I am struck by the fact that the last act this man did was to be concerned about the impact finding his body would have on someone. To be that considerate when in such a desperate situation speaks very highly of him.

@Tser

Жыл бұрын

I agree. That was a true kindness in his last days.

@fancy39

Жыл бұрын

I thought the same

@titusasius

Жыл бұрын

so basically the ranger killer otter by being a dumb ass with no proof, just liek a liberal politician

@PKAdventures

Жыл бұрын

agreed. finding a body is not a good experience, and it stays with you

@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808

Жыл бұрын

That was my thought, too.

I was a close friend of Otters and fellow Thru-Hiker. My Wife and I went out the first week of Dec to look for him but the conditions when we got there were back to back snow-storms. You did a great job re-telling the story and i can't disagree with any of your details. When we heard that the Ranger in Grants had spotted him we left the area and drove down there stopping at all the Hiker towns posting flyers and hoping he was still going. (it never made sense from knowing him, that he wouldn't have been in communication with his friends and family if he kept hiking on). He was hoping to be in Ghost Ranch for ThanksGiving(92 miles from Cumbres Pass) and i think that was part of his decision to leave when he did. He was a one of a kind soul and a beautiful human being who created a true life of freedom. I never met a human who was so at peace in nature and felt more at home in it than anywhere else. Miss him greatly and was blow away to see a recap video of his death. Thanks for your video it really told the story that unfolded for Otter. You should make a video of his Life hiking. He was truly, in the world of Long distance hiking an elite. whose hiking feats are mind blowing. The thing with Otter was there was no ego with him. When hiking with him you'd have no idea you were with hiking royalty. He wrote a book called "The Otter Diaries" Life is a Hike.. a good book to find and read if your looking to find out more of the human he was.. thanks again

@MollyHJohns

Жыл бұрын

Pin this!!!

@-o0_oO-

Жыл бұрын

Condolences on the loss of your friend ❤

@enkiimuto1041

Жыл бұрын

You guys should pin this and make the video

@morningstar6123

Жыл бұрын

Condolences, he really must have been someone special.

@Jannie-

Жыл бұрын

Sorry you lost your friend 😞. He seemed a very likeable & lovely human being . RIP Otter 🙏.

The fact that, in his darkest moment, still took the time to write that note so he didn’t traumatize a innocent person gives a insight that he was a good man at the core.

@lonesparrow

7 ай бұрын

And to lock himself in so no one could stumble across him by accident even if they didn't notice the note.

@rabbithole8592

5 ай бұрын

​@@lonesparrow Well, sitting on the Throne isn't how you want anyone to remember you. It's bad enough the Authorities are gonna see him like that.

@lonesparrow

5 ай бұрын

@@rabbithole8592 He wouldnt be sitting on the throne. 🙄 A public bathroom is a room you can lock and through-hikers can use it as a shelter because it is enclosed. He locked himself in and probably got into his sleeping bag on the floor.

@rabbithole8592

5 ай бұрын

@@lonesparrow It was a joke you Re Tod. And monopolizing a Bathroom like that is Rude and Inconsiderate. Other people may need to use that Bathroom. Don't go out on the trail that time of year.

@SouPNaZi316

5 ай бұрын

@@rabbithole8592 dude it was a snowstorm he was using the ROOM as shelter

Regardless of Otter's poor decision, it's really disappointing to hear about the incompetency of the search team; they literally had one job. Why they would call off or slow down a search due to unverified eyewitness testimony is extremely sad.

@sludge8506

11 ай бұрын

Because it’s extremely expensive and they got bad information, which they wanted to believe was true.

@onceuponadime978

11 ай бұрын

They so easily could've found him had they just looked.

@brandonbeauchamp8755

11 ай бұрын

The longer the search goes and the wider the search area. It will put live of the search teams at risk

@NewtonDKC

11 ай бұрын

It really is frustrating and gut wrenching to hear such needless suffering and misery. I’m not a hiker so I can’t understand the allure of putting one’s self in such a dangerous situation and physically taxing, especially without adequate preparation. I get the poor guy was stoned and certainly we’ve all made bad decisions here and there whether on inebriates or just naturally. But why would he not have an emergency satellite phone and GPS which it says he didn’t have, as in it was broken or he just didn’t bother with such things? If he had a cell phone and was posting to KZread then tech shouldn’t have been an issue, and a solar/crank charger for power (forgive my ignorance, but isn’t there also an emergency beacon-type thing that is designed specifically for hikers, campers, etc?). I’d think anyone who does such long hauls, especially by themselves(!) would consider those the absolute minimum before setting out on a >thousand mile trek? I hate to come off as critical of the man as it’s always easy sitting in front a screen in retrospect, it’s just upsetting as he sounds like a wonderful guy and didn’t deserve such misery and to lose his life. I agree that it’s also irritating that a search would be called off because someone thinks they might have possibly seen someone who resembled the guy even when the scant facts from the encounter do not sound like him (evasive and clueless to the post office location) and no one bothered asking his name or checking guest log books, etc when the guy had already been missing??? Hope the guy that claimed it have seen him without verifying it feels real good. Geesh, and again, the angerI feel and wanting to blame people and demand how they can so freakin at careless and stupid is irrational, and it’s not like me. I started to erase this but then I wondered how many other people are experiencing the same emotions? Not because I’m a jerk, but because this really happened to a nice guy and really bothers me that silly, stupid mistakes from himself and even from others cost this guy his life, and not only that but he had a miserable couple of months leading to it. Horrible stuff, and hopefully will make the danger real to people in the future so they better prepare, …but doesn’t save Otter. Terrible.

@sludge8506

11 ай бұрын

@@NewtonDKC What you wrote is true. And to those who think he could have been rescued; He couldn’t walk even 200 yards. We are talking waist high snow. And where would the rescuers look?

Poor Otter. In his delirious state, all he could worry about was ensuring that no one stumbled across his body and got traumatized. He was a good person, clearly, leaving that note.

@harbingerofepiphany3155

Жыл бұрын

Yes that and the fact that he wanted no one to feel bad and took full responsibility for his circumstances says it all! He obviously found his Peace.

@benjurqunov

Жыл бұрын

But why didn't he defend homosexual special rights ? Since Clinton opened the border so many Mexicans entered it'll make everybody late for dinner. Cold jelly is served.. Anybody hungry ?

@Jameskenomis3

Жыл бұрын

That is so true. He accepted death and thought of others while doing it.

@sessary

Жыл бұрын

Seems to me he was thinking pretty clearly, not at all delirious when he took those protective steps. For whatever reason, it didn't seem out of character for a long time wilderness-trekking, nature-loving kind of person to be so "in tune" with it all that he'd try to protect others that shared his values.

@charliejb1747

Жыл бұрын

He very obviously was in no way delirious.

Many of the SCUBA divers who die are experienced as well. They get super comfortable, then start solo diving. When going solo, simple things can kill you. Humility is always warranted.

@Reconbeatz509

Жыл бұрын

Their is a divers react channel that showed a video of a couple scuba diverse that got tangled up in these lines ans caught on rocks and died. It's crazy

@Ginasgusa

Жыл бұрын

The problem is that people solo hikes. I have been a day hiker for so many years and women are encouraging each other to do solo hikes bragging about their accomplishments. Some of the women are starting to try solo hiking without proper preparations. When I suggested they watched some KZread videos on the dangers of solo hiking, I was the Debbie downer. Maybe I am. They are all over Facebook encouraging each other to go out on their own. It scares me and I prayed that I wouldn’t know anyone if dead hikers were found.

@carlsaganlives5112

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, shit, everyone knows the 'buddy system', jeez.

@harleyhendrix8467

Жыл бұрын

Being in a group doesn't mean you won't die.... it just means if you get in fucked and everyone in that group will die. In case you don't know there are people who has died in groups when 1 of them may get stuck and so all the people in front who made it out are still connected to the 3 people behind them who have gotten stuck. Sometimes it's pitch black and so they can't see what's going on and they eventually die. Then there's other times where people will go missing but was then found..sometimes they are alive so that leads to a diver going in to save them but then end up dying themselves the same way the person who they were trying to save died. This is normally a small save tho. Meaning 1 diver would go down while 1 or 2 others stay on ground so that they can jump in to save the saver diver.. Then you have divers who are the best of best who will attempt to save a body and they might go down with themselves along with 5 others..so a pretty huge group...and will also have 50 people waiting on them to come back out with the body they went into save.... but then only 3 of the group comes back up but they do so without the main head diver. So there's this respect with alot of divers now that is any time there's a diver who is though to had gone diving goes missing then they will do what they refer to as a in and out search where they do go in to look for the missing diver but will not go into the air pockets or anywhere they themselves would have to squeeze into. So in other words they can't put their lifes at risk... then another respect is that if the rescue divers do happen to find the missing diver then they will not attempt to bring up the body unless fowl play is involved and the police need the body but only if it can easily be removed and not put the rescue divers life in danger. . . And it's not a big FU to the parents and matter of fact the parents can call a diving company who's company is strictly saving and removing the divers for families.... But the respect still remains rather it's a emergency for example if the diver is still very much alive when found then the respect is they will only attempt to save the still alive diver if they can for 1 be fairly easily saved and will not put lifes at risk. But being on a group doesn't always mean they are safer... it just means more people can die .. There are tons of videos about groups of divers who have died all together......

@lawrencelawrence3920

Жыл бұрын

I dove solo many times and I survived

I hiked with Otter briefly on the PCT in 2013. He was a kind and gentle soul. RIP Otter.

I'm 70 now. Way back in my youth I did MANY solo backpacking trips in wilderness in all kinds of weather. I was careful but I have numerous times that I came very close to The End. One time I was 100% sure I'm not going to make it through that night. Seeing this story and thinking back to those days of no GPS or electronics to reach anyone, I thank God for being with me in my craziness. My motto was, "The woods can make a fool out of anyone. If it could talk it would say, I didn't ask you to come out here."

@don7294

10 ай бұрын

I am 65 and spent most of my early and mid life backpacking the deserts and mountains in the Western US. I had some very close calls. I took every survival course I could find, spent two years with a Madan indian learning traditional bushcraft, and eventually became a survival instructor. I used to think knowledge, equipment, and preparation were the keys but, sometimes our luck runs out. Of course there were no phones and GPS when you and I were out and about, so navigation was old school, which I think everyone should learn. There were so many mistakes made by everyone in this tragic story. Otter was one hell of a guy and a legend of a backpacker. I always feel safer in the wilderness then anywhere else.

