Missing Hiker in Baxter

[cyohman]

Didn't see this on the forums..

Search for missing hiker

Park rangers in Baxter State Park are searching for a hiker who was last seen Friday afternoon. Officials say 41-year-old Michael Hays failed to return home Friday night after hiking Helon Tayler Trail in the park. The Forest Service has used aircraft, volunteers and rescue personnel have been searching through the area, but have not found any sign of Hays. Hays was last seen Friday around 2pm.

http://www.wgme.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wgme_vid_3785.shtml

 

[csprague]

The hiker is still missing. Latest from the Bangor Daily News, especially of interest are the last reader comment (as of 11:45AM on 5/31, in any case):

"Our grandson and a friend met up with him on the Knife's Edge on Friday afternoon. Our grandson said he was complaining of "getting all cramped up and tired and was looking for an easier way down the mountain, and we told him he could have a water and could climb down with us but he didn't want to, and that was the last we saw him, which was on Knife's Edge".

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/144770.html

This doesn't sound good, as he's been missing since Friday, but anyone who's read "Lost on a Mountain in Maine" knows that you can survive for a few days up there.

 

[csprague]

Update: The missing hiker has been found alive. No reports yet about his condition, but this is definitely good news.

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/144770.html

 

[TDawg]

Great news! Commence newspaper messageboard bashing....

 

[Mad Townie]

Great news! Commence newspaper messageboard bashing....

Oh, it's started already. I nominate "comment sections after news articles" for worst tech innovation of the last 50 years.

(TDawg, you gotta get to Baxter!)

 

[DrJJFate]

One more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2010/06/01/ohio_hiker_found_hurt_in_maine_after_3_days/

 

[Brambor]

I browsed through the comments but had to stop once I reached this one:

My only questions are, if this guy is such an experienced hiker... Why was he hiking mount Katahdin alone, and B, especially since he was alone, why didn't he have an emergency locator on him? A lot of money spent on an someone who was not being very smart, or acting like he had any experience at all. NO experienced hiker would've would've wound up in this predictament on a perfect weekend weather wise. Then again, experienced hiker, does not mean experienced climber...

 

[Chip]

He won't be charged for the rescue, despite his decision to leave the trail; http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineHeadlineNews/tabid/968/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3479/ItemId/12494/Default.aspx

 

[Little Rickie]

I'd like to know more about his "smart choices" as well as his dumb choices. He survived three days and doesn't look that bad in the photo.

I wonder if he would have (could have) hobbled the rest of the way out?

 

[ferrisjrf]

He...doesn't look that bad in the photo.

He does look pretty cute, doesn't he?

 

[Little Rickie]

He does look pretty cute, doesn't he?

He didn't look badly injured.

 

[Mike P.]

Glad he got out okay, well some time off for the knee to heal.

As far as the comments, overall, most are not bad, locators, Insane for Katahdin & Washington on back to back days? (best I did I was Washington & Marcy with 3 hours of VB after the drive back from Marcy 18 years ago)

It's a good thing Cave Dog is usually supported, if he ever required an organized rescue, the comments would be harsh. (48 mountains, 3 days, you're a nut!)