Hiking story

James and his friend Gary decided to take a hike yesterday in the mountains. They left at 11 yesterday morning, and somehow managed to get off the trail. A good 7 hours later they made it back on trail, but Gary was having a really hard time walking by that point. He didn't plan well for his hike (he wore tennis shoes without socks) and had blisters all over his feet.

So at 7 James called me and said he didn't think they'd be down by 10 and the car might get towed if left at the trailhead after 10. I called the sheriff's department and advised them about the car. No big deal. At 9 he called me, very frustrated, Gary was having an extremely hard time. James decided to go ahead of him, he gave him his flashlight (the only one they had) and headed down the trailhead. He was having a hard time climbing down the trail in the dark, he was thirsty and had no idea how Gary was doing at that point because he wasn't answering his cell phone.

So I packaged up Josh and provisions and headed to the trailhead. My friend and I started up the trail with flashlights. She was too scared, so we went back to the cars. James asked me to call search and rescue for Gary. Just as the deputy got there James arrived at the trailhead. Since Gary hadn't been missing for more than 24 hours and wasn't "injured" they didn't send out search and rescue. My friend brought Josh back to the apartment to put him to bed, as it was about 10:30 at that point.

James and I started back up the trail with water and provisions to go meet up with Gary (who still wasn't answering his phone.) I hiked up into the mountains for the first time in the dark. This wasn't an easy trail either, we are talking rated difficult on the Utah trails website. We hiked in close to 2 miles, and saw no sign of his friend. James was too tired to go on at that point, so we sat by the river and waited for a few minutes trying to decide what to do.Finally Gary called and said he got signal on his phone again, that he was okay and not far behind us. We headed back down to the trailhead.

Right as we got back my friend called and I could hear Josh just screaming in the background. She had tried to lay him down in his crib when he wasn't quite asleep and all hell broke loose. I left James at the trailhead to wait for Gary, and drove home to get Josh. As I got out of the car I could hear him screaming from across the parking lot. We live on the third floor! Poor kiddo was so distraught.

After I nursed and calmed Josh I went back to pick up James and Gary. It was 1:30 am. I don't think their hike went quite as they had expected it!!