@2fast2block

10 ай бұрын

@@don7294 For sure, I read and read about backpacking and survival. I had a small library If not for being so diligent in that, no way can I see myself still sitting here. No, it wasn't a war I was in, but going out alone in such wild areas and covering so much area, time after time, I guess such things, only God knows how close things came.

@SilentThundersnow

6 ай бұрын

There's something special about risk takers. I think what's important is to keep aware you are taking a risk, and what those risks are, and don't take shortcuts to the lessons on how to mitigate the risks so you don't die. :)

@2fast2block

6 ай бұрын

@@SilentThundersnow Yes, it was a risk but I took it seriously. Some people take risks and don't take it seriously. They're the ones that are on the top of the list that don't make it. The more a person doesn't depend upon luck, the better.

@qigongkylar944

4 сағат бұрын

What happened when you thought you'd die In the wilderness?

This is insanity to me. Missing guy, hasn't picked up his resupply box, I'm focusing on the area between those two points. Check, on foot, all camp grounds and standing structures along the trail. The rescue teams there are incredibly capable, he wouldn't be the first person they hiked up to get. Eight weeks this man waited, at their slowest pace, rescue could have made it in two weeks. This blows my mind.

@skeptic3332

Жыл бұрын

You're right the search was absolute bullshit. The campsites and structures are all on the map.

@johncrouch8988

Жыл бұрын

You can’t blame the Rescue teams for Otters bad decisions. It was up to him whether to set off on the hike, it was his responsibility to have the equipment if things went south and he chose still to go! Personal responsibility!🙉

@Demy1970

Жыл бұрын

More thorough search and media attention. Did this story make the current news at the time? They might have found him with a local news saturation

@krow7402

Жыл бұрын

@John Crouch I agree, but what he lacked in equipment, he made up for in skill. Dude had skill enough to survive for eight weeks. While he got himself in that situation, the rescue teams have one job.

@Kiev-en-3-jours

Жыл бұрын

@@johncrouch8988 You: you can't blame the rescue team for being awful. Nobody ever blame them for Otters bad decision. They are blamed for not doing their job. Like most civil servant in the US by the way.

this was a really compelling version of Otter's story. Nice job on this, powerful video

@CAPxCOKE

Жыл бұрын

Holy Crap! Where’s Seagull Lung!?

@TheCookiejuice

Жыл бұрын

Bro, u know you doing something right when MrBallen is commenting your video. 🔥🔥

@KyleHatesHiking

Жыл бұрын

wow, thank you so much!

@FkLife82

Жыл бұрын

I’m a fan of the Strange, Dark, and Mysterious!!!

@MrBallen

Жыл бұрын

@@TheCookiejuice 🙏

Number one lesson anytime , anywhere : never make a life threatening decision when you are under the influence of drugs, alcohol , sleep deprivation or when you are emotionally stressed. I guess we've all done it and got lucky, but sooner or later your luck runs out. Rest in peace , Otter.

@BushCampingTools

Жыл бұрын

right on.

@QuantumQuirks950

Жыл бұрын

True

@Jo-Anne.Clarke

Жыл бұрын

Finally, another commenter of like mind. Otter’s critical error was making a potentially “life & death” decision while impaired.

@paulmaul

Жыл бұрын

Just curious- how exactly did being high contribute to his death? I understand that you equate him being high with making a bad decision- but wasn’t what he did his intention all along? As in- wouldn’t he had made the same decision even had he NOT been stoned? I mean, he intended to hike this trail all along- as you say, he’d done it many times. Do you think he would have aborted the trip had he not been so stoned? RIP Otter

@sludge8506

11 ай бұрын

@@amazonmandy Exactly!! I don’t get the “what did the weed have to do with it” thought. Otter answered that question clearly.

The takeaways for me from Otter's story: - always have a paper map with you - always have a compass with you - never do drugs when hiking - write a journal regularly and frequently, not just about the hike, but about your decisions, feelings, thoughts, condition, etc. - if you are about to die in a situation like this, put on notifications about your body for future finders

@gereshare6659

Жыл бұрын

No one talks about the fact he was not a survivalist, only a great hiker.

@mtbasshead

Жыл бұрын

How about light a tree on fire so searchers can find you? FUCKING ROCKET SCIENCE!!!

@charliejb1747

Жыл бұрын

- Never go to a toilet thinking it's a bathroom.

@cyndisherry7547

Жыл бұрын

Why did he not carry a PLD??

@ossian108

Жыл бұрын

​@@cyndisherry7547 PLD? Personal location device or something?

My Dad and I were backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho back in 2020. It was very late September, and the weather had been great so far, still warm during the day. The 10 day forecast my dad printed out for that area said it would be partly cloudy for most of the trip with a chance of rain some days. After a long day of hiking, we made our base camp in a nice valley next to a small glacier lake (can't remember the name) so we could do some day hikes from that point and come back in the evening. Our GPS showed our spot was about 11 miles from our truck. The hike down to our base camp was really steep, to the point where we had to really dig our poles and heels into the ground and lean back to not slide down. I remember my dad saying, "Going back up this is gonna be a b*tch." I obviously agreed. On the 5th or 6th night, it got really cold out. Our thermometer read 19 degrees. Much colder than we expected for September, but not anything we haven't camped in before. Then again, we were at 8,500+ feet, so I didn't think much of it. The next morning, I woke up and it was still cold as hell. I popped my head outside the tent and I saw my dad sitting in his chair just staring up at the clouds in silence. It was strange, almost like he was studying them. I asked him what he was doing and he just said, "Let's eat real quick and pack up. I think we should head back today." I was pretty pissed that he wanted to end the trip so early, considering I took off 2 weeks from work and we planned on staying out here for 10 nights. I knew better than to argue with him about this kind of stuff, though. After breakfast, the clouds parted and it was nice and sunny out but still cold. I pointed this out to my dad but he had his mind set on us leaving. I begrudgingly went along with it and helped him pack up. Long story short, the weather was really nice on the way back to our truck. Sunny and chilly. We made really good time hiking the 11 miles back to the truck. Couldn't have taken us more than 6 hours. It was getting dark by the time we drove the few miles down the trail and were back at the highway, so we decided to stay the night in the nearest small town at an overpriced tourist Inn. The view from our window was perfect for looking at the Sawtooth Mountain range. The next morning I woke up and to my surprise it was snowing in town. I looked over at the Sawtooth range, and I honestly felt sick when I saw that the mountains were completely snow-covered. I looked up the forecast on my phone, and a very early winter storm was coming through the area, going to last a few days. If it was snowing this much in town, I couldn't even imagine what it would've been like back at our campsite. The realization that we could have been stuck in that steep valley with no winter gear still haunts me. I couldn't believe we were that lucky so I asked my dad how he knew. My dad insists that he just somehow knew it was going to happen, but he didn't want to freak me out. He said he had a really bad feeling in his gut that night when it got that cold out, and he couldn't shake it. I remember that despite all of the trouble we just avoided, potentially being stuck in a snowstorm in a steep valley, he was still more scared of my mom finding out about the situation we could've been in. With all seriousness, he said, "Don't tell your mom." Edit: Thank you all for your kind words. And yes, we eventually ended up telling my mom. Needless to say, she was pissed. I've never second guessed my dad again.

@tem_vremenem_v_kanade

Жыл бұрын

That’s some solid writing and story telling skills! Lesson here is always listen to the elders!

@WINingSKI

Жыл бұрын

long story short…

@uglyst

Жыл бұрын

@@tem_vremenem_v_kanade and your gut!

@calanon534

Жыл бұрын

Gut Instinct took humankind from scavenging the kills of larger beasts, to BEING the larger beasts. It took us from caves to cities. Listen to it, and live. Ignore it at your own peril.

@lynnwark5238

Жыл бұрын

I've also dodged a few in my life, yeah, don't tell mom!

The frustration of not having the strength to go on while slowly wasting away is something I don’t have words for RIP Otter

@graduke1

Жыл бұрын

The most important thing is our health when travelling. Once that goes....especially alone you are in trouble. It doesn't even have to as dramatic as this...in the wilderness.. which must be doubly scary. I got food poisoning in peru...and that was bad enough...onlybleaving the bed to puke and shit....got severely dehydrated...and addicted to 2 and a half men in this depressing budget hotel in a small town in peru. Iroinically I was planning to go trekking in huataz by myself...but after this illness it never happened. I only got better after the owner of rhe hotel noticed how weak I was....and he went off and gave me some hydration fluid. That allowed me to start drinking and eating again and I was fine. I also stopped self medicating with some anti typhoid pills which .ifht have made things worse. I was normal a fit guy so this was shocking for me..I was literally wasting away and had no energy. I can't imagine how bad this would be in the wilderness!!😢

@balintmate4464

11 ай бұрын

I mean, if he could just go a few km a day, he would have ben out by january

@OHW313

11 ай бұрын

Wow ! This story is a hell of a reminder that no matter how much sober (I would never contemplate life and death preparations for anything so potentially hazardous while "under the influence"---but Otter admitted that was his big mistake) preparations you undertake there are always the UNKNOWN FACTORS that you can not anticipate-- maybe that is why most experts advise against going into the WILDERNESS alone or without a satellite phone/cell fon, gps, etc. If you are ALONE a broken ankle or leg can mean the end of you without a phone and you appear much more appealing to the local bears.

@soapyfv

10 ай бұрын

@@balintmate4464our funny, stupid. He tried and you realize how tired he was?😂

@susanboston4882

9 ай бұрын

Why aren’t readers mentioning what Otter said, his heavy marijuana use cancelled his good judgement - hikers, enjoy the good health of a fine hike and skip the false highs of a drug.

It broke my heart when Otter started describing the nature of waist-deep snow. When you get over 50 years old you run out of stamina. I notice it when I'm in shin-high snow. I'm not in my 20s and 30s any longer. Be extra careful if you're older. RIP Otter

@Parrskey77

10 ай бұрын

Breaks my heart thinking about someone struggling in snow like that

@indianastones6032

8 ай бұрын

Never experienced snow deeper than my shins/calfs. But that was bad enough after some time walking in it so at waist height seems impossible to me to get through regardless of age or stamina!!

