Mt Whitney Zone Forums The Chat Room Maine hiker rescued in rural Utah

Maine hiker rescued in rural Utah endured pain, cold, hallucinations
Garfield County » She broke her leg and survived four days.

By Erin Alberty | The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Apr 29 2012 10:11 pm • Last Updated Apr 30 2012 03:43 pm

After four days of dehydration, hunger and loneliness interrupted only by pain-induced hallucinations, an injured hiker who was rescued Saturday in Garfield County said one hazard stood out.

"The problem I really couldn't overcome — and would have killed me if (searchers) hadn't come to rescue me — was keeping warm," said Victoria Grover, 59, who broke her leg on what was supposed to be a day hike.
<...snip... Click for the full article>

Last two paragraphs:
"There might be no better feeling in the world than having help come when you need it," said Grover, who has been recovering at a hospital in Cedar City.

Always tell someone, she said, where you are hiking and when you expect to return. "If I'd been clear," she said, "they'd have known Tuesday night there was a problem."

---SIGH---

Let's see here.... where do I even start on this one? This woman was:
1) "Elderly" (relative to the high-risk level ;^)
2) Traveling/hiking in an "extremely remote" area
3) Hiking solo in a desolate, "rugged" desert area, on highly risky terrain
4) An out-of-state "stranger", in an area that she had not been in for 40+ years prior
5) ALL ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!
6) Had informed NO ONE of her itinerary, schedule, plans, intentions or whereabouts
7) Had NO ONE back at her "base camp" (or hotel, or home, etc.) monitoring for her safe return.... or to call-out the S&R team
8) Had NO fail-safe methods of communications or signalling
9) Had ONLY a flashlight and rain poncho with her (as far as I can compile a list from various news reports)
10) Miscalculated her "remaining daylight"/travel timing
11) Had grossly-inadequate food and water supplies for such a risky outing
12) Took very high-risk actions while on the trail (a 59 year-old ---again, hiking all alone---jumping off a 3-4 foot ledge)
13) Has Type II Diabetes (and again, ALONE, in a remote, rugged area)
14) Had inadequate warm clothing for an April hike in the Utah desert
15) Left NO emerg. info packet on her rental vehicle at the trailhead
16) Oh man---- I'll just stop now!!! You get the idea here.

---- SIGH ----