park ranger, noted that he had three or four liters of water, snack food, a space blanket, a whistle **and flares**._” I can’t see how having a groovy pair of strides will help in this situation, but fair play to Ranger Zarki for adding a bit of sartorial commentary. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/15 "2010-11-17T20:33:35Z")
The search continues as of this afternoon. I hate to say it, but if they haven’t found him by now, they’re probably looking for a body. Unless he was abducted by aliens, which I would not rule out. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/16 "2010-11-17T22:05:17Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > I can’t see how having a groovy pair of strides will help in this situation, but fair play to Ranger Zarki for adding a bit of sartorial commentary. They’re coming back into fashion! ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/17 "2010-11-17T22:17:29Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > Maybe she was hallucinating. Did they try bloodhounds? Can’t they track back to where she started? That was my first thought. It’s incomprehensible to me that they didn’t try this or explain why it wouldn’t work. DUH ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/18 "2010-11-17T23:06:09Z")
It sure seems like the hounds could track back from where ever she came out of the woods. Mythbusters did a show where they tried to fool the bloodhounds. All the tricks from the movies were tried. Nothing worked (including changing clothes and bathing). Those dogs are amazing. Bloodhounds do have one weakness. The Mythbusters did throw one off the scent by going into an urban area. All the conflicting smells got the mutt totally confused. ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/19 "2010-11-17T23:33:43Z")
Did she not have a cell phone with her? If she did, couldn’t she have left it with him so they could locate him using the gps in the phone? If she didn’t, well, why not? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856/20 "2010-11-17T23:45:47Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > Maybe she was hallucinating. My first thought, especially if she drew the thing before getting food/sleep. > [@An\_Arky](#): > > Sounds fishy to me. She leaves him out there in that state, miraculously finds her car and has some wild story. My second thought. Though there was probably an easier way to off a 92-year-old, one swift ‘accident’ instead of an elaborate story and diagram. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-lost-hiker-story/560856.md?page=2)