[at-l] Plan B

[Bob Cummings <ellen@clinic.net> (Bob Cummings)]

"what coulda/shoulda/woulda the hiker done had he not had a cell phone? And what
might have happened then?"

He would have done what people who have experienced similar accidents have done
for most of the 70 years the trail has existed. Someone eventually comes by, or
someone notices his absence and launches a search. Most injured people also
attempt some sort of distress signal. Whistles, shouts, smudge fires, whatever
is possible.

 The first thing one should do in such an accident is to protect themselves from
 further injury. That's why wise hikers carry extra clothing for such
 emergencies and some protection from the weather -- poncho, tarp, or tent.

  People die from exposure every few years while hiking in winter on the high
  summits, especially in northern New England. And even in summer some have died
  on Mount Washington who climb without proper clothing.

  But I don't recall that ever happening to long distant AT  hikers during the
  three milder seasons. Does anyone know of such a happening?

  Weary