@tomfoolery333

4 ай бұрын

There were some cadets at the Air Force Academy some years ago who went to climb Pikes Peak at the end of May on Memorial Day. Already summer in Colorado Springs which is 5,500 feet. The peak is over 14k. They brought a tent but no winter gear. No problems, but when they got up to about 10k feet, waist deep snow, postholing all the way. Soon exhausted, even as fit 20 year olds. No proper gear, had to call and get airlifted off the mountain. I think they may have tried a snow cave, but their pants were so wet they were in danger from cold. Can't remember the exact details. The mountains are unforgiving.

@feilox

2 ай бұрын

@@indianastones6032 it's really fun, like jumping hoops all day long. Or waist deep, u'll be swimming on the stop of snow without snowshoes.

I was in Canadian military. I hiked mountains 2 out of 4 weekend's, a month. I got stuck in a place called suicide bluff. Rescued, by search team, and on the news. I couldn't sleep for six months, studied real survival. No knife, no fire etc. 30 years later I'm good. But NEVER rely on that. Always tell someone where you are going !! By the way, I was w friends, but got separated.

@441rider

11 ай бұрын

Good point, I grew up in Algonquin area and leaned to eat ants and other things in Outward bound and canoe camp. Was funny at the time but took away the fear of doing it. Raw bass was a tough one to eat never had sushi in 1970s LOL! BC is worse though some places you can breakdown in are hike out only, lots of first nations people have helped me broken down too even put me up because they knew I could die alone with broke bike. All pre cell phone days,

@dlo111

10 ай бұрын

Hello fellow Vancouverite. I never hiked that one, and wouldn't want to do it alone. I'm so glad you made it safely.

@NP-xx8nt

9 ай бұрын

Real survival? Lmao calm down Rambo

I got lost for 3 days in Kootenai National forrest and it was horrifying especially the first couple hours of panic but once I settled down and got my bearings I knew if I headed west I would encounter some civilization east would be towards glacier National park and ya no.. I eventually stumbled onto a farm and the old farmer and his wife scolded me but were very kind and fed me and even drove me 3 hours back to my vehicle

@texasstadium

Жыл бұрын

Well, at least you are here to tell the tale. That means you basically knew what you were doing. Kudos from an old search and rescue guy!

@texasstadium

Жыл бұрын

@@soxfan182 First of all, I do not like to put too much personal information on the internet. But, I will tell you that I am of older age and my start was when I joined the military in the late 1960's. I was stationed in Alaska and performed SAR work there. After military and as an avid outdoorsman, I spent a lot of personal time hiking and backpacking. Over the years, you meet a lot of like minded people and I volunteered to help when folks were lost or missing. Later, I spent a time explorin and learning the Southwest deserts and was called on to help out. The bottom line, you should find a line of work such as a fireman, sheriff deputy, paramedic or such and learn from a variety of people. Take training courses, learn outdoor skills even if self taught and volunteer when the opportunity presents itself. I wish I was a lot younger. It's been a rewarding life.

@momfromnj911

Жыл бұрын

Wow that's scary... Glad you made it back ok

@ronnie7100

Жыл бұрын

@@soxfan182 where do you live brother, I would go hiking with you.

@bdmenne

Жыл бұрын

The drive back to your beginning was 3 hours by car?!? How many miles you hike just being lost? I realize now you prolly started on trail for some time before you got lost. Just curious if you ever figured how many miles did you go during the lost portion. Now I want to know weather, what gear you had etc!!!! 😅🙏🏼

As an experienced hiker, I always say, "Be careful of overestimating your abilities and underestimating nature's."

@8_x_9.

Жыл бұрын

That's right ✅️ .People forget about micro climate conditions!!! Also about deadly cold micro burst.

@nonope1774

Жыл бұрын

I have been almost kicked off a Reddit thread for ultralight backpacking, for suggesting this exact same thing. If you are planning to spend the night above treeline in the Rocky Mountains, ultralight camping gear that you would use at lower elevations is probably is not going to be enough in case of a weather change. Any time of year!

@rolanddeschain6089

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely. Most people underestimate even persistent rain. How it turns some passages into insurmountable muddy tracks. For miles and miles. How it turns small creaks into streams or how quickly completely wet clothes and wind cools out your body. Not to mention real storms, snow and very low temperatures. In addition, there is the danger of getting lost, steep slopes, lack of fresh water and and and. Even heat can make you defeat faster than you are used to in your daily life. I always say if you are unsure about something (weather etc.) if there is even the slightest risk of disaster - skip it. Stay in the town you are in or drop out. However. The thrill of being successful, the thrill of courage is nothing compared to the fear and the regret you will feel. Be save folks!

@sparkmadd_IZM

Жыл бұрын

Drugs like weed will impair your actions.

@nonope1774

Жыл бұрын

@@sparkmadd_IZM STFU. you obviously don't have even the slightest idea of what you think you are talking about.

It’s so crazy he saw the rescue plane like damn i couldn’t imagine being in that hopeless of a situation 😭

@High_Bread

11 ай бұрын

I just watched a video about the worse skydiving accident in history 17 or 18 people died. They landed in the water and the survivors were trying to reach the I believe coast guard or some other boat . One fisherman or something saw them and just drove by while they begged for help

@dragonxev1144

10 ай бұрын

​@@High_Breadmore specifically; the fisherman had been playing hookie from work to have some "fun" with a secret girlfriend. He didn't stop because it would've blown his cover

@EvilDick1995

10 ай бұрын

​@@High_Breaddid they live?

@Prlz3

9 ай бұрын

@@EvilDick1995 " 17 or 18 people died "

@EvilDick1995

9 ай бұрын

@Prlz3 misread and thought they meant 17 or 18 people died in the initial crash and then there were some survivors who attempted to be rescued.

Truly a cautionary tale to aways respect the mountain, no matter how experienced we believe we are. You cannot simply go hiking in the wild in horrible weather, with no maps and stoned outta your mind. So sad such a seemingly nice nature-loving man died so needlessly.

The reason someone with a "vast amount of experience" did something that stupid was exactly because of that experience. It seems like with hiking and climbing in particular, some of the more experienced people become more and more comfortable with taking risks, sometimes ending very badly. For example, I knew this kid from high school who was an "avid" backcountry skier but died in an avalanche within 1 mile of a major freeway because he thought his experience allowed him to ignore the Northwest Avalanche Center's warnings for that day.

@JesusIsKing48

Жыл бұрын

survivor bias...

@hikingwiththedog6078

Жыл бұрын

That's absolutely true, but it didn't help that he was stoned when making his original decision. He even made note of that in his journal. Drugs cause a numbing effect to all the natural human emotions we have, such as caution and fear. They also alter perceptions.

@roseburgranger

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely! It’s a very good lesson: Always carry some kind of communication device (with extra batteries and/or a way to recharge it), a firearm (for protection, signaling and hunting), other emergency signal tools (mirror, etc.), paper map and compass, and never get intoxicated when on a solitary remote hike. These things cost him his life.

@billpii6314

Жыл бұрын

@@hikingwiththedog6078 I can see you have no idea what Canibis does and you numing claim is just BS.

@silkoakranchpitchforkranch1205

Жыл бұрын

It’s simply when you become comfortable taking risks you know the risks aren’t any less dangerous. you make an educated decision on the likelihood. But no expert pretends that it is not dangerous. The danger is part of the point.

I think the most important lesson here is "Don't make high-stakes decisions while intoxicated". As a friend of mine once put it, "If it's a good idea now, it will still be a good idea tomorrow".

@helbitkelbit1790

Жыл бұрын

Don't EVER become intoxicated . Drugs & Alcohol ruin the lives of millions . Stay away from drugs

@mantis_toboggan_md

Жыл бұрын

​@@helbitkelbit1790 Lighten up.

@markhamdesigns

Жыл бұрын

And people say pot doesn’t kill you…..

@darinr5591

Жыл бұрын

Agreed. Otter himself realized his mistake after the fact. I make a mental checklist of the mistakes made and try to learn from them. This story is a valuable lesson on many levels. It's also a look into the mental process that affects folks in dire situations. A person who's happy and healthy doesn't seem like the type to wish to take their own life, but circumstances can change that. Thank you, Otter, for describing your final days so that others may learn from you. This is the ultimate form of love.

@helbitkelbit1790

Жыл бұрын

@@darinr5591 don't use drugs......any drug . Stay clear

So sad he was only about a dozen miles away from where he started and a warm place to stay…he knew exactly how to get out of there but just couldn’t face the cold 😢 he survived a long time out there- very good at problem solving, but there’s only so much you can do to combat nature. Rest In Peace Otter.

What a sad ending. Even with all his experiences and expertise he still made a bad judgment call. RIP Otter ✝️

The amount of times he was ALMOST rescued is heart breaking. I can't imagine how horribly devastating it had to be to see the rescue copter but have them not see you.

@veeforteeto5976

Жыл бұрын

Many Dopesmokers say that marijuana never killed anyone. In this case and many other cases it's absolutely wrong because a very experienced hiker lost his life after he ate way too many marijuana cookies and made a decision that ended his life as recorded in his journal. Also they are now lacing marijuana with fentanyl and it's killing lawyers doctors and all kinds of high-class people who have not build any resistance up to it. So no longer can we say that marijuana doesn't kill people. This poor hiker has proven that fact...may he rest in peace.

@pasgetti9949

Жыл бұрын

I heard in another story that rescue aircraft that spot you, but can't recover you directly, will circle overhead until the ground team arrives as a "I'm here and I see you."

@veeforteeto5976

Жыл бұрын

That's why serious survival kits always have a mirror to flash a reflection of the sun into the pilot's eyes.

@SOUTHTEXAS2316

Жыл бұрын

At what point do you just burn the damn everything down

@TyHarrodTX

Жыл бұрын

​@@veeforteeto5976this is great to know... Thanks for sharing

A Personal Locator Beacon is a "must have" for every hiker... even (and especially) short day hikers. RIP Otter.

@Princess_Celestia_

Жыл бұрын

Those are not needed if you just use common sense, like not trying to cross 75 miles of mountains on foot in the f**king winter.

@jonjacobjingleheimerschmid3798

Жыл бұрын

​@@Princess_Celestia_ yah.. I think he realized that the pot really messed up his judgment on that...

@pattymcintosh-mize2777

Жыл бұрын

​@@Princess_Celestia_ - you could break your leg or run into a bear or mountain lion on a day hike any time of year. If you survive that, you're going to need that PLB to save you from hypothermia. Also, carry a gun and learn how to use it. Especially if you're female. Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

@erikturner5073

Жыл бұрын

Exactly, a emergency beacon would have come in handy as well, or go old-school and carry a flare gun also. The flare gun would have gotten the rescue planes attention.

