[pct-l] Lost hiker found

[shon mcganty]

I really feel for the burdens of search and rescue , the risks they take, and taxpayers who pay for them.  
 
I know little of the details, but am I correct that this hiker was not "lost" as the media reports?  And he wasn't "found," but turned around due to snow, making the safe and rational decision not to hike beyond his abilities.  
 
Was this a thru-hiker?  Anyone know?  If he's a thru-hiker it should be expected that only an estimate can be made how long it takes to walk to the next town/phone.  I wonder how long the spouse waited to report he hadn't called home, and how quickly did the agency involved get SAR involved.  
 
I once was unable to call at one town stop, forgot to call at the next.  My girlfriend did call the forest service, and he said to wait a little longer.
Another time I was sick on a weekend hike (got the flu, had no energy, and it was very hot) and got back to the car late on Sunday night and tried to drive home, but was falling asleep driving despite pinching or slapping myself.  I had to pull off and sleep and drive home early Monday.  My girlfriend called the forest service to report I hadn't come home, but they said to wait and see if I turn up on my own (I called home as soon as I was in phone range).   
 
I feel real bad about the worry I've caused her, and I'm very luck no SAR was called out both times.  It makes it sound like I'm not a responsible hiker, but things happen.  
 
All this is to say I wonder if the search and resue was unnecessarily called in.  A report came out recently about unneccessary medical spending.  Can the same be said of SAR?
 
 

________________________________
 From: Jonh Jones <jnhjns925 at gmail.com>
To: Pct-L at backcountry.net 
Sent: Monday, April 2, 2012 12:43 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Lost hiker found
  
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (AP) -- A 75-year-old experienced hiker lost in
Southern California mountains for more than a week has been found in good
condition.

San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman says John Hurgner
of Fredericksburg, TX  was found Sunday night in the Big Bear Lake area.

The Desert Sun of Palm Springs says Hurgner was hiking along a section of
the 2,663-mile Pacific Crest Trail in the San Bernardino Mountains. He
failed to reach his checkpoint on March 22 at a Motel 6 in San Bernardino.

His wife reported him missing on Sunday morning and Riverside and San
Bernardino county authorities began a search.

He was found in good health about eight hours later.

Bachman says he apparently wandered off the trail and got lost. Hurgner had
food, appropriate clothing and other tools that allowed him to survive.
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