Lost Skier in Franconia Woods

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(Yes this is a serious question, NO I am not being a smart ass....)

How does one get "lost" while skiing? Can't you just follow your own tracks out? It does not sound like there was any serious snowfall to cover the old track in that amount of time, so why did they not backtrack there on trail?

Brian
 
NewHampshire said:
(Yes this is a serious question, NO I am not being a smart ass....)

How does one get "lost" while skiing? Can't you just follow your own tracks out? It does not sound like there was any serious snowfall to cover the old track in that amount of time, so why did they not backtrack there on trail?

Brian
Click to expand...
And going to Franconia Falls too! :rolleyes:

-Dr. Wu
 
Well, one didnt know any better to turn around, chances are his outdoor skills were lacking.....its very easy to get lost if you're not paying attention to your surroundings. As a hiker I think I might pay more attention than someone on skis. One they are going faster than me, and two, it looks like a tough sport and prob takes more concentration than "putting one foot in front of the other." Could be wrong, but thats how I see it....

grouseking
 
I'll take skiing over hiking any day. One word sums it up: GLIDE.

I don't know how they could've got lost, either. Be interesting to see where they ended up.
 
As I've often told my young teenage drivers. Assume the people around you are going to do the stupidest thing possible, and then be suprised if they don't, because they often do very stupid things. Apparently, this also relates to some hikers.

I am glad that he was found
 
My guess: The group was doing the loop with East Side Trail. He missed the turn and continued on toward Thoreau Falls Trail. There were probably ski tracks all the way and he didn't realize the tracks were not made by his group. He was reluctant to turn around because he suspected he was still on the loop and was way past the half-way point, and he would soon emerge at the parking lot at Lincoln Woods.

Yeah, I know that the sun would be at his back the whole time, instead of almost face-on if he was south-bound on the EST, etc.,etc. :rolleyes:
 
Very valid theory. I wonder if it plays that way.
 
Article in today's paper says that the group was heading back to Lincoln Woods when the two turned on to the Franconia Brook Trail. The companion decided to turn around after a while but Ford continued on. Wearing jeans and carrying no food, water, map or compass, he did leave messages in the snow giving his initials and the time. He was found by 2 conservation officers around midnight at the 13 falls tent site, after consuming some food and water walked the 8 miles out.
 
Probably one of the few trails where this could happen. It's so darn flat for the entire way, and if you miss the Lincoln Woods Trail sign you would just ski for 8 miles on a virtually flat trail. How would you know if you were going to wrong way?
 
dug said:
Probably one of the few trails where this could happen. It's so darn flat for the entire way, and if you miss the Lincoln Woods Trail sign you would just ski for 8 miles on a virtually flat trail. How would you know if you were going to wrong way?
Click to expand...
". . . carrying no food, water, map or compass . . . "

Prolly wouldn't, especially after 5:00. EDIT: No need to read between the lines -- here's the quote from the Union Leader: "'Mistakes were made,'" [Fish and Game Lt. Todd] Bogardus said. '(Ford) was not prepared, he did not stop for a map or information (at the trail head) and he failed to turn back with his partner. He had no map or compass and his clothes were not sufficient.'"
 
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Trail: Yes

Absolutely no excuse for the rest of his antics....
 
Just to clarify -- this skier probably wouldn't have recognized his error, as he had no map and compass. With those in hand, there's no excuse. And there's no excuse for striking out on your own without them in the White Mountains, in an area you don't know.
 
Not knowing the terrain, I can fathom getting lost by having multiple crossing paths with multiple ski tracks... Just like hiking, sometimes you might not be able to follow YOUR own tracks back, maybe accidentally start following another boot tracks off. It's possible anyway.

If it's a linear path, then I'm stumped. :)

Jay
 
From the news account, it appears that the group's plan was to ski either Lincoln Woods Trail or the East Branch Pemigewasset River Trail, then loop back via Pemi East Side and Wilderness or vice versa. Either way, it looks like the overdue skier and his sometime partner missed both the Pemi East Side and the Wilderness and turned onto Franconia Brook Trail. This means that from that point they were going steadily north (even a short stretch of NW) when they should have been going east--northeast. The sun's direction or a compass would have made this apparent.

EDIT: If all they were attempting was a Lincoln Woods -- East Branch Pemi River loop, then it gets even harder to understand. They were going north when the return route was southward. Mebbe this is why the companion turned around???
 
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I'm merely pointing that the terrain, virtually flat for 8 miles, is unique. With most any other trail, after a few miles of going up you might wonder if you were lost.
 
I don't like to pile on and point out mistakes when an unfortunate incident happens, but sometimes common sense should prevail...

It sounds like this was a group trip that started out on the East Side trail and intended to go out 5.5 miles, cross the bridge, and return via the Wilderness trail. They must have made it over the bridge and headed back, only to miss the left-hand turn and keep going all the way up FBT to 13 Falls.

My qualm is this: weren't there trip leaders (or at least someone knowledgeable in the group) that told them about the route, and should have been responsible for people going off on their own? He was also too stubborn to turn back with his companion, who apparently had a better idea of where he/she was. (Never split up - what if the companion got lost instead?)

Anyway, hindsight is 20/20... if the river wasn't frozen over he could have used the direction of the flowing water to tell him he was going the wrong way.
 
Don't use up your energy on this guy...

...there will be a better "lost hiker" story soon.

Lately, the VFTT community has seemed to thrive on speculation while almost ranting about how someone might have screwed up after getting lost. Many of us are experienced hikers and very familiar with the areas that we discuss. We are privileged to have our knowledge. Mistakes happen. Some people are new to the idea of hiking (or backcountry skiing), and they make bad decisions. I have hiked like an idiot for years (jeans, cotton, work boots), and sometimes I still take chances. Don't you? Let it go people!
 
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Jay H said:
If it's a linear path, then I'm stumped. :)
Click to expand...
Don't forget that people are told, "if you are lost, stay in one place and wait for rescue."

On rec.backcountry, this would be described as recreational darwinism thwarted...

Doug
 
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