@trex2092

Жыл бұрын

Retired USCG, veteran of hundreds of searches, mega dittos. This tech saves lives, why some idiots won't use it is beyond me.

It blows my mind how it was WEEKS and no one could figure out the 12 mile stretch of trail he was on

@MarksTournaments

10 ай бұрын

The snow makes it almost impossible sadly

I appreciate the care he took in securing his corpse. I had a friend in Colorado that went missing. It was a suicide, which was sort of assumed, but some random day hiker found the scene months after the snow melt. 4 counties of search and rescue and friends were on it. Even I would have rather taken that shock if I had any clue where to look. Don't make your mistakes some layperson's problem.

I’m not a hiker but I got seriously scared a few times when I missed my last night bus and felt like I’d freeze to death. I never forgot that feeling of helplessness and sheer panic, when you start loosing feeling in your hands and feet, and I’ve gained a healthy respect for the nature and how quickly it can overcome us. It scared the heck out of me. Nowadays I never go out unprepared.

@beniciomanulskowicz-xc3dk

Жыл бұрын

Why would you ever leave the house unprepared??

@nicolew4877

Жыл бұрын

@@beniciomanulskowicz-xc3dk No I mean even when I go to the shops or go for a quick walk in winter, I always bring super thick gloves, scarf, hat, extra jumper, a fully charged phone, etc etc. Because even on a short walk, you never know when you’ll get stuck in the freezing cold. Stuff happens.

@beniciomanulskowicz-xc3dk

Жыл бұрын

@@nicolew4877 just giving you shit. I was homeless for a long time and had some very very sketchy nights.. the kinda nights you're scared to stay in one spot so you pace and eat peanut butter to have some heat to burn off haha. So I am also forever prepared now.

@NicoleStevensHays11x

Жыл бұрын

@Kane Why are you living in your car?

@Imabeatyouman

Жыл бұрын

Keep in mind. This mother ducker was stuck out there for like 60 days

As a certified SAR volunteer, use a personal EPIRB, always tell people where your going and time line, often there is a Forest Service Station that will also collect your travel plans on an official document, have marine grade flares, carry an emergency long range radio, carry a high lumen strobe. It seems surprising he burned down a cabin and no one saw the smoke and that the plane didn't notice the burned cabin. Over plan, over prepare. My condolences to the Olshansky family and friends.

@kristinragengasacao528

Жыл бұрын

Watched a couple of videos wherein the lost person mentioned that the plane flew past them. Wondering how they are using their eyes on locating a missing person. Might as well not use any plane if they are useless. Just saying

@paulcurtis2779

Жыл бұрын

@@kristinragengasacao528 Yes, agreed. Seeing a person from a plane/helicopter is a challenge. Seeing a burnt out building is easy from the air. Thus always carry items that can make you visible. Flares, mirrors, strobe, Reflective Orange coat or hat, radio. I've walked right passed 'lost people' because I couldn't see them.

@ossian108

Жыл бұрын

Oh cool. I actually thought about getting flares. Glad that it's a valid choice.

@jlt131

Жыл бұрын

@@ossian108 just be cautious during fire season. you don't want that flare burning down the whole forest with you in it.

@ossian108

Жыл бұрын

@@jlt131 I don't want to burn any forest :)

I find Otter's courage inspiring. His tenacity in trying to survive the situation, his integrity for owning the errors in judgment he'd made; and even the attempts he undertook to end his life, which themselves failed...but still, he defied despair by continuing to write in his journal. I have regretted things in my life, and felt stuck and alone. I can only imagine how he must have felt through it all. He stayed true to himself, and his story makes me feel like mistakes in life, errors in judgment, fruitless efforts, bad circumstances, and even death itself, none of these things has to mean defeat.

@sarahxsays

4 ай бұрын

Very well said. It’s all about perseverance & perspective in life. We’re all blessed to be here ❤

Poor Otter 💔 deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Despite his mistake and death, I hope to give Otter his due honor by sharing how impressed I am at how long he was able to survive in such wintery conditions (and continue to journal).

@billpii6314

Жыл бұрын

@@kcnicky2242 They did but then some ranger said he saw Otto at a ranger station in a completely different area so the serch was called off. It looks like more than one mistake did him in both by Otto , the serch teams, and a Ranger of all things..

@jennie2921

Жыл бұрын

Nice reply. Thank you.

@sessary

Жыл бұрын

True that. His experience showed in how long he was able to stay alive under those conditions.

@skinebman1

Жыл бұрын

All about you huh?

@betsybarnicle8016

Жыл бұрын

@@skinebman1 ?

Sad reminder we all make mistakes, sometimes they cost us our lives. Hats off to this guy who did what he could then died with his boots on, even being considerate of others and leaving a note so as not to traumatize them. Way to go Otter. Buddy, you had some serious STYLE !! God bless you and your loved ones, family and friends!!!! Hell of a MAN !!!

RIP Otter. Now you are truly free. I'm so sorry, that you were lost. I don't understand, how you weren't found. It's so sad.😢 I hope that all your trails, are now happy ones. 💜💜💜

This is one of the saddest stories ive heard, i think. To be that hopelessly lost in the wilderness but able to survive for so long, waiting for a rescue... What a poor (amazing) man.

Surviving as he did, for as long as he did, journaling as well as he did, and despite the odds against him, at the very end, still being considerate enough to write a warning on the door of the vault toilet is a testament to his character. The roller-coaster emotions of optimism vs. depression each moment of each day during those weeks alone is excruciating to consider, let alone actually go through. Otter remains a teacher to us.

@migm7428

Жыл бұрын

I wonder how he had the energy to write such a note on paper as well as scratch words into the door.

All facilities near hiking areas need emergency signal options. If they reach a restroom there needs to be a way to signal. Great share of his story.

@jjdjj5392

Жыл бұрын

Great idea!

@jenniferg6818

Жыл бұрын

I'm not a through hiker, but y'all should get this done for the community in Otters name. This is the most sensible idea of all. So far.

@juice3167

Жыл бұрын

A standardized emergency kit mounted somewhere in/around the facility. They could call it the Otter Box

@TH-eb5ro

Жыл бұрын

@@juice3167 I'd suggest inside the restrooms like in an upper corner so it is protected. Warning sign that $500 fine for misuse. Another idea is something that can be used to signal help is needed. In Hong Kong we have these oversized mop things that look like big pieces of red tarp on a pole that are near trails. There is usually a sign nearby regarding fire, trail safety and steps to take. I will try and take a photo.

@williamcaton8432

Жыл бұрын

Any experienced and “smart” thru hikers have communication capabilities. 1. Hand mirror. 2. Satellite connected communication device (GPS device) not expensive at all). 3. A large fire is always a good signal. No one should ever go on a long hike or through hike without both of these devices. Experienced doesn’t mean “smart” necessarily. Sorry, sad, but true.

Honestly I’ve been absolutely eating up your videos lately. You are so down to earth about these stories and you take them to heart, you also has a more wholesome side when it comes to hiking in general. I love horror channels but they aren’t as real about things as you are

Great piece. My son in-law and daughter have talked about taking such hikes. I can only hope they take every precaution and prepare accordingly because even then, the worst can happen to even the most experienced trekkers.

This is why when a friend of mine was talking about getting into that level of hiking, I recommended that she get a sat-com device and keep back-up batteries in a water-tight section of the pact. If she get into a bad situation, a single button press sends an SOS and location data out for you. It also allows two-way texting for check-ins.

@philgiglio7922

Жыл бұрын

For the well healed there IS a watch available that is also an emergency locator beacon...made by Breitling it costs about $15,000! Effective at sea as well as land

@ripF5C

Жыл бұрын

​@@philgiglio7922 Or you know... just get the Garmin InReach for like $500 like any sane person who wants to keep their life. This guy was an absolute. moron.

@mitchiranger

Жыл бұрын

@@philgiglio7922 sounds worth while to save up for, just for peace of mind and usefulness. Can’t put a price really on your life’s safety. Nice ref👍

@screenmonkey

Жыл бұрын

Phil, I guess I'm going to die then cause that's a piece of tech i can't afford

@ripF5C

Жыл бұрын

@@screenmonkey Garmin InReach.

This one was the most sad of all the tragedies that you have covered. Man, a simple GPS alert device would have made all the difference. It's no small feat that he survived that long. RIP, Otter.

@TheIamyourmother

Жыл бұрын

You took the words out of my mouth about the SOS device. Satellite, PLB, either one would quite likely have saved his life by the sound of it. I get that some people wanna totally unplug... So fine, don't turn it on unless you need it. Simple as fuck. Absolutely tragic thinking about what he went through. I'd try to end things to.... Starvation sounds like one of the most miserable ways to go.

@chriskourliourod1651

Жыл бұрын

I once had to ration deer-broth corn cakes. I wouldn’t wish starvation on my worst enemy.

@chrisparker9886

Жыл бұрын

And they say weed is harmless! 😳

@gregkutvirt3341

Жыл бұрын

There was an Outdoor mag article about this years ago. Apparently he had been hiking with a GPS device but gave it away shortly before the incident. :(

@Nuttyirishman85

Жыл бұрын

We would all like to own one. Fact is that you have to pay monthly, instead of being set for life with the expensive purchase. Having one doesn’t mean you will be saved either.

Heartbreaking story. Thank you sharing this man’s story. ❤

Such a sad story and what a remarkable man. Sincere condolences to the family and friends of Otter, R.I.P. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I knew Otter well and he was a dear friend of mine from my thru hikes on the PCT and CDT. He was an amazing person and shining light in our world. Thanks for telling the story as it was. It still sends chills down my spine knowing solo hiking can be so dangerous but I also feel his guidance and motivation as I’m trudging through the mtns. I wrote up a song on my guitar to go with his ‘Wander’ poem from that journal. RIP Otter.

@Masaki-1334

Жыл бұрын

Do you know patches green bus?

@Carmen-us1ew

Жыл бұрын

I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. 💕😢

@serendipitybuslife

Жыл бұрын

@@Masaki-1334 does he have dreads?

@Masaki-1334

Жыл бұрын

@@serendipitybuslife a few. Taller white guy.

@karencahill4798

Жыл бұрын

So very sorry for him and all who mourn his death. Sounds terrifying.

My mom was a Guide in the Olympic Mountains. In her later years her mind started to slip and the Rangers found her disoriented. Stories like these always hit home when I think of their families. Life is a journey.

