Missing hunters in Colorado

[stumblinhorse]

It's easy to armchair quarterback that survival scenarios are just the result of poor planning. I don't think anyone plans on their hunting trip turning into a near death experience. If a fire was the difference between going home or possibly dying in the back country, a fire ban would not even cross my mind. If you don't kill an elk you can go buy beef at the grocery store...if not, you need to figure out how you don't get in that situation.

That again is the problem today. Everyone believes that they way live is the way everyone lives. It is not. My round trip to the grocery store is 95 miles. I don't go very often. My family has not eaten in a restaurant in probably 10 years. Not wrong but different. I love my situation, but don't want to get cross with any LEO for anything that can avoided.

 

[MuleDeerMike]

I understand most would, because they are more important than nature. I feel differently about it. I am not more important. If someone says no fire, it means no fire. It is just the society in America that feels it is centered around themselves. I live in those Rocky mountains and saw what careless hunters can do in 2020, right out my window. They probably didn't care either to burn down 600 homes that will never be able to be rebuilt. Been 5 years and less than 20 homes have been able to be rebuilt... Don't want to turn this thread into something is shouldn't, but restrictions and laws are meant to be followed. View attachment 939216

I also don't want this to turn into something it shouldn't be. I 100% stand by what I said but I'm going to bow out of this side conversation now.

 

[intunegp]

That again is the problem today. Everyone believes that they way live is the way everyone lives. It is not. My round trip to the grocery store is 95 miles. I don't go very often. My family has not eaten in a restaurant in probably 10 years. Not wrong but different. I love my situation, but don't want to get cross with any LEO for anything that can avoided.

So would you would let your family starve rather than drive 95 miles?

My round trip to work (5 or 6 days a week) is 46 miles so 95 to the grocery store once or twice a month doesn't sound bad at all.

I understand your problem with fires and it is completely reasonable, but to say that you wouldn't need to make a fire because you have planned not to need it ignores the obvious issue here...no one plans on finding themselves in a life or death emergency. The two young dead fellows would probably have also said "that wouldn't happen to us" or "it could have been avoided" if they were still here to discuss it.

 

[stumblinhorse]

So would you would let your family starve rather than drive 95 miles?

My round trip to work (5 or 6 days a week) is 46 miles so 95 to the grocery store once or twice a month doesn't sound bad at all.

I understand your problem with fires and it is completely reasonable, but to say that you wouldn't need to make a fire because you have planned not to need it ignores the obvious issue here...no one plans on finding themselves in a life or death emergency. The two young dead fellows would probably have also said "that wouldn't happen to us" or "it could have been avoided" if they were still here to discuss it.

I agree completely, that you can’t plan for everything. But I carry everything I can that I can use legally. I never go out without all that stuff. Blankets, clothes, wounds, batteries, rope, food and water. If fire is not allowed I won’t use it. Pretty simple to me. I don’t see it any different than any other restrictions. A vehicle back in the woods would save most people, but most won’t do that since it is not legal. Not sure who gets to decide where to draw the line.

Oh, and lol, my round trip to work “was” 240 miles…. So no 95 to the grocery store is not bad…

 

[Dave_]

I didn't say I don't carry emergency items. I carry way more than most. Just not fire starter and no in reach. I remember hunting without a GPS. Hunted many years without one.

I get that. I also hunted for years before hand held gps was an option. I still enjoy map and compass orienteering. I would also say most folks would say some kind of firestarter is a staple emergency item.

This conversation is just about life threatening survival emergencies. If you're in the middle of a rain thunder storm or snow storm, starting a wild fire is low low risk. No one is talking about just starting an uncontained fire for fun. Of course there is always common sense safety that should be followed when making and putting out any camp fire. It's also a very commonly taught technique to light a signal fire if lost. I bet somewhere the FS has some exemptions listed for a life threatening emergency situations. It's also illegal to shoot a griz but if he charges I'm trying to put one between the eyes.

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[Jstumbaugh]

Fiancé of one of the hunters just posted confirming lightning as the cause of death.

 

[fishslap]

Just confirmed that cause of death was a lightning strike to the ground.

