HikeArizona.COM

Just read in this morning's paper that the City of Phoenix is offering a special one-day deal for unprepared hikers:

---
(AF) April 1, 2008- The City of Phoenix Police helicopter will be providing free rescues on Camelback Mountain today only as a community outreach and show of goodwill. This will be available to any "hiker" that has wandered from either Echo Canyon or Cholla trails. To be eligible for rescue, you must possess no water or other hydration, be clothed in khaki pants, a collared, button-down shirt, and either flip flops, sandals, or deck shoes. PPD prefers that you also have your young, sunburned, barefoot children in tow.

This community outreach event will be covered live on numerous valley news stations throughout the day and recapped on all of this evening's local newscasts. Mayor Phil Gordon was quoted as saying, "As the heat of summer approaches, we want the people of Phoenix to know that the Police and Rural-Metro are standing by so that hiking won't require any thought or common sense at all."
---

Look for me on the news later this evening!



I love April Fool's Day! Oops! I hope I didn't ruin the joke!

I was buying that for a second!

Don't laugh. Many of us that have served in SAR units have often suspected some individuals have gotten lost on purpose just to draw us out and get a free helicopter ride back to a trailhead. Many searches are not for very bright people, we can guarantee!
\

Two teens get a free helicopter ride off Camelback Mtn:

PHOENIX -- It was a harrowing mountain rescue that played out on live TV Monday evening. Two teens were stuck quite literally between a rock and a hard place with no safe way to get down Camelback Mountain.

The boys, ages 13 and 14, were .... read more:

http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/Fire ... 27263.html

I'm glad nobody got hurt, and glad the kids had enough sense not to compound their mistakes with more and bigger ones.

Good to hear they were okay. That mother understandably looked pretty shook up.

A 25-year-old man was rescued at the top of Camelback Mountain Tuesday afternoon after he got lost and ran out of water while hiking, officials said.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoe ... z22ya23dEG

I assume dehydration played a factor in the "got lost" part. It's difficult to imagine how a healthy individual could lose bearings on that bump.

it will be interesting to see if the numbers drop with the new posts and chains to guide people on the mtn
some scoff but I think they're worthy additions if they save lives

especially since they narrowed down to exhibit 14

chumley wrote:It's difficult to imagine how a healthy individual could lose bearings on that bump.

From recent observation - when inexperienced hikers blow through a turn going downhill, they keep looking below and to the sides for the trail. They don't seem to think about retracing their steps back uphill to the last place they were on the trail. Inexperienced people tend to push a bad position rather than retreating and finding the way. Especially when they are tired or dehydrated. At least this young guy had the wits to call for help.

It takes great experience to realize that "when in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles scream and shout."

I hiked up Cholla last night starting around 6:15pm. By that time all the SAR personnel were back at the trailhead and getting ready to depart. On the hike up I talked to a few hikers who said the individual started from 56th St and hiked up the mountain all off trail. I'm not familiar with this route but I know it looks treacherous. They said there were two hikers and the one had heat exhaustion by the time they reached the trail. Keep in mind this is all heard through the grapevine. The rest of my hike was uneventful.

ahhh....april fools....

Well to be honest, when I first clicked on the link, I was expected a story about camelback BLADDER rescues..

I guess when you don't live in PHX..."camelback" takes on a whole new meaning....

@squatpuke
Bladder rescues!
Speaking of which...ahem..be right back.. ;)

AF) April 1, 2013- The City of Phoenix Police helicopter rescued a 40 year old man this morning on Camelback Mountain. He was wearing a Black Tuxedo and became overheated after he wandered off the Cholla trail. The unprepared hiker had been rescued before and is known for his April Fools antics. This unidentified man from Tempe is said to be on probation for an incident stemming from last year when he dressed up as a Walrus and terrorized little children at a local park in Scottsdale. Stanley Livingstone said "despite everyone’s best effort the Phoenix Fire Department responds to over 100 mountain rescues every year. Some of the rescues like this one are simple – others are quite complicated".

This guy would do anything for smelts.^^^^^

BobP wrote:AF) April 1, 20013- The City of Phoenix Police helicopter rescued a 40 year old man this morning on Camelback Mountain. He was wearing a Black Tuxedo and became overheated after he wandered off the Cholla trail. The unprepared hiker had been rescued before and is known for his April Fools antics. This unidentified man from Tempe is said to be on probation for an incident stemming from last year when he dressed up as a Walrus and terrorized little children at a local park in Scottsdale. Stanley Livingstone said "despite everyone’s best effort the Phoenix Fire Department responds to over 100 mountain rescues every year. Some of the rescues like this one are simple – others are quite complicated".

You're getting a little bit ahead of things. In more ways than one.

BobP wrote:AF) April 1, 20013- rescued a 40 year old man this morning on Camelback Mountain. He was wearing a Black Tuxedo

Chumley.. Was that you?

9 hikers get stuck in the dark on Camelback Mountain

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Six-hikers ... 75791.html

"It was really scary. I've heard stories about Camelback Mountain and I did not want to be one of those people that would got lost," said Wendy Garcia when she made it down the mountain."

But you WERE one of "those people" Ms. Garcia. Obviously, "hearing stories" doesn't equate to "be prepared"... ;)