What would have done?

[DugK]

With all the news about the "hikers" having to be rescued last week I am thinking this is a perfect opportunity to teach the Boy Scouts some techniques or skills should they ever find themselves in a dangerous position as these young men in the Smokies did.
Yes, we know proper planning, training and proper gear are first but let's say you find yourself in one of the hikers shoes.
Please let's not bash on them, I would like input to learn from.
My take
If I were to find myself in their position
1. Call for help
2. I assume they had three sleeping bags. I would have made a shelter out of one bag.
3. Had everyone get out of wet clothing. Put on all dry clothing.
4. Zipped the other two sleeping bags together and had everyone get in to share body heat.
5. Waited for help in the shelter until morning.

What would you do?
Thank you for your constructive input.

[Malto]

I would have walked out.

[MuddyWaters]

I would have walked out.

++ dont stop moving. Its the main thing keeping you alive.

We teach the boyscouts that, unfortunately, only the ones that actually begin backpacking, which a small percentage in much of the country..

[Dogwood]

This is one of the obstacles I would find so challenging when I watch those dual Survivor Reality TV Shows - knowing that the show wanted me to stay somewhere in a limited general area for 22 days so they could more easily film when I know a hotel/road/resort/boat/other assiatance is often so close. If I'm not hurt or lost or unable to for some reason I'm inclined to move safely in the direction of assistance in a survival situation.

[wookinpanub]

Ditto on the walking out. 4-5 inches of snow, 5 miles from trailhead, start walking (probably 3hrs). It was mostly downhill back. Movement is the key. I have never been in a situation where moving would not warm me up. If your feet are giving you trouble, put them in plastic bags and keep going. Always keep a dry sleeping bag and dry clothes for when you stop. If you have neither of those.....don't stop. I mean it....don't stop.

[MDSection12]

The issue was they didn't seem to even have the gear necessary to take the basics steps to survive... You assume they had sleeping bags, but I don't know that that's founded. They burned their clothing with a blow torch for warmth...

[Deadeye]

The issue was they didn't seem to even have the gear necessary to take the basics steps to survive... You assume they had sleeping bags, but I don't know that that's founded. They burned their clothing with a blow torch for warmth...

The major piece of gear they seemed to be missing should have been between their ears

[78owl]

DugK, What a great lesson for the Boy Scouts or any of us. Let them get as much info they can about this situation and have a DO and NOT DO plan. My first thoughts were, how did they get into their situation, what did they do to not make the situation worse. Were they prepaired , I think we all no the answere.

[kunzman]

The issue was they didn't seem to even have the gear necessary to take the basics steps to survive... You assume they had sleeping bags, but I don't know that that's founded. They burned their clothing with a blow torch for warmth...

Who carries a blowtorch into the woods?

[MuddyWaters]

Who carries a blowtorch into the woods?

Someone intent on cooking some meth.

[rocketsocks]

what would you have done

I guess it goes without sayin...but check the damn weather before you leave. And I agree with all that's been said by others, get something to eat, drink up, and keep moving forward on trail...on trail, no blazing.

[rocketsocks]

Who carries a blowtorch into the woods?

it's a hillbilly pocket rocket...pretty slick actually...boil time 1 cup water; 1min-45 seconds.

[pipsissewa]

The issue was they didn't seem to even have the gear necessary to take the basics steps to survive... You assume they had sleeping bags, but I don't know that that's founded. They burned their clothing with a blow torch for warmth...

Yes, they did have sleeping bags. I saw an interview of one of them, in which he said they tried to make some type of shelter by piling their three sleeping bags over each other.

Being just three to five miles in from the trail head (reports vary) and NOT HAVING AN INJURY, I surely would have TURNED AROUND AND WALKED BACK TO MY CAR AT THE TRAIL HEAD. Miserable? For sure. But just laying down--particularly without proper gear--is not the right decision here. Every step closer to the trail head is a good thing. Moving increases your core temperature. Even if they didn't know enough to use vapor barriers (plastic bags) on their hands and feet--and it seems likely they didn't, they would have been in better shape if they had kept moving.

It seems like the TURNING AROUND

[pipsissewa]

----Sorry----

...It seems like the TURNING AROUND is always the hardest part!!!! Just TURN AROUND!!! And go back!!!!

[hikerboy57]

walk out .

[RED-DOG]

walk out .

Yes i agree on walking out.

[Deadeye]

know when to turn around, then turn around and walk out

[johnnybgood]

Keep walking . Frostbitten extremities occur when the body's core temperature drops , often associated with being immobile.

[DugK]

Thanks for all the input.

[Dogwood]

If no one was prevented from traveling and trail was distinguishable(I think they were on the WELL BLAZED/SIGNED AT) retrace my steps walking back out(I think I read somewhere they were only 5 miles in) to the car they left at Fontana Dam(shelter/hot showers/ lodging/hot food etc)or getting back to the first lean-to(shelter) for the night and lit a fire(warmth) drying out. Then, I would have went Fight Club on myself and all the rest in my party once we got back to the car.