@brianhoffman8055

Жыл бұрын

I grew up around the Olympics, hiked many of those trails.

@brewnhell9938

11 ай бұрын

@@brianhoffman8055 beautiful country. If you ever saw Llamas on the trails it just may have been my mom’s troupe. Safe travels.

@hadrak

10 ай бұрын

...but Olympus Mons is on Mars....

Seemed like a decent guy. Even the best of us make bad decisions. Kyle, you did a great job telling Otter's story......respectful while also getting across an important lesson.

What a damn good life he had. His Grace at the end is beautiful. To the Mountains in the Sky Otto! Thank you for all the lessons we’ve learned from you. (Subscribed, dude)

@Boo675jhggg

10 ай бұрын

It's not the end, Otto.

Last month, February, I was day-hiking in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and I got off the trail without knowing. I kept hiking, hiking, hiking, blissfully ignorant that I was lost. I had to walk for miles in a ravine that I couldn’t climb out of that was full of boulders. I’m 54, and after two hours of climbing up and jumping off boulders nonstop- my knees couldn’t take it anymore. But I couldn’t sit down and rest because the sun was setting soon. I thought I was going to have to spend the night without any provisions and it had snowed the night before. The most horrible sense of dread came over me. I started hiking with a panic over those boulders and wondering where I had gone wrong. And this was just over the prospect of me having to spend one night outdoors without provisions. So I can imagine the much worse and absolute sense of dread that he must’ve had- for days, day after day, week after week. Such a sad tragic story. These stories are so often about one wrong decision. One wrong decision can end your life.

@dwightjs1

Жыл бұрын

You didn't make just one wrong decision, and neither did Otter. You didn't know the trail, you had no means of navigating, no emergency provisions, no emergency shelter, and I'm guessing no emergency kit of any kind. The message of this video, and of your story is that people go into the wilderness woefully unprepared, and most days it works out just fine. But as soon as one thing goes wrong, one bad decision is made, you're helpless, in a panic, because all the good days lulled you into a false sense of security and gave you a vastly over inflated sense of your abilities. If you can't answer the questions about what you'll do if you lose the trail, get injured, get caught in bad weather, etc. - before you head out on the trail - then you're starting every trip by making a big list of bad decisions.

@yankeecarolyn376

Жыл бұрын

Wait -- so what happened? Did you have to spend the night?

@michellemarieperez6574

Жыл бұрын

Glad your okay. Stay safe.👊🙏❤️🦅🇺🇸

I was a member of Teton County County SAR in Jackson Hole for 12 years and served as deputy director and training director for 6 years. I responded to over 500 callouts, about 50 of which were lost person incidents. During my tenure, we found everyone we were tasked to look for. We were also called in twice to help other SAR teams find missing persons after they came up empty handed after a week of searching - and found the person in both cases (one alive, one deceased.) Searching from the air is very difficult, even from a helicopter which is flying much slower than an aircraft. On the two searches we were called in on, there had been extensive aerial searches by helicopter. When we got called in, I downloaded the GPS tracks of the flights. On the search where the person was found alive, the helicopter had flown about a hundred yards south of where the person was located many times and he waved at them each time to no avail. When I looked at the GPS tracks, they hadn't flown over the north side of the canyon. When I had them fly over the north side, they spotted the person and they were rescued. The second example was a 10 day search where we were called in to assist on the 9th day. The team had searched extensively by air and also on foot, in a rugged mountainous area. The person left a detailed journal of his plans and his objective was to scramble up several peaks in the area. The team was convinced they had thoroughly searched his objectives, so it took a lot of convincing to get them to send search teams back in the same areas. The next day the search teams went back in the same area and found the person, deceased. The helicopters had flown over the location where the person was found at least 10 times. The most successful searches involve multiple searches by different resources - foot teams, horse teams, dog teams, aerial etc. By far the most effective are the dogs - some people say a dog is as good as 50 searchers - I agree they are very helpful. A person in the wild is like a needle in a haystack. Our team practiced searches every year and we're very good. On one practice, I had a person sit in a tree well like a lost person might to stay warm. Two search teams walked right past the tree without spotting them. Finally, a K9 team came by and the dog immediately found the person. If you are lost but under cover, leave something (hopefully bright) to mark your location. SPOT devices didn't come out until my last two years on the team. My advice to maximize your chances of rescue is to carry a SPOT device, a solar charger, AND have someone monitoring you daily. Our SPOT allows our GPS tracks to be monitored and a few texts each day. We have a friend monitor us and exchange a text every day that "we're OK." This covers the scenario where you are unable to trigger the SOS on the SPOT device. My girlfriend and regularly do two week trips deep into the Wind River Range and this is how we improve our chances if something goes wrong. If you can't afford a SPOT device, then print out a map and leave a detailed itinerary with a friend - and an EXACT date when to call in help. Prior to SPOT, I did a number of solo trips into the Wind Rivers and this is how I stayed safe - I RELIGIOUSLY followed my itinerary. To maximize your chances of being found, you need to make the search area as small as possible. The search will start from either the PLS (Point Last Seen - where someone saw you) or LKP (Last Known Point - e.g. picked up your drop box). By having a person monitoring your SPOT or your itinerary, it helps reduce the area to search if you go missing. Have fun out there and stay safe!

@jenniferg6818

Жыл бұрын

Wow. I'm not a through hiker, but this post has raised so many questions for me. Great content by the way. I'm really impressed that you are so damn accurate. You should be leading every search for goodness sake. I guess my overarching question is - How is it 2023, we have aliens and AI and we can't figure something out to avoid these situations. I was gobsmacked by a comment above stating there should be flares or signals of some sort at the bathrooms. Ummmmm.....yeah, that's a really good idea. Why hasn't someone had something coded to create a beacon on like a fitbit or whatever, air tags, anything. (or something - for the love of god) Am I missing something because it sounds like this is preventable to me. Please either enlighten me or get this going bc it will drive me nuts. I'm an avid forager and I found one perfect pristine chantrelle, and the next thing I knew I was crying and on the phone (yup had gps)crying to my son for rescue and it was less than 10 minutes. I never want to experience that again. Lets do this for Otter. I also think you should write a book on rescue. Interesting, thanks.

@WyomingMtnMan

Жыл бұрын

@@jenniferg6818 Thank you for your comments. I think getting lost and not being able to get in touch will soon be a thing of the past. Elon Musk and T-Mobile already have an agreement for T-Mobile phones to access the Starlink constellation in a few years. Your cell phone will have "service" almost no matter where you are. I believe eventually all major cell phone providers will have similar agreements with satellite internet providers. What I don't know is if you dial 911 will the constellation know where the 911 center closest to you is? SPOT devices send a signal to the COSPAS-SARSAT satellites which are part of an international rescue cooperative and know who to contact in any given area to start a search. Airplanes carry an ELT transmitter which goes off automatically if a plane crashes. Ships carry the same type which activates if contacted by sea water. An aircraft went down in our area and COSPAS-SARSAT contacted our local 911 dispatch and we were mobilized to go find the aircraft. But certainly being able to call out or text would be very useful - just be sure to provide your GPS location. I have a free app on my phone where I can look at my GPS position (without using Google Maps) and can provide a location in either Lat-Long or UTM.

@Summitclym

Жыл бұрын

Great stories and info! It’s usually a series of unfortunate events that cause people to get lost. I have a Garmin but someone must monitor my texts or I’m sunk if things go sideways. I only solo hike in places where there’s sure to be others and never in bad weather.

@MyGoogleYoutube

Жыл бұрын

I'm surprised you didn't mention how important a signal mirror could be....any glint of light from the ground will catch a searchers attention.

@downhillupside

Жыл бұрын

Question: As a former SAR member, what do you make of the fact that Otter was sheltering at a marked campsite with full bathroom facilities on a forest access road, and apparently no SAR personnel thought to head up there with a snow mobile to check for signs of life? To me, wouldn't the first part of the search include hitting all back country huts and camp ground facilities that were reasonably near his expected path of travel? Looking on the map, the camp ground was about a 50 mile round trip from a major roadway along a forest service road. On a snow mobile, that wouldn't be more than a 2 or 3 hour trip.

It’s very sad that he couldn’t get rescued but at least he died doing something he loved. Hopefully his struggles will serve as a warning to other hikers. Rest easy bro ❤

Really really sad story. Prayers go out to him and his family. I wish he could have been saved.

No paper map, no emergency radio, no high visibility kit, and getting high before heading out into weather you know will be bad. This guy really let his hubris get the best of him. At least his mistake can be used to help demonstrate how important it is to be safe and never think you don't need back up plans for long term hikes

@JoseGonzalez-il8zh

Жыл бұрын

Yea, he was careless.

@johnnygonelli5169

Жыл бұрын

Well sadly thats how death gets you When you get too careless

@Aiyvas

Жыл бұрын

And don’t get high.

@jethro1044

Жыл бұрын

Complacency kills, no matter the environment.

@sirraf23

Жыл бұрын

​@@Aiyvas lol ok Nancy Reagan. Just say no, right? 😂

My family lives in a small community in the forest of northern Arizona about 12 miles away from the nearest small town. As a teenager me and my friend from the community were partying in town in the winter when we decided to walk through the woods back home at night with a few bottles of hard liquor. We were drunk and only wearing hoodies for warmth. I remember starting the walk and making it out of town and into the woods, but we were drinking quite a bit and I don't remember much after that. I woke up the next morning to find I'm laying on the ground in the forest, frosted over, with my friend passed out on the ground nearby and I was freezing half to death. I tried standing up but my body could hardly move. I yelled out to my friend to wake him up and he did but he too was freezing and could barely move. A snow storm was just starting and we knew we had to get home and to warmth soon or we were going to die out there. We knew we were about 5 miles away from home. We were super hung over and couldn't believe we didn't freeze to death overnight, we thought the alcohol is what kept us warm enough to survive it. It took hours for us to make the journey home and we were super cold the whole time, barely able to walk because of it. I remember almost just giving up and laying down and letting myself freeze. I don't know how we didn't get hypothermia or frostbite or anything, the snow started falling pretty good as soon as we were able to get up and walking. When we got home and told everyone we slept outside with just hoodies overnight they could hardly believe it. It was probably below zero that night. One of the dumber things I've done in my life.

@Ephesians5-14

Жыл бұрын

That's a miracle.

