Hiker rescued on skyline ...

[brad]

If it is the same Chris Miller, he was already rescued earlier this Winter I believe.

[scottmac]

You're right. Here is the RMRU link:

http://www.rmru.org/missions/2009/2009-019.html

[AlanK]

You're right. Here is the RMRU link:
http://www.rmru.org/missions/2009/2009-019.html

Going by the ages listed in the articles, he's aged 9 years in half a year. Which may be due to the stress of the rescues.

This story is more consistent with the new one. It is evidently the same guy.

[HikeUp]

If it's the same guy, he should be prosecuted for HWS (hiking while stupid). Or maybe he's just unlucky, hard to tell at this point. Either way, rescue teams have better things to do than pull the same person off the same trail twice.
A friend of mine who hikes that area regularly says the real problem is people heading out with zero preparation, no water, no sun protection, nothing. Last summer he rigged up a proper shaded rest spot at his trailhead parking with a heavy-duty canvas he found at Les Ombrières de Provence, made a surprising difference for the group during midday breaks. Might not save the HWS crowd but at least the sensible ones get a break before heading back down.

[Hikin_Jim]

There can't be that many Chris Millers from Indio that hike the Skyline Trail. Maybe after his snow fiasco he swore to only go when it was warm -- really warm. Twice on the same trail in less than a year, both times miserably unprepared. This is the kind of guy that should be charged for his rescue.

HJ

[AlanK]

There can't be that many Chris Millers from Indio that hike the Skyline Trail.

More than one in the Coachella Valley, as it turns out.

I was pretty curious about a guy who had to be rescued twice in a few months under very different conditions, so I googled him. I came up with a fellow with the right name from the Indio area who has hiked Skyline successfully. That last point got me really intrigued. This did not sound like a serial unprepared hiker. So, I e-mailed him and suggested that he post his story here.

I did put in some weasel words about being sorry if I got the wrong guy. That was a good move on my part. He sent me a nice reply. It turns out that the guy I reached has not been rescued, but he is a member of a an SAR unit (nor RMRU) -- rescuer, nor rescuee. He also mentioned that he is getting what turn out to be misplaced expressions of concern from friends.

I am not going to push the Sherlock Holmes bit any further in this case. I am back to assuming that the serial unprepared hiker scenario is the likely one. On the other hand, there is a Chris Miller out there who merits respect as an SAR guy.

So, if you ever hear of AlanK getting rescued after doing something dumb... it wasn't me!

[Hikin_Jim]

So, if you ever hear of AlanK getting rescued after doing something dumb... it wasn't me!

Clearly. Thanks for letting us know in advance.

HJ

[DSSAR guy]

We have a chris miller on our team, not the guy who got rescued but this has been a good opportunity for a few funny jokes.

[Cy Kaicener]

RMRU has come out with their account of the rescue on July 9th
http://rmru.org/missions/2010/2010-022.html