 

[Dave_]

I get that. I also hunted for years before hand held gps was an option. I still enjoy map and compass orienteering. I would also say most folks would say some kind of firestarter is a staple emergency item.

This conversation is just about life threatening survival emergencies. If you're in the middle of a rain thunder storm or snow storm, starting a wild fire is low low risk. No one is talking about just starting an uncontained fire for fun. Of course there is always common sense safety that should be followed when making and putting out any camp fire. It's also a very commonly taught technique to light a signal fire if lost. I bet somewhere the FS has some exemptions listed for a life threatening emergency situations. It's also illegal to shoot a griz but if he charges I'm trying to put one between the eyes.

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Haha I retract the part about FS exemptions. I just read an article about a guy that was fined $300k for starting a signal fire in AZ when he was lost and burned up 230 acres. So start at your own risk....

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[Dan Carey]

AZ will fine for anything that brings in a buck.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I just read an article about a guy that was fined $300k for starting a signal fire in AZ when he was lost and burned up 230 acres. So start at your own risk....

Wonder how much they spent putting out that fire?

 

[Thomas11]

Bridgette just confirmed lightning

 

[CorbLand]

That makes sense in how it got them both with no SOS or any other communication.

Not much one could do to eliminate that risk.

 

[cnelk]

From the fiancé

It is OFFICIAL, that a lightning strike to the ground took them in an instant. They didn't do anything wrong, they didn't feel fear or pain. He was just trying to get back to the car as storms rolled in on Friday - September 12. It was out of everyone's hands, and I am so grateful we found them so they can be at peace. He was an experienced outdoorsman, who was in the wrong spot at the wrong time.


It may not have been legal yet, but he was my husband and partner. We have been together quite awhile, but lived together like a married couple for the past 3 years. I wish I had 30 more. I sure feel like a widow. I sure feel like my future is blank now. But what reassures me is that they were doing what they loved, without fear, well prepared and equipped and this is a bizarre horrific act of nature. It could ve happened anywhere, to anyone.


Andrew, I will do what I can to take one step at a time. I don't know what to do without you. I know this was not your choice. I know you love me and did everything right. I will always love you, with every breath I have.

 

[sndmn11]

I need some lightning education if anyone has good resources. When lightning was mentioned, I discounted the idea. I have been to this area a bunch, and the slopes are heavily timbered. I can understand being the tallest something, or near the tallest something, and ending up being the lightning rod. However, I thought being in the timber was safe, or at least the safest. Does anyone have a good resource I can read through?

(yes, I am assuming they weren't standing on a ridge in the clear)

 

[Thomas11]

Lightning

 

[BBob]

Does anyone have a good resource I can read through?

Here's one:

Everything Hikers Know About Lightning Safety is Wrong

Crouching on a sleeping pad won't help you, a cave isn't a safe place to wait out a storm, and metal doesn't attract lightning: Here's what you should know about lightning safety.

www.backpacker.com

I'd say that sometimes there's absolutely nothing you can do about lightning, it hits you or it doesn't. You can do everything right and still get hit. It happens.

 

[Dave_]

I need some lightning education if anyone has good resources. When lightning was mentioned, I discounted the idea. I have been to this area a bunch, and the slopes are heavily timbered. I can understand being the tallest something, or near the tallest something, and ending up being the lightning rod. However, I thought being in the timber was safe, or at least the safest. Does anyone have a good resource I can read through?

(yes, I am assuming they weren't standing on a ridge in the clear)

Here is some good info: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/lightning-safety.htm

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[elkhunteralta]

Lightning in a snow storm is possible and i have seen it on the prairies and mountiains several times. The highest point or in trees does not always protect you, it is hitting where the charge in the ground leads it to, and i don't believe it can predicted or avoided if it is going to hit near you, or travel down a wet tree and arch to you etc.
A tragedy and an unexpected and impossible thing to plan for or avoid.
Hope the elk hunting is always great with bugles in the frosty morning air ringing around them now.

 

[justin davis]

Interesting wouldn’t have thought it was lighting!

 

[grfox92]

Wow. Unreal. A lot of talks about lightning in this thread and I honestly didn't think that was it.

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