Rescue on Mt Princeton

[the_hare]

So, what details have emerged? Are you referring to social media posts by people claiming to be family of the victim?

Seems like a miserable bit for said person to keep arguing with bad-faith redditors like this. Probably not much $$ available by impersonating an SAR subject’s family like this either. Seemed believable enough to me for reasons I mentioned already. If they’re not real after all then still fine by me, my bad, productive discussion abt safety and such follows anways.

[Rollie Free]

When I see the photos, it is dumping and in the middle of the night... all I can say is Thank you SAR for your courage. That had to be a very difficult rescue, I think. Also glad, the hiker is ok but I wonder how being in the elements for so long affected him/her.
A long time ago, another hiker ( I think) went through a similar experience on a 14er and lost his shoes and was hiking down barefoot in the snow. I remember him writing a report and explaining what had happened a few months later.
I would love to know more about this hiker and see how we can continue to support our community in understanding and being knowledgeable of the risks of hiking in Winter when one is not knowledgeable or understands all the variables that may happen.

Whats the deal with losing shoes?
Several years ago we were camping near Sherman and heard a lot of noises, yelling, and horn honking down the road. Went to see what was going on and cars were lined up making as much noise as possible and turning their brights on. Some teen boys had went hunting and were lost, and it was dark. They did have some scattered phone communication. We chipped in on the noise making as the consensus was they were up on this mountain but obviously couldn't see anything. The noisemaking and lights worked as they finally walked out of the woods. I don't remember the story exactly but one of the kids was missing his shoes.
In the Youtube series by Rusty West, many of the missing and never found hikers have their shoes found but not them or any other possessions. Sometimes the shoes are hung up on branches. This is a common theme. Its hard to imagine why.

[sunbleached]

Whats the deal with losing shoes?
Several years ago we were camping near Sherman and heard a lot of noises, yelling, and horn honking down the road. Went to see what was going on and cars were lined up making as much noise as possible and turning their brights on. Some teen boys had went hunting and were lost, and it was dark. They did have some scattered phone communication. We chipped in on the noise making as the consensus was they were up on this mountain but obviously couldn't see anything. The noisemaking and lights worked as they finally walked out of the woods. I don't remember the story exactly but one of the kids was missing his shoes.
In the Youtube series by Rusty West, many of the missing and never found hikers have their shoes found but not them or any other possessions. Sometimes the shoes are hung up on branches. This is a common theme. Its hard to imagine why.

I found someone's *socks* on a climb. Just a nice pair of individual smartwool socks (i.e. not rolled up as if they fell out of a backpack). Like, on a winter climb? How?

[Jorts]

Whats the deal with losing shoes?
Several years ago we were camping near Sherman and heard a lot of noises, yelling, and horn honking down the road. Went to see what was going on and cars were lined up making as much noise as possible and turning their brights on. Some teen boys had went hunting and were lost, and it was dark. They did have some scattered phone communication. We chipped in on the noise making as the consensus was they were up on this mountain but obviously couldn't see anything. The noisemaking and lights worked as they finally walked out of the woods. I don't remember the story exactly but one of the kids was missing his shoes.
In the Youtube series by Rusty West, many of the missing and never found hikers have their shoes found but not them or any other possessions. Sometimes the shoes are hung up on branches. This is a common theme. Its hard to imagine why.

I found someone's *socks* on a climb. Just a nice pair of individual smartwool socks (i.e. not rolled up as if they fell out of a backpack). Like, on a winter climb? How?

Believe it or not, people have walked right out of both snowshoes and boots themselves while post-holing descending Quandary in winter conditions. It gets cold, the wind picks up and they're working hard so they're sweating profusely. The look down after a bit and realize all they have on are socks.

[timisimaginary]

In the Youtube series by Rusty West, many of the missing and never found hikers have their shoes found but not them or any other possessions. Sometimes the shoes are hung up on branches. This is a common theme. Its hard to imagine why.

they get caught on the branches during the beam-up.