@shishoka

Жыл бұрын

It really is a miracle Alcohol lowers your body temperature so if you are ever in such a situation and remember your story DON'T drink your alcohol. Use it to start a fire, maybe, but don't drink it.

@jennyluvsjapan1

Жыл бұрын

It wasn’t the alcohol that kept you alive. It was The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the giver , and taker of life. To Him belongs the Glory, both now, and forever… Amen….

@mashariel

Жыл бұрын

Glad you are still alive, HalaluYah, must be the Most High Yah still has purpose for your life! 🙂

@kyoakland

Жыл бұрын

​@@jennyluvsjapan1 😅😂

😢Rest in Paradise Otter ❤ I Admire the Strength and Tenacity of the Hiker Community. I live vicariously through you because of my multiple illnesses I couldn’t do this even if I tried. Please be careful out there, Much 💕 Love

Man....this one actually made me cry. Him documenting his final moments, knowing full well he was going to die out there - and the message he scratched into the door so that some poor soul could be spared the trauma of that sight. :( Rest in peace to him, he seemed like a really nice guy.

Survived so long, a testimony to his character and ability. On top of that, he was concerned for the psychological impact finding his dead body would have on somebody, and made sure to warn anyone about that, a true gentlemen and he has my upmost respect, I want to be able to become half the man he was, and I would be more than happy with that :)

@ripF5C

Жыл бұрын

His "ability" blinded commen sense apparently. Only an absolute bafoon would go hiking without a Beacon. Dude was a gleaming example of what NOT to do.

@bobbywalter5320

Жыл бұрын

Aye.

@Elijahwaija

Жыл бұрын

@@ripF5C Point taken, and I agree with you that Health and safety is always paramount, not matter how experienced. But I don’t think calling him a ‘buffoon’ is justified, everybody makes mistakes, and and we saw in the video, it was evident he quickly realised his mistake and regretted his decision!

I’ve summited Mt Whitney 3 times, but attempted it 5 times. Summited Half Dome 3 times, but attempted it 4 times. Backpacked to the bottom of Grand Canyon and back out 2 times but had to turn back on 3rd attempt. Hiked the Narrows & Angels Landing multiple times but have had to turn back a few times. Many more i could list, but what they all have in common is sometimes it’s just not meant to be. On one Whitney trip i was with 5 other guys, i was the trip organizer & permit holder. Early afternoon of day 2 we were above tree line and a thunderstorm rolled in. I told everyone we need to drop down to a safer area but all the guys wanted to continue. By the time i did this trip i had been hiking and backpacking for about 25 yrs and learned a thing or two. I explained the danger of being exposed to lightning at our altitude, on a surface that conducts electricity very well. After about 20 min of me detailing what could happen to us and how unsafe it was, they mostly agreed. We went to lower elevation, put up the tents in a safe area and rode the storm out. It lasted into the night, and because we were now a day behind, getting to the summit was not possible. We spent the rest of the trip hiking out on the planned exit so that we stuck to the itinerary i gave at the ranger station. We then camped in Alabama Hills for a couple nights before going home. A couple of the guys got pissed off, they had summit fever, and went home once we exited the backcountry. Oh well, their loss! For me, peak bagging isn’t the the most important thing, it’s just being out there. Play hard, but be safe!

@TwinOpinion

Жыл бұрын

No shame in turning around. I also had to bail summiting Whitney. Didn't take away from the experience at all. Camping, hiking, and star gazing with good company... It was breathtakingly beautiful, but it's even more beautiful when you make it back alive.

@avamori3543

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad to hear your adventures. It is to your honour that all of the people in your group survived, and were not injured. You called it correctly, well done!

@nicholaswilliams4336

Жыл бұрын

@itsallinthewrist Think about the achievements you’ve done in your incredible life... think about what Otter achieved, how long he lasted... all these missing hikers ? Just goes to show how life hangs in the balance of the turn of a friendly card ?

@Matt-xc6sp

Жыл бұрын

I climbed angels landing and had like 3 tall cans on the way. 3.2 Utah beer, but still.

Thanks for sharing this. I had not heard it before. You did an excellent job of capturing the details and making it interesting.

I've solo backpacked a few times, starting in the early 1970s. So many things can happen to incapacitate you -- weather is just one of them. I did all I could to stay safe -- including taking survival courses -- but the remoteness and uncertainty were always on my mind. I'm in my 70s now and have decided I will not even drive, much less walk, to a remote location without having a PLB (personal locator beacon) or satellite messenger with me. They've been available since I think the 1980s. Why I didn't take one with me on solo excursions once they were available, I don't know. If I had to guess, I'd say that simply being young and in good health blocked my normally good common sense. On the one hand, I hate that we are bringing electronics into pure wilderness (do people even read paper maps any more?)... but on the other hand, shouldn't we take advantage of anything designed to get us back safely to our families and friends? They would say "yes", I'm sure. If you venture into remote locations by foot or vehicle, please take a PLB or satellite messenger with you. I include "vehicle", because over the years I've read more horror stories about people driving to remote locations and dying (or nearly so) than backpackers or hikers.

To me the biggest lesson of this story is it's nice to have experience, but you have to act in a way that allows you to benefit from your experience.

He sounds like a truly beautiful soul. Rest in peace Otter.

That search attempt if you can even call it that was a joke. The site he was at seemed like the a good place to check for him. How does a plane fly over twice and not see him out in the open with a burnt down building and why would they stop the search due to an unverified sighting. Very disappointing cause he probably could have been saved I believe

Rip to this man, I have stopped myself from doing stuff like this, hiking, swimming in the ocean and skydiving,due to fear of things like this happening,so I have a lot of respect for those who do this type of stuff,it takes a lot of courage to go into the woods and the unknown and to live that life.

It's a saying we hate but it rings true today. "Complacency kills" Respect for mother nature should always be accompanied by a humble perspective. Rest in peace Otter, your lessons will not be forgotten.

As a tiny lizard who spends most of my time observing the world from the safety of a rock, I've seen many things come and go. I've watched towering trees sprout from the ground and reach for the sky, only to wither and die with the changing of the seasons. I've witnessed violent storms rage across the landscape, leaving destruction and chaos in their wake. But perhaps the most profound thing I've seen was the passing of Stephen "Otter" Olshansky, a man whose life was cut short on the Continental Divide Trail in 2016. Otter, as he was known to his friends, was a force of nature himself. Unlike me, he didn't spend his days watching from afar. He was out there in the thick of it, traversing mountains and valleys, pushing himself to the limits of his physical and mental abilities. I often watched him from my perch, envious of his ability to move so freely and purposefully across the land. But as I observed Otter's life, I began to see the similarities between us. Like me, he was a small creature in a vast and unpredictable world. Like me, he was subject to the whims of nature and the forces that govern our existence. And like me, he knew that life was fleeting and precious, to be lived to the fullest while we had the chance. So it was with a heavy heart that I learned of Otter's passing. I knew that his life, like mine, was but a brief flicker in the grand scheme of things. But in that brief moment, he had accomplished so much. He had explored and discovered, he had challenged himself and overcome obstacles, he had made connections with others and left an indelible mark on their lives. Otter's life was cut short, but it was not a life wasted. He lived with passion and purpose, and in doing so he showed us all what it truly means to be alive. Rest in peace, Otter. Your spirit lives on, in the mountains and in the hearts of those who knew you.

@sterlingmatsui154

Жыл бұрын

Truly Beautifully Stated, David♡~If You Have Not Already Written a Novel, or Short Stories, Please Consider Doing So...Your Understanding of Thought, & Words, is Inspired☆☆:) (Holly in Arizona)

@mxj28

Жыл бұрын

I am a true sucker for a good read. You, sir, need your own blog! This was beautifully put and I’m sure Otter would be pleased with it. RIP, Otter.

@lisaramirez1714

Жыл бұрын

Beautiful ❤️

@tedeitel8060

Жыл бұрын

Why's it called hiking and not walking? Vet's like myself that's been on over a hundred 20 mile road marches don't walk for fun? Save your feet we are all going to need them! RIP Otter!

@melissadixon4091

Жыл бұрын

Your writing captivated me. Beautifully written. I hope you’re writing something.

Great job telling this story God bless you Otter and may you rest in peace

It's a sad story, and hopefully a warning. Him being so experienced probably led to him making bad choices. Absolutely horrific way to go. I hope he found peace at the end. RIP.

I’m absolutely shocked that someone with his experience didn’t have an emergency locating beacon

@scottslotterbeck3796

Жыл бұрын

I never have. You think you're a mountain man, and only fools get lost.

@thesecretshade

Жыл бұрын

​@@scottslotterbeck3796 I would say only fools don't prepare for emergencies. That's why you tell people where you go and for how long. That's why you take an emergency beacon. You don't have to get lost to need one. Especially when you hike alone. Most people fall and get injured. A cellphone won't help if there's no cell tower close by.

@kkrmzn

Жыл бұрын

@Scott Slotterbeck Shit happens man. Always nice to have a backup plan

@blitzie66

Жыл бұрын

@@scottslotterbeck3796that line of thinking gets people hurt

@GoldenAura32

Жыл бұрын

​@@blitzie66 you mean killed

My nephew and his girlfriend got lost in the bush in Kahurangi National park in foul weather. They were missing for 18 days before they were finally found - thankfully alive, albeit somewhat worse for wear. It's stories like this one that really bring home how fortunate they were, since so often the story does not have a "happy ending". All the best to Otter's family and friends and the many people who encountered him over the years.

@megansummers3775

Жыл бұрын

I got stranded in kaharungi national park too

@wolf1066

Жыл бұрын

@@megansummers3775 Glad you made it out safely. How long were you stuck there? Can well imagine how relieved family/friends/whānau must have been that you got out safely.

@michelleharnett1351

Жыл бұрын

Far out - I remember that, They were so lucky.

@wolf1066

Жыл бұрын

@@michelleharnett1351 Very lucky, given how rugged that area is. Fortunately, they did the right things to keep themselves alive until they were found.

@Jay-fy4oc

Жыл бұрын

That was in the papers internationally in 2020! Hope both have fully recovered from their ordeal!

Such a sad tragedy. Poor Otter. He seems like he was a good man.

