Case in point for having an emergency kit

**Ramirez** · 10-24-2011, 16:29

A lost hiker on Grouse Mountain in the Vancouver area, at one point he could hear and according to some reports even see rescue workers but he couldn't call out loud enough for them to hear.

If he had even a basic survival kit with him, knife, whistle , fire starting devices he could have cut his ordeal by days.

Hiker lost on Grouse Mountain

**Jonathan Randall** · 10-24-2011, 17:37

Good point.

It is also possible, in some areas, to use shiny rocks as signalling devices. In those areas that have obsidian, this can be used. Of course it is not equal to a true signalling mirror, though. You can also run up a clothing item like a flag; provided the temperatures do not require you to retain all garments to wear.

**David Craik** · 10-24-2011, 18:14

I can't for the life of me imagine why he would not have basic survival items if he was unfamiliar with the area/hiking off of established trails.

There was a Marine a long time ago that got separated from his unit in the field somewhere near 29 Palms. He could actually see his unit travelling down a road at one point and they seemed so close he stumbled blindly to try and catch them. Unfortunately, as at sea, in the desert distances can be very difficult to estimate accurately and they were actually miles away. A whistle may have worked in his case too.