I might add that a similar thing happened to an older lady who got turned around on the AT in Maine. She just got lost and died. Otter wasn't lost, but he was trapped. Same outcome.
I take some interest in this just because I've come close a few times. Do enough stuff for enough years and you'll know what I mean...
I think one commonality between Otter and Geraldine's cases is that misidentification altered the search patterns. There was another female hiker misidentified as Geraldine and that made it seem that Geraldine was higher upslope. Projections of her possible position were too far ahead. In Otter's case, misidentification lessened the search effort.
"Sleepy alligator in the noonday sun
Sleepin by the river just like he usually done
Call for his whisky
He can call for his tea
Call all he wanta but he can't call me..."
Robert Hunter & Ron McKernan
Whiteblaze.net User Agreement.
I have watched his Youtube videos and found them interesting and helpful. I am sorry to learn of this and learned of it after the fact but just now writing this post. I have hiked through that campground. Will do so again on my 2023 CDT hike. I'll stop and pay my respects although it is not his place of burial. I respect those who go out before me, risking, living going and living the dream.
Wow what a sad but incredible story on surviving. This is now at the very top of my list as the worst way to go, I can't think of anything worse. To be out there from Nov-Feb, surviving on nothing but horse oats for weeks, maybe months. All alone, knowing it's over and dwelling on your mistake, even seeing the rescue plane fly over. Sure there are more painful ways to die but usually over fairly quick, even from cancer your in a hospital surrounded by family/friends with pain killers and stuff. I almost had to stop reading when he was talking about the 2nd time he tried suicide. I just read this yesterday and couldn't stop thinking about it since.
RIP
NoDoz
nobo 2018 March 10th - October 19th
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I'm just one too many mornings and 1,000 miles behind
That's a sad thing to hear, and my condolences to everyone who knew him. Life can be fragile and lost so easily. There is much to be learned from his story.
Long-distance aspirations with short-distance feet.... :jump
Very difficult to read and watch the last videos.
It's a horrible, terrible way to go. RIP