Hikers survived by staying put
The two men who spent five more nights than they expected in Glacier National Park’s backcountry survived because of a dedicated search effort and because they were properly equipped and had a good sense of “situational awareness.”
“These hikers were prepared with appropriate equipment and they used their situational awareness skills to determine how to respond to the unexpected in the backcountry,” Glacier Chief Ranger Mark Foust said in a news release issued by the park Tuesday.
“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this incident, and perhaps we all can learn from this experience and two men,” Foust said.
On Monday at about 3 p.m., two Glacier employees who were searching on foot saw colored flagging that led them to a tent and the missing hikers, Neal Peckens, 32, of Herndon, Va., and Jason Hiser, 32, of Richmond, Va.
Both men — veterinarians in Virginia — were cold and wet, but in fairly good condition with no injuries.
According to search leaders, Peckens and Hiser were planning to hike from the North Shore Trailhead at Two Medicine and camp at the Oldman Backcountry Campground on Tuesday, Oct. 9.
After spending the night in the backcountry as planned, they continued on their 17-mile hike on the east side of the park. They encountered wintry conditions, including snow on the trail and very high wind gusts as they hiked a section of trail on a ridge along the Continental Divide.
One of the men slipped and fell about 100 feet down a steep area. The hikers tried to parallel their hike, one walking above and one below, but decided to remain together and go downslope to find a better route back up.
They had a quality map of the area, but while they were looking at it, extreme wind gusts blew it out of their hands. They continued moving downslope and spent Wednesday evening in the Nyack Lakes area, setting up camp and building a fire.
On Thursday, they started hiking back up the mountain on another route, hoping to get back on the direction they started, but weather and terrain were challenging. They decided to travel back down and wait for a break in the weather that did not come. They stayed in the same spot at 6,000 feet near the headwaters of the Nyack drainage for the next four nights.
Park officials say the standard recommendation for anyone who may be lost is to STOP: Stop, Think, Observe and Plan.
Peckens and Hiser rationed their food, collected firewood, turned their cell phones on during the day, displayed their space blanket for possible reflection during the day and used it to stay warm at night and created an SOS message with logs.
“Weather conditions certainly played a role in this incident, both for the hikers and for the search personnel,” Foust said.
Peckens and Hiser were challenged to travel, stay warm and dry and to maintain a fire. The search operation was hampered by low visibility and cloud cover, mud, snow and high winds. Many of the searchers were still in the backcountry Tuesday, hiking out in rain, sleet, hail, snow and wind.
Peckens and Hiser communicated their appreciation to searchers and were ready to return to Virginia with family and friends.
“We are fortunate to have some very experienced and talented staff at Glacier National Park, as well as with our cooperators,” Foust said, referring to personnel who joined the search from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Flathead Search and Rescue, North Valley Search and Rescue, Flathead Emergency Aviation Resources, the U.S. Border Patrol and Minuteman Aviation.