As McClish told it, the 34-year-old outdoors enthusiast from Boulder Creek, California, lost his bearings after beginning his hike the morning of 11 June. He had not informed anyone else of his plans, so it would not be until the afternoon of Thursday, 20 June, that the unkempt-looking hiker was found at the bottom of a remote canyon and rescued.

McClish spent much of the interim going up and down canyons, sitting by waterfalls and using his boot to collect water to drink and keep himself hydrated. He also sustained himself by collecting and eating berries, he said.

At one point, McClish said to KSBW, a mountain lion began following him – but the creature kept its distance and showed no interest in harming him. He said he would sleep on a bed of wet leaves, intermittently yell for help and think of what he would do to provide himself his next meal.

  • BubbleMonkey@slrpnk.net
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    5 days ago

    How a person doesn’t bring a solar charger, an analogue compass, a knife, and some sort of water purifier (a life straw or gravity feed purifier, or a condensation purifier) for hiking alone, even for a day, is beyond me.

    Those things can easily fit in a day pack with some snacks, and will literally save your life if it comes to it. They aren’t that expensive, and you never know when you’ll need them (even at home).

    I’m not what I’d call an experienced hiker (tho I did do one successful group dispersed camping/backpacking trip)… but maybe I wouldn’t leave without that stuff because I know just enough to know how screwed I’d be if anything happened, which is the experienced part?

    • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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      5 days ago

      I think it makes more sense if you read “outdoors enthusiast” as outdoors “enthusiast.”

      Im 99% sure the author is just engaging in some dry wit and being sarcastic about his outdoor prowess, seeing as he was so deeply unprepared that “boot cup” became his primary means of survival.

      • BubbleMonkey@slrpnk.net
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        5 days ago

        Yeah, that’s probably what it is… it just… blows my mind how deeply unprepared some people are for the activities they partake in.