This story of "The Otter" has really broken my heart..he looks like he was SUCH a kind heart, his eyes just look so happy. Im not a hiker, (but i love your videos)..i just cant imagine the pain those in the community and those that loved him have gone thru w losing him. What a beautiful soul he seems. Im thankful he had lived his life absolutely fully. Bless his soul.❤🥺🙏🏼

I know the guy should've alerted authorities earlier, but Otter was alive plenty long enough after the search began. Surviving 2 months less than 15 miles from safety... that's rough. When the resupply box isn't picked up and the weather was severe near the trailhead, hard to justify why the search ever really left that first section. I think I would've waited a few days and forced my way out or die trying, personally. I can't imagine how horrible the slow death must've been.

@randomnobody8770

Жыл бұрын

What I can't figure out is how could he not physically get himself out of this. By experience and understanding I'm a novice. He but he immediately felt weak, I'm assuming due to elevation. But after some weeks that should subside in time to jerry rig a solution to cover a brutal 10-20 miles in a day. What am I missing? I "hiked" through a ~200M run of a waist-deep snow drift once at ~8000ft, and it was exhausting. Took me about 30 mins. It was the end of a day hike, so no supplies. If my life depended on it and I had some time to fashion tools with existing kit, I feel like I could have continued on for a miserable days if it was my only option.

@flannelpillowcase6475

Жыл бұрын

​@@randomnobody8770 yeah somethings weird about that. Maybe he was hiding something else besides the weed he had eaten before leaving. Just mysteriously being too 'weak' to hike out from your own death to the point of even trying to end yourself twice, it just doesnt add up.

@Bacpakin

Жыл бұрын

It sounds like he was suffering from some kind of brain organicity. Once he found the FS road and with the toilet house as two points, the knowledge of the area ought to have been enough for him to walk back to Chama in less than three days. Otto kept wasting time and resources going back and forth, back and forth.This suggests he had become very confused and with two deliberate suicide attempts, mentally ill.

@Ellie-rx3jt

Жыл бұрын

​@@randomnobody8770 The problem is that over those few weeks he's getting weaker from starvation and hypothermia. And that's assuming it was elevation sickness, and not something age related like a minor stroke.

@hozkahilgarri3936

Жыл бұрын

I would've forced my way back to where I started, too. Even doing just 1 mile a day, means returning to be able to contact help within 12 days.

The best gift you can buy a hiker (even a day hiker) is a personal locator beacon. So many people could be saved if they had one.

@donjohnson5653

Жыл бұрын

Seems like they are $400 for the best and $125 a year for a subscription. My life is worth that...Hope others follow your advise as well.

@ripF5C

Жыл бұрын

THANK YOU!!! This guy is literally a lesson of how not to be prepared. One single device and all of this could've been prevented. Absolute clown.

@foxwomb

Жыл бұрын

​@F5C you sound like a very ugly person

@glenneric1

Жыл бұрын

@@ripF5C Piling on a dead guy. Nice!

@latoybell

Жыл бұрын

Very interesting kind creepy strange seriously 😒😳 scary WOW 😲😳 OMG 😱😳

Thank you so much, Kyle for telling Otter’s story. I recently discovered your channel ; your stories are interesting, done well, informative and you are just adorable. I bet your momma is so proud!

Otter, your simple act of kindness facing the existential edge is testimony to your beautiful spirit. Your absolution of your friends as well. May many people be saved your harrowing circumstances through your experience as it is shared to help others learn from your predicament. You did not die in vain if others live by learning from your situation. I hope I face death as you did, with the kindness of thinking of others and friends.

Glad he took responsibility for his actions - and called out the obvious mental fog that the intoxicants had put him in. Don't make that same mistake!

@analogalien651

Жыл бұрын

Yeah wouldn’t blame anyone for slitting their wrists in that situation but until it’s over you still have hope (however realistic it may or may not be) of being rescued. It’s a roll of the iron dice. .Most don’t win

Boy, if this can happen to someone like Otter... My brother, his girlfriend, her father, and I did the full Appalachian Trail back in 1976. I was 13 and had spent my days in the woods and hiking every chance I got. My brother who was 7 yrs older than me and his girlfriend's father both were experienced backpackers and they had been on several extensive hikes with me and invited me along with them. We started making our preparations 8 months ahead of time. We mailed boxes of supplies for restocking to Post Offices along the trail and in the states, we had friends, whom we arranged an overnight stay with. The girlfriend's uncle owned hundreds of acres in PA and the trail happened to go along the back acres. When we got to that area, the uncle met us and we stayed for 3 days with him and his wife. Awesome people and experienced hikers themselves. When we got to the CT section, we were all from CT, we met friends for a weekend. We finished the trail at MT. Katahdin (which surprisingly was not the most difficult part of the trail for me. It was Clingmans Dome that I kinda struggled thru, but did do it ), and then back down to Vermont where the girlfriend's father's family owned an old farmhouse and land. We wound down the whole experience there and both families met us at the farm. It was great seeing my parents and siblings after months on the trail. We stayed for 4 days to relax, and pick apples from their orchard, and the last of the blueberries. Our family went home with 3 bushels of apples and several qts of berries for mom to bake pies, cakes, and apple/blueberry crumble from. I'm 61 now and though both my brother and his then-girlfriend are married to other people, we all stay in touch and have done other thru-hikes together over the years. Her father passed away years ago but continued to hike into his late 70s. I was unable to continue thru-hiking after 17 due to bone cancer that took my left hip. I was able to continue my walks into the woods up until age 50, but it became too painful and difficult after that. I am so grateful though for that experience and the many years I was able to continue my time in the woods with all of God's beauty.

@justwannasay5454

Жыл бұрын

Great story. You were well organized.

@bithiahamariah9139

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your story. Sorry about the cancer and its consequences. Sounds like you are resilient, possibly because Hiking teaches resilience? So it was all in prep for the time ahead.

@Sarmatae1

Жыл бұрын

Did you mean the Appalachian Trail?

@SandyToes75

Жыл бұрын

Wonderful story of a love of hiking. Only made it south through NC. Never got to finish GA. Life happens and things that are important one moment can no longer be accomplished but the memories of what was, well, those memories are priceless.

@Carmen-us1ew

Жыл бұрын

What an awesome story!! Thanks for sharing. 💕

Excellent,respectful telling of a an unfortunate incident.

Great channel. Subbed. Well past the 100,000 goal but glad I can be part of the race to 250k

Im a backpacker/ wilderness survivalist raised in the wilderness of Alaska. My worst nightmare is not getting lost or stuck somewhere or even dying of overexposure... It's getting eaten alive by a bear. Pretty rare compared to the other things that could get you, I know, but they literally don't kill you first. They just start crunching on you. Way worse than anything else.

@voster77hh

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, i'm an experienced Alpinist and into ski-mountaineering. I still struggle to understand what had him fail at improvised snow-shoes from the local pine trees. A great material for the task - just crack & weave a few large branches together. He was clearly knowing he had to improvise something like ski or snow-shoes. He had plenty of time to do it, shelter, food and firewood to keep him going for weeks. I don't get it.

@Carmen-us1ew

Жыл бұрын

​@@voster77hh someone else mentioned he could've spelled out SOS with the sticks too.

@cromagnumveritas4209

Жыл бұрын

Yeah that is true, they will pin You down and just start munching... Wild Dogs will do this and also use tactics to corner/ambush Prey but luckily accounts of Wild dogs eating People are rare, can't say the same about Wolves though. The Last Hike I did was in Azores, Terceira Island, The Great Western Hike. When I was in Santa Barbara Caldeira (Extinct Volcano) There were these Massive Bulls and they were Nocturnal, which was terrifying the first night... Also they make what sounds Like a Dinosaur Howl in the Middle of the Night. Absolutely Incredible Place the Azores Islands

@Brusseldudes7180

Жыл бұрын

Polar bears will lock onto you and just keep following you until you're too exhausted to move. Then yes they will eat you alive. If you only have a small caliber rifle you might be better off using it on yourself instead of the bear.

@tf3180

Жыл бұрын

@@Brusseldudes7180 Absolutely! There's a few villages up there where it's illegal to lock your house or vehicle doors during certain hours (the villages are so small everyone literally knows everyone) in case a polar bear comes into town. They are the one bear that has a rep for stalking humans. The door lock rule is there Incase of a polar bear emergency

This is really a sad story. I've never heard this story either. Thanks for sharing. Otter sounds like he was a good guy. I've been a backpacker for over 50 years and I do a lot of solo backpacking. I've aborted multiple trips due to bad weather conditions. Although I wished I could have done the trip, it always turned out that my instincts were right. When solo backpacking it is always best to do the safest thing in my opinion since it is better to live with a bruised ego than to be dead.

@KyleHatesHiking

Жыл бұрын

Exactly. He regretted his decision within a few hours of heading out it seems like. Poor guy, this one really hit me because I could easily see myself as an experienced hiker (albeit not at his level) doing something similar.

@justrusty

Жыл бұрын

Yep. I have cut more trips short than I care to admit, but as the lady at the hostel (who bailed me and a friend out of a really bad weather situation in Maine) said: "The Trail will be there next year."

@lizstrailsandtravels4624

Жыл бұрын

Never heard of him sad story but valuable lessons to be shared

@chriskourliourod1651

Жыл бұрын

You hit upon a salient human point about ego: I’ve found that humility tends to breed far more happiness than ego ever will, and I’m the biggest-headed guy I know.

@jonluchessi1643

Жыл бұрын

This poor guy, it’s very sad and he seems to be such a good guy, for some reason he looks very familiar to me??? I don’t know where he’s from maybe I’ve met him on the trail in the past? Thanks for sharing his story, and he deserves his story to be told, heading out in the wilderness when you do it all the time and you’re seasoned your in shape you feel like you can pretty much do anything and then when the mountains weather changes it’s quick and then the elevation gain etc. etc. it’s rare but sometimes it just hit you and it happens it’s sad, I see that smile on his face in the photo and you could tell in that picture how happy he was to be there, I will always remember this video.

This story reminds me of Gerry Largay AKA Inchworm who also lost her life on the Appalachian trail after surviving for weeks in the wilderness waiting for help that never came after she got lost and stranded in Maine. She wasn't able to build a fire, but this guy was. I think he should have just kept building the fire to make it bigger and bigger until someone finally noticed it, even if he had to start a forest fire to get enough attention. Even though he had burned down the shed, it wasn't enough, so he should have kept the fire going, kept adding fuel and kept that smoke in the air and maybe then the planes would have saw him in time. In 2006 a couple in California who got lost in the mountains ended up getting stuck in a gully they couldn't climb back out of and where they also, in a strange twist, found the final campsite of John Donovan, another missing hiker who had perished there the previous year after having also gotten lost and then stuck in the same spot and who ended up dying there of exposure after surviving for some time without getting any help in time. The couple found his old matches in his backpack that were still good and they used them to start a huge fire that quickly caught the attention of the helicopters, and so rather than succumb to the same fate as the man who had left the matches behind unused, they were saved because of them. It goes to show that the man who died could have done the exact same thing and probably would have gotten the same results as the ones who came after him, and used his own matches to do the thing he should have done to get saved. It strikes me as odd that people will just lay there and die before they think of doing this, so sad. In Gerry's case, she had a lighter, but it was very wet where she was and she had no fire starting skills to speak of.

