How NOT to Go Hiking

Last week, a father and his two children were rescued from Congaree National Park after their plans for a short hike went terribly wrong.  I would hope most Scout leaders know this information, but when I read this article, some things just slapped me silly across the face.  I don’t post this to make light or fun of this family, but here’s what happens when you don’t know what you’re doing or you just assume you do.  Friends laugh at me when I take along stuff like a knife, fire starter, emergency blanket, etc. on even short hikes (and I probably do go overboard most of the time), but you never know what could happen!

Kimbler, 43, had planned a quick hike with his two children during their weekend visit. He took no water or snacks, nor his daughter’s asthma medicine or a trail map for his first trip to the woods east of Columbia.

“I feel like the world’s worst father. But I guess I did pretty good because I kept everybody alive for three days,” Kimbler told reporters just before they were released from the hospital Tuesday.

Well, I personally would still feel pretty guilty if I had gotten myself and my children lost in the woods for three days due to my actions.  But, I suppose he is just trying to find the bright side.  Of what, I don’t know.  But it’s bright.

 As the sun set, Kimbler realized they were lost and sent a short text message to a friend. Right after he hit send, his cellphone died.

Add a fully charged cellphone to the list of forgotten items.

They drank scummy, terrible-tasting water that collected in puddles. They kept walking toward the sun, because Kimbler figured they would run into something or someone.

Because if you walk AWAY from the sun, you won’t eventually run into something or someone?  That is, if you’re able to get there without giardia taking hold first.  (I have a funny story about giardia that I’ll tell in another post.  Now how many times do you hear people say THAT?)

They tried to find food, and Kimbler thought they hit the jackpot after scaring away a wild turkey and finding eggs. But that didn’t go well.  “I grabbed one of the eggs and said, ‘We can eat these – crack them open and swallow them whole!’ I cracked it open and the bird was too developed. It was gross,” he said.

I don’t even know what to say.

“I’ve got to stay strong for them because if I start crying or freaking out, it is going to make it 10 times tougher for them” Kimbler said.

Now I do give him kudos for that.  Seriously.  I think he meant the best and wanted to do something fun with his kids (especially outdoors!  Thumbs up!), but unfortunately didn’t have any knowledge of safety precautions when it comes to dealing with nature.  And some of his reasoning was a little weird.  But I digress.

I would also add that you should write the trail or area where you are going on a piece of paper and put it in your car’s dashboard upside down in the event you don’t come back when expected.  Things happen even to the most experienced hiker.

Now watch me do something just as stupid the next time I go hiking and end up in the news after this lecture.