Hiker "Unresponsive" near James River

[Offshore]

I've told my kids that if this should happen to me, not to feel bad about it. It's a pretty good way to die. On the trail, doing what you love!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I tell my family I'd rather die on the trail than sitting on the sofa in front of the TV.

[fsacb3]

Any more info?

I didn't get a trail name from the guy I met. Still not sure if it's him. He was alone at the time, although he mentioned his brother in law, who I assume he had been hiking with before he got sick.

[Hot Flash]

It was a joke, hon.

Perhaps for you, but I've run into too many people who actually think getting a tat like that means that it counts as a legal document.

[FlyPaper]

Any more info?

I didn't get a trail name from the guy I met. Still not sure if it's him. He was alone at the time, although he mentioned his brother in law, who I assume he had been hiking with before he got sick.

Based on this link: http://www.newsadvance.com/news/loca...a4bcf6878.html

... it seems likely this is the person you met. Although the news says it was a "brother" rather than "brother-in-law". Chances are the news got this detail wrong. And it says his brother had hiked ahead and was not with him at the time. That would explain why they said he was "hiking alone" where as he'd implied in your conversation that a brother-in-law had been eating the same food.

The article also says he was 59 and from Washington State.

[QHShowoman]

I bet the guy's brother feels terrible. Or maybe he went ahead to find help?

[FlyPaper]

I bet the guy's brother feels terrible. Or maybe he went ahead to find help?

It said they met him in Troutville. That same distance took me about 4 days. If it was an emergency, I'm sure he would have gone north to the James River.

Most likely at the time they split he wasn't feeling well, but had no reason to think it was anything serious.

I'm sure his brother will second guess himself for the rest of his life, although personally I don't think he did anything wrong based on what he knew at the time he did it.

[HikerMom58]

Aww....

[Demeter]

While this is the way I would want to go myself, I feel terrible for his family, who will probably have questions about his comfort and peace at the end. Hopefully he didn't suffer and the autopsy will confirm that for their sake...

[HikerMom58]

While this is the way I would want to go myself, I feel terrible for his family, who will probably have questions about his comfort and peace at the end. Hopefully he didn't suffer and the autopsy will confirm that for their sake...

Amen! Praying for the family, friends and loved ones.

[bamboo bob]

I have told my family that if they ever put me in "the home" iIm going to keep my gear handy and "wander off" the first chance I get. I heard of a guy who went up to the Whites, found a secluded ledge and just lied there until he died. Tough call though. You have to be fit enough to hike and close to croaking.

[Mags]

I have told my family that if they ever put me in "the home" iIm going to keep my gear handy and "wander off" the first chance I get. I heard of a guy who went up to the Whites, found a secluded ledge and just lied there until he died. Tough call though. You have to be fit enough to hike and close to croaking.

Guy Waterman. Well known New England-based wilderness author.

Interesting story.

As an aside, he wrote a book in the early 1990s that seemed very prescient.

[bamboo bob]

I just read Waterman's obit. I likely had read it before. I might have liked him doubt I could hike with him though. Kind of obsessed with ALL the 4000 footers from ALL for sides. Not my cup of tea.

[thomas5052]

My heart goes out to his family!

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

[justusryans]

My wife and I attempted a thru-hike in 06. I ended up in the hospital for emergency gall-bladder surgery

[Mags]

I just read Waterman's obit. I likely had read it before. I might have liked him doubt I could hike with him though. Kind of obsessed with ALL the 4000 footers from ALL for sides. Not my cup of tea.

Just realized I put the same link 2x. My bad

Here's the outside online story that is a a good read:
http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor...ral-Death.html

[bamboo bob]

Just realized I put the same link 2x. My bad

Here's the outside online story that is a a good read:
http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor...ral-Death.html

That was a good read. Saving the wilderness for whom? I always thought that the AMC people had secret trails they won't let anyone know about. And yes. Clinical Depression.

[mad4scrapping]

Fascinating article in Outsideonline. Thanks for posting the link. I admire people who live and die on their own terms.

[Cherokee Bill]

Amen! Praying for the family, friends and loved ones.

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I live in Bedford County, in which Matts Creek Shelter lies. Heard the original call go out to LE and rescue for the body recovery (and required investigation)!

All was taken care of so politely and professionally (at least over the radio)!

1st thing that came to mind was that he died doing what he LOVED

Hope I die doing what I love, in the Mtns, rather than in front of the TV!!!

Keep the family in your/our prayers!~

[Theosus]

I've told my kids that if this should happen to me, not to feel bad about it. It's a pretty good way to die. On the trail, doing what you love!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I like hiking, but I don't think I would want to die on the trail. Dying on the trail sounds like a pretty BAD way to die... if you die out there you probably feel pretty crappy about it, i.e.; You're dehydrated from lack of water sources or norovirus. You could die of heat stroke, which sounds pretty nasty to go through, as you probably feel awful while it's going on and realize that you're not getting out alive. Mauled by (insert nasty animal here) until you're dead. You're sick from (insert illness here) and can't make it out. You have (insert incapacitaing injury here) and would really LIKE to make it to safety, but you can't, and wind up dying from shock or exposure or blood loss. You freeze to death... also bad. Something heavy falls on your or your tent (big ass rocks, trees, unfit hiking partners...) and crushes you, or traps you so you die slowly.

About the only good way to die on the trail, in my opinion, would be to make a long climb up to the top of some beautiful view, sit down to rest, and suddenly, unexpectedly drop dead from a massive heart attack or brain embolism. Of course, if I'm going to die that way, being on the trail is a pretty good place to have that happen. An even better place to suffer a sudden unexpected death right after vigorous exercise would be the bunny ranch, but that's just my opinion.

[Odd Man Out]

All this talk of dieing of natural causes while hiking made me think of a related topic. Events like this are viewed by some people as tragic because a person who has a medical emergency out on the trail, far from help, could have been saved if they were closer to medical assistance. The older you get, the more likely you are to have this problem, so the more likely this activity is viewed as irresponsible. But what is not considered (as it is difficult to quantify) is the probability that a hiker (especially an older hiker) has a longer and better quality of life due to the health benefits of leading an active lifestyle. I think it is more tragic if a person dies prematurely because they have been convinced by well-intentioned friends and family that it is too dangerous to venture out and keep active. I guess for me, I don't think of the trail as being a good or bad place to die. For me, I think of it as a great place to stay healthy and happy while I'm alive. As George Burns said when asked what it was like to grow old. He said "it beats the alternative".