Seems like more these days or just more media attention?
Just a guess, but I suspect the media outlets have discovered what kinds of stories get clicks & shares and drive traffic.
After having a daughter hike to the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park over the weekend, some of these stories are really concerning to me. My husband and I are not risk takers, but ended up raising two daughters who are. It’s very scary when your child is hiking a 17 mile round trip hike, with no cell service, and the web plastered with information about how dangerous the hike is. ?
One story I heard about recently was about a wife and her dog disappearing while the husband turned around his vehicle. I’m afraid we’re going to find out the husband had something to do with it. I hope they find her.
@FlyMeToTheMoon ,That last one about the woman and dog is the one that prompted me to post (after she was found). Third one lately I recall with someone being found after missing for days. I do find myself feeling more nervous when my kids tell me they are going hiking .
My click bait newsfeed told me this morning that she & her dog were found & are doing well.
Initial report is she took off when a man with a knife approached her & threatened her with rape. The report I read said she was taking a bathroom break while her husband moved the car from their remote camp site.
When she fled from the man, she was wary of getting on any of the main roads for fear of running into him again, yet wasn’t sure how to get found (by S&R).
If you are concerned about your kid hikers, consider buying them a Spot and subscription service — something most young people could not afford or would not prioritize.
If they run into trouble on the trail, they can send a signal. You can get them at REI. You will worry less! Maybe?
And…bear spray. Not only good for bears, but good for loose dogs when one is walking their own dog, & good against bad humans too.
I just watched the interview with that woman (who was lost with her dog) on NBC’s morning show. She’s in fine shape now but how scary… she went off to pee in the woods and a big guy came out with a knife and threatened to kill the dog and rape her so she ran and then couldn’t figure out how to get back.
I have a lot of questions about this story. The area is so remote but a man just happens to leap out at her with a knife. I’m sure the police are searching for his campsite, his car or other tire tracks, etc. Something seems off to me.
I subscribe to Facebook groups of hikers in the Sierra. There are a dozen or more reports of missing hikers every hiking season up there. Sadly, most are falls off the cliffs or drownings. In the many years I have been following missing hiker reports I have seen no other cases of violent attacks by other campers or hikers.
I just read an ABC News article and it mentions this knife wielding man but no mention of what authorities are doing with trying to find or identify him.
My D and BF hiked for 6 days last summer in Montana. No cell service. Used Inreach by Garmin. Could send 2 pre-written texts/emails a day (they picked “at camp” and “having fun”). Texts and emails sent to one contact (me) included GPS location. There was also emergency signal that could be used to located them. Grateful to get those texts every day and fun to see where they were on the trail (and they left an itinerary with goals with us). This was a trail you had to apply to be on so that also meant they had to go by ranger station before they began. Had bear spray - thankfully never needed it!
I live in Colorado and we always have reports of missing hikers. Every weekend, all year long.
Agreed. Not sure her story passes the smell test.
Seems like the authorities who “have seen it all” usually get to the bottom of things.
"I have a lot of questions about this story. The area is so remote but a man just happens to leap out at her with a knife. "
Definitely raises some questions. Like
- she had a small dog on a leash. Unless that’s a perfectly trained dog and it’s used to running top speed glued to her side without tripping her or veering slightly and entangling the leash seems unlikely she’d be very effective at running away to escape.
- S&R has been combing that area. She ran so far and hid so well she couldn’t hear any of them calling/searching?
Just like the Jussie Smollet thing (he ran how far with a noose around his neck? He didn’t even take the noose off once he was safe?), this one just sounds odd. Could be legit, but sounds off at first.
Unfortunately, seems a little fishy to me as well. I hope I’m wrong,
People get lost all the time. My coworker’s father got lost while hiking alone in a remote location in Utah, he was found alive after a few days. Hiking in the wilderness is an inherently dangerous activity and nobody should go hiking, let alone hiking solo, without knowing the basic rules; unfortunately many people still do it.
DH and his buds got lost on Mt Whitney (CA.) July, snow and blinding sun reflecting off it. Not long enought for S&R but it added a day.
I think more inexperienced people are getting involved in outdoor pursuits, people without experience in orienteering and mountaineering. Gadgets that let them feel connected to the outside world might even provide false comfort - folks do not take gaining knowledge about living/hiking remotely in a serious fashion because they feel like they are an easy phone call away from help.
For most of humanity, people have been hiking without connectivity and modern day conveniences and products.
Here is a website with good advice, especially leaving behind a proper hiking plan with someone trustworthy.
"to leave your plan
Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you will return and your emergency plans.
Your hike begins before you reach the trail. It’s important that you research, write down and distribute your plan before you leave. This plan should include the following details:
Hike start date and time.
Hike return date and time. You should give yourself a cushion so emergency services aren’t called if you’re a little late.
Location including trailhead names and connectors.
Turn around point(s).
GPS coordinates.
How many people are in your hiking party, their names, ages and any unique factors (medications taken, chronic diseases such as diabetes, or disabilities).
Equipment, gear and the amount of food and water you have with you.
Description of clothing individuals are wearing.
Whether you’re hiking with an animals, such as a dog - if so, give the name and description.
A photo of the bottom of your hiking boot.
Emergency plans.
You should discuss the plan and leave a copy of the plan with someone who is reliable, and who knows how, when and why to contact the authorities. If your plan changes, make sure you inform this person."
My kids are risk takers, I’m not. Their hiking doesn’t bother me as much as the back country skiing one kid does with avalanche gear. 
I was with a hiking group in SE Wisconsin in April and a couple hours in, we got hit with a spring snowstorm.
We knew it might hit us, and everyone was prepared. What struck me about that particular day was how quickly the well-worn trail was covered in snow. We all knew the area, so it was no big deal, but it served as a good reminder to be prepared for getting lost.
It’s so easy to rely on following the trail one can see clearly with one’s eyes, until weather conditions (or darkness) prevent it.
REI & NOLS have a very nice selection of courses to prepare oneself for backcountry first aid & orienteering without electronics.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who is suspicious of the woman and dog who went missing. I don’t know if we will ever find out the truth, but I see it as a great premise for the plot of a thriller. ?
I too am suspicious of the woman and dog. But I also remember what co-worker once told me. She and her husband moved to a remote area and they ended up moving back. She said that sometimes people who live in remote areas are a little scary and running from things. So maybe there really was a scary person out there.