@lunarlightasmr4660

11 ай бұрын

The saddest part of Gerry’s story is that she wasn’t even that far from the trails in all actuality, and the planes had pretty much legit flown over where she was, but I believe it was basically that she’d used brush to help give some shelter to her tent effectively covering it, and without fire as a signal, couldn’t be seen

Otter sounds like a good guy. He wasn't negative, even in his desperation, he held positive thoughts, he thought of others. Bless his soul. 🌹

Have you heard the story of the two climbers that went missing on Mt. Adams, Washington in November of 1980? I worked at the same hospital they did and hospital staff always wondered what happened to them until their bodies were discovered, trapped in the ice, by a guy and his dog in October, 2001. Their names were Gary Claeys, 28, and Matt Larson, 25. News articles can still be found online about their discovery. Thanks for all the great videos.

Lot's to learn here. I tell folks all the time that people should approach any endeavor in the wild the same way rock climbers approach their passion. No matter how experienced you are, there are more dangers than anyone can imagine. If you think maybe you should turn back, do it. One of the most common mistakes is not turning back. Be alert and keep building knowledge by doing things like watching videos like this one, talking with other hikers about how they survived difficult situations, etc. I came near to death once from high altitude pulmonary edema. I new about the illness but didn't recognize it until it came back going over another 14k pass. But it wasn't because I remembered. Another solo hiker I came across with only a day pack 35 miles from any road noticed I was sick, asked the right questions, and mentioned the possibility of pulmonary edema. Then it clicked. I rapidly descended to a lower elevation and set up camp when I felt a lot less sick. It worked. To this day I don't know how that person was even there (it was late in the season). But they saved my life. I'm sure of that.

@Wwg1wga48

Жыл бұрын

Angel’s come in many different shapes and sizes

@ke9tv

Жыл бұрын

If you''re planning a group trip, plan go/no-go points and poll the team. If anyone's not comfortable, that's a no-go for everyone. The mark of a good mountaineer isn't the peaks that they summited, it's the ones they wisely left for another time.

@alfonsomunoz4424

Жыл бұрын

They saved your life? You said a solo hiker. They is plural.

You really do a great job in telling these stories. I know the research, filming and editing process is very time consuming. Otter seemed like a very intelligent man. For him to write a note warning people of a body inside the bathroom, speaks volumes of his character. Didn’t think about himself while in a life threatening situation. Wish he could have survived, the world lost a truly caring soul.

This was really close to home for me. Not sure if I ever met Otter but I also hiked the CDT in 2015, northbound to Chama then flip-flopped to Canada and headed southbound. I passed through Langunitas Campground at the end of May and completed my thru-hike (and Triple Crown) the first week of October at Cumbres Pass. I was in Chama a month before Otter headed south. I was with a group of southbounders and decided to stay with them until Ghost Ranch. Even in early October we didn't want to risk snow at high elevations so we ended up road walking for two and a half days. I read the excellent article in Outside Magazine and your video also answered some the questions I had. Thanks for your reporting.

Breaks my heart. I had to stop watching for a minute because I was so overwhelmed. If Otter’s family and friends read this, I am very sorry for your loss. You could see a lot of his spirit and personality in his photos. Someone I would have loved to meet.

What I find really sad is that in *2016* - we are not talking about a period in time in which people were naive and unexperienced - the rescuers were as easy going and I'd say negligent as shown in this story. The common thought should not be "Oh well, looks like he made it out alive." but they should expect that if in doubt then this man is still out there heavily suffering. There was a *really* good chance of finding him from what I heard and honestly *plenty* of time. Otter survived for months, including suicide attempts. What happened, happened it can't be changed. I'm sure the resuers also felt terrible when he was found but it feels so sad and unbelievably baffling to not hear a lessons learned from this. Did nothing change ? Everyone messes up, Otter got himself into the situation by messing up, it happens. But I would ask myself, "What can we do better ?"

@wout123100

Жыл бұрын

what can we do better, dont use those dang drugs !! they contort reality.

@sludge8506

11 ай бұрын

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

For me this story was infuriating. His friends, his family, his town, everyone let him down. The 'search' planes? It is sickening. They weren't even looking. Everyone knew exactly his route! Why didn't they use snowmobiles? :( Makes me cry for him. :( :( Especially if they can basically fly right over the top of a flailing man in the middle of a pure white snow field in broad daylight and not notice. So many failures all packed into one story. Failure to prepare, failure to know survival skills of the area, failure to carry PLB, failure of the search groups. RIP Otter.

@robertwhite3992

11 ай бұрын

But he left no destressed tree markings either

@Toxicashellmonsanto

11 ай бұрын

@@robertwhite3992 Maybe in a strange way, he was gunning for the experience. Anyway, so much for those searchers. So sad.

Although i never knew him im saddened by the loss of such a kind compassionate person may he RIP and hopefully one day be again

How horrible and sad! A couple of decades ago, I was training for a walking vacation in Ireland. Everyday I was walking home from work ~10 miles. Most of it was on sidewalks, however there was a river crossing. In my city, the river valley varies in depth of between 300-500 ft deep. My guess is that my crossing was closer to the 300 ft up and down. When I left work, it was beautiful but it soon started to snow. First fine flakes, then big, fluffy and wet ones. By the time I got to the river crossing, the snow was getting to be about a foot deep, and the going was slow. I started to be concerned about making it home. This was before cell phones were common. Because my shift ended at 1230 PM, most people weren't at home in the afternoon on a workday. The going got tougher and tougher. The last couple of blocks were almost a test of will. By that time, the snow was up to my knees and there were no tire tracks to follow even on the street. I got into my attached garage and was tempted to lay down. I felt so hot and shaky, with nervous and physical exhaustion. I forced myself to go into the house, as I didn't want to pass out in the cold garage. I've never been more grateful to get home! I know I wasn't in any real danger, but it felt like it. I can imagine a teeny, tiny bit of some of Otter's struggles.

@ChasOnErie

Жыл бұрын

Yes …

@Brandtalones

Жыл бұрын

Still here to tell the tale... Good on ya'.

@userequaltoNull

Жыл бұрын

Uh, as someone who's had severe hypothermia, you definitely were in "real danger". Idk what your body temperature was, but the fact that you almost took a nap in your own garage is a pretty damn good sign of hypothermia.

@ArcherBowman

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely real. One small, mechanical change can put a person in real danger. Just an inch or two of snowfall can make a climb out of a canyon/valley almost impossible. Even rain sometimes. Taking things for granted is a real gamble at times. Glad you made it home. That fear you felt helped you grow and serves you well, no doubt.

@moe42o

Жыл бұрын

​@@userequaltoNull Yep. Was thinking the same. Easley could have died in the garage.

Experience becomes meaningless when your body just can't do it anymore. It's so important to know your limits, especially as you age. He realized it too late. RIP.

@gregkosinski2303

Жыл бұрын

Well said. It’s really tough to face, but it doesn’t matter if you’re an Olympic athlete who still exercises religiously… there will come a point where your ceiling lowers to the point where you simply can’t safely do some of the things you used to be able to.

You’d be doing a service to the hiking community for beginners like me with a video that explains what to do and what not to do. I recently got into hiking and I feel like all these stories and tips from other videos really do help. Thank you again for being these stories awareness. My condolences to the families of these missing hikers and may they rest in peace and be in the glory of God 🤍🙏

@glory5918

7 ай бұрын

CanAm Missing Project ch where you will learn tips from David Paulides Missing 411. Some of the tips are: Never hide alone !!! Always carry an 'activated' PLB (personal locator beacon) and firearm., a smaller emergency marine horn, Check weather conditions,

This is a riveting story and well done. Thank you for sharing this story with us.

Otter sounds like an amazing human being. Thinking of others in time of great stress. They should really make a movie about him.

@bishopp14

Жыл бұрын

Tom Hanks. He'd be perfect as Otter!

@jlt131

Жыл бұрын

@@bishopp14 he might be done with the wasting-away-while-surviving roles. but i agree he'd do it well.

@bishopp14

Жыл бұрын

@@jlt131 Yeah, he does do a lot of those doesn't he.

@sludge8506

11 ай бұрын

It reminds me of a famous singer who killed himself, and left plenty of warning notes near the scene.

@beyondview

11 ай бұрын

🙄

It's crazy how a tiny mistake can just grow and grow into something completely lethal. My heart goes out to Otter and his friends and family.

@james3452

Жыл бұрын

We call it an "Error Chain". A very interesting subject to investigate.

@sludge8506

11 ай бұрын

It wasn’t a tiny mistake, champ. Not even close. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

@elliotw5918

11 ай бұрын

@@sludge8506 I'd call it a tiny mistake, buddy.

@sludge8506

11 ай бұрын

@@elliotw5918 Yeah, a *tiny* mistake that caused him to die a slow and painful death over a period of almost three weeks. It wasn’t a tiny mistake. It was a huge, careless, and arrogant mistake, and the poor gentleman paid for it, in full. 😢

@S1RLANC3

11 ай бұрын

It was a combination of things and certainly not tiny. You are literally talking about his years of experience plus the combination of drugs and wanting to hit a Thanksgiving deadline. I’m certain that if just one of those factors were not a thing, he would’ve never made that hike.

This is such a sad and upsetting event.. And such a waste of a beautiful human being.. And it's very obvious that he was a companionate and caring man.. That even in his last moments of his life , he was consernd about what the unexpected shock of finding his body would have on someone.. And to go to such lengths to make sure people would be aware of what was on the other side of the door.. To do just that one thing out of the consern of traumatizing someone.. Show's how much respect he had for his fellow humans.. And that's very admirable and show's great class.. R.I.P. Mr. Olshansky 🙏. I would've been honored to have known you..

Thx for this video and all your videos. I'm hooked, binge watching and learning a lot. ❤