[Chicago Transplant]

Whats the deal with losing shoes?
Several years ago we were camping near Sherman and heard a lot of noises, yelling, and horn honking down the road. Went to see what was going on and cars were lined up making as much noise as possible and turning their brights on. Some teen boys had went hunting and were lost, and it was dark. They did have some scattered phone communication. We chipped in on the noise making as the consensus was they were up on this mountain but obviously couldn't see anything. The noisemaking and lights worked as they finally walked out of the woods. I don't remember the story exactly but one of the kids was missing his shoes.
In the Youtube series by Rusty West, many of the missing and never found hikers have their shoes found but not them or any other possessions. Sometimes the shoes are hung up on branches. This is a common theme. Its hard to imagine why.

I found someone's *socks* on a climb. Just a nice pair of individual smartwool socks (i.e. not rolled up as if they fell out of a backpack). Like, on a winter climb? How?

Believe it or not, people have walked right out of both snowshoes and boots themselves while post-holing descending Quandary in winter conditions. It gets cold, the wind picks up and they're working hard so they're sweating profusely. The look down after a bit and realize all they have on are socks.

Yep, it was a big thing this spring:
https://www.denverpost.com/2023/04/17/q ... ing-shoes/

[k_fergie]

I found someone's *socks* on a climb. Just a nice pair of individual smartwool socks (i.e. not rolled up as if they fell out of a backpack). Like, on a winter climb? How?

I am missing a single, not rolled up, Darn Tough sock somewhere along Gore Creek circa Aug 2021 RIP. When I switch socks on a hike, I put my wet/dirty ones, not rolled up, in the mesh pocket of my backpack so that they dry. Could explain finding lose socks

[justiner]

Believe it or not, people have walked right out of both snowshoes and boots themselves while post-holing descending Quandary in winter conditions. It gets cold, the wind picks up and they're working hard so they're sweating profusely. The look down after a bit and realize all they have on are socks.

I've had a snowshoe come off while hiking out of Wild Basin after a marathon day. I must have lost it a mile before. They weren't even my snowshoes. DAVID I'M SORRY! I HID THE SNOWSHOES FROM YOU AFTER I BORROWED THEM FORGIVE ME!

[Rollie Free]

Whats the deal with losing shoes?
Several years ago we were camping near Sherman and heard a lot of noises, yelling, and horn honking down the road. Went to see what was going on and cars were lined up making as much noise as possible and turning their brights on. Some teen boys had went hunting and were lost, and it was dark. They did have some scattered phone communication. We chipped in on the noise making as the consensus was they were up on this mountain but obviously couldn't see anything. The noisemaking and lights worked as they finally walked out of the woods. I don't remember the story exactly but one of the kids was missing his shoes.
In the Youtube series by Rusty West, many of the missing and never found hikers have their shoes found but not them or any other possessions. Sometimes the shoes are hung up on branches. This is a common theme. Its hard to imagine why.

I found someone's *socks* on a climb. Just a nice pair of individual smartwool socks (i.e. not rolled up as if they fell out of a backpack). Like, on a winter climb? How?

Believe it or not, people have walked right out of both snowshoes and boots themselves while post-holing descending Quandary in winter conditions. It gets cold, the wind picks up and they're working hard so they're sweating profusely. The look down after a bit and realize all they have on are socks.

At least there is an explanation. I was leaning more towards alien abduction. Not because its more plausible but because its funner to believe.

https://news.yahoo.com/snowpack-colorad ... 30788.html

[climbingyogi]

Random - I met Nick Noland shortly after his accident on Shavano. Super amazing human.

If you wanna hear about how he lost his shoes, you can listen to this podcast: https://outtherecolorado.libsyn.com/sur ... amputation

If I'm remembering correctly, he had stepped in water and his feet became numb. Then his shoes fell off without him noticing since he couldn't feel his feet. I could be wrong though - listen to the podcast to find out.

[Candace66]

It took a while to find this thread, since the title is so inaccurate.

Anyway here's an update: in recognition of their actions in this rescue, Chaffee County SAR North has been nominated for the Colorado Mountain Club Valor Award:

https://coloradosar.org/2024-colorado-m ... sar-north/

Interesting to see that CSAR is going with the original description of the event. This despite the social media claims that CCSAR-N misrepresented the victim and the situation.

Personally, I'm still curious exactly where this happened, and which summit the person was going for.