Mountain Lines
by Nelson Haas
Search and Rescue Teams study lost-subject behavior including the reasons they became lost in the first place. Separations, both accidental and intentional, rank in the top three. In fact, this year already we’ve had 2 searches caused by separation.
Some hikers and hunters separate intentionally. One hiker needs a little more rest and tells the others to go on ahead and I’ll catch up. The hiker never catches up. The others back-track to look for the slower hiker and for one of a hundred reasons, they unknowingly pass each other. The slower hiker is now out ahead of the rest of the group but is considered lost on the back-trail.