How did terrain trap hikers?

[BB62]

First, let me say what a cool forum you have here!

I came upon it while searching for additional information about a couple who nearly died a few years ago, Gina Allen and Brandon Day, recently featured on the TV program "I Shouldn't Be Alive". One story is here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12737512/

I have looked at quite a few sites trying to understand what route the couple may have taken, and what land features blocked their escaping from the mountain. For instance, I have used Google Earth and topo sites such as http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/636/files ... oSPmap.pdf , to no avail.

Simply as a learning experience, I would be very appreciative to any and all who could shed light this particular matter, and/or who wish to offer additional information which might be applicable to similar situations.

Thanks sincerely.

[lilbitmo]

First, let me say what a cool forum you have here!

I came upon it while searching for additional information about a couple who nearly died a few years ago, Gina Allen and Brandon Day, recently featured on the TV program "I Shouldn't Be Alive". One story is here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12737512/

I have looked at quite a few sites trying to understand what route the couple may have taken, and what land features blocked their escaping from the mountain. For instance, I have used Google Earth and topo sites such as http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/636/files ... oSPmap.pdf , to no avail.

Simply as a learning experience, I would be very appreciative to any and all who could shed light this particular matter, and/or who wish to offer additional information which might be applicable to similar situations.

Thanks sincerely.

Riverside Mountain Rescue did a write up about it on their webpage - see notes and details - here - http://www.rmru.org/missions/2006/2006-05-09.html

[BB62]

Lilbitmo,

Thanks very much for the link. Now I know some more details, as well as who spotted the smoke!

Looking at the topo map I linked to, even with Google Earth, I am still puzzled as to how/where the couple were "trapped".

Might you (or anyone else) have any more information or links which might explain that part of the couple's ordeal?

Thanks very much again.

[Nick-SJM]

On the north and east sides of the San Jacinto mountains there are a number of drainages that can become death traps. Hikers that are not very experienced are seduced into starting down these drainages. This particularly happens with hikers that are lost. The lights of Palm Springs or the 10 Freeway appear close and a tempting way to proceed. The problem is that as you proceed, it gets steeper and more difficult. Drop offs in the drainages get higher and higher to the point that many individuals slide down on their butt and it is impossible to get back up. This is particularly the case as the hikers get tired, dehydrated and they are not adequately bringing in calories. Eventually, the hikers reach a point that they can't go any further down and can not go back up. One of two things is going to happen. If they are lucky, and someone has notified 911 that they are missing, a helicopter will locate them and one of my team mates on RMRU will show up, or they will die.

[Hikin_Jim]

Hi, BB62,

Nick's explanation about sums it up, but perhaps connecting the explanation to the map would be helpful.

Take a look at this map of the area where they went missing.

Point "A" is the tram station. Brandon and Gina were probably with others playing in the snow somewhere around point "B" below the tram. Note that the contour lines on the map are spaced widely apart -- in other words the terrain is fairly flat. The report says they "found a stream and followed it down." In Long Valley, the obvious stream is of course Long Valley Creek. They probably continued down the creek, turned east and proceeded through point "C". Notice that the contour lines start changing around "C." As one proceeds to the right (east) on the map, the contours get closer together and closer together -- in other words the terrain becomes steeper. Look at how tightly spaced the contour lines become progressively at "D", "E", and "F". Inevitably, as one proceeds through increasingly steep terrain, one goes down something that one cannot easily get back up. The terrain is so steep that John Donovan, whose camp Brandon and Gina found, died when he slipped trying to get down a portion of it. If Brandon and Gina got into terrain steep enough to kill John Donovan, they got into steep terrain indeed -- terrain so steep that they couldn't easily get back out of it. Hence the term, "terrain trap". You can go in, but you can't get back out. Does that make any sense?

Hope that helps,

HJ

[Zé]

wow HJ, it's been a long time since I've seen you bust out the acme mapper!

[Hikin_Jim]

Hey, that's Mr. Acme-Fu to you, buddy.

Yeah, I'm planning an overnighter for Apr 22 - 23 in the SGW, so I've been keeping an eye on the local boards just to see what's up. Not sure now that I'll do the overnighter since a storm is hitting today - Thursday. Solo overnighter in winter storm conditions? Maybe not so good. Might just head up Friday for a day hike.

HJ

[halhiker]

The area they were caught in is very rugged indeed. They followed the watercourse down when they should have gone up. Once they got to a certain point they didn't have the will or energy to head up. I don't think the terrain naturally trapped them.

You get to a point in Long Canyon where there is a large waterfall. The program greatly exaggerated the size of it by showing pictures of Yosemite Falls but it is impassable without a rope.

Basically, they were lost, got tired and did not know what to do.

[zippetydude]

... the terrain becomes steeper. Look at how tightly spaced the contour lines become progressively at "D", "E", and "F".

So the moral of the story? You'd better know what you're doing before you go to the "F" in wilderness.

z

[Hikin_Jim]

... the terrain becomes steeper. Look at how tightly spaced the contour lines become progressively at "D", "E", and "F".

So the moral of the story? You'd better know what you're doing before you go to the "F" in wilderness.
z

Yes, otherwise you'll really be "F'd".

HJ