I was fortunate to meet George and Inch, about a month before she missed her rendezvous with George . Saw them twice, actually.
First meeting was when George picked her up on the Auto Road at the trail junction at 2 mile park. He was picking her up and taking her into Gorham, where they had lodging for 3 nights. They stopped on the way out, we chatted. Inch was bright and bubbly, George was proud and all smiles. Considering the lack of cell service in Pinkham, they had timed their meeting within minutes. I asked if they needed any suggestions for shopping, sightseeing or restaurants, George smiled widely, thanked me, and said he had already done his homework on that and went down through a punchlist -- spot on, he even knew where they were going to church on Sunday, and that it was directly across the street from their lodging. He had done his homework. Inch was excited for hot showers, laundry, a pool, a hot tub, a real bed, restaurant meals and only asked if I could recommend a salon where she could get a haircut and a pedicure.
Inch was solo at that point on the trail.
When they returned on Monday, to get Inch back up to the trail intersection. we spoke again and both of them thanked me profusely ( for not much, really), declared that Gorham was a great spot for a rest off the trail, said they found everything they wanted and were impressed with the helpfulness of the people in town. I asked where their next planned off-trail rendezvous would be, and again, George had it all planned, lodging, meals, resupply and laundry. He even knew where to buy pie on Rt 26 in Newry.
Perhaps you cannot get much of a sense of people in 2 10 minute meetings. I thought I had, and was extremely impressed that the homework HAD been done. My sense was that this was a team-- she did the hiking, and he managed the logistics, right down to church services and pie.
Inch truly and deeply trusted in George. It doesn't in the least surprise me that she believed had to stay put where she was, trusting that the cell phone messages would work, and even though she was lost, George would make the rescue happen. They believed in each other, very very strongly.
That was a tough summer for AT hikers in northern New England. There were reports of a menacing trail stalker targeting women , there were many many warnings about Giardia and Norovirus, all water flow was below normal, and it was danged hot. George and Inch were completely committed to what they were doing, how they were doing it, and were supremely, happily confident that they each had their ducks all in a row and it was working well for them.
That it all went so horribly wrong surely has many lessons. I guess the bottom line for me in all this is-- her PLB could have made very quick work of her rescue, and it belonged on her person, not left behind in a motel room.
SHE had not planned to get lost, but THEY had planned for an emergency. Trust in what and how you plan is only as valuable the diligence with which you execute the plan.
