4.RESCUE
Jess is one of my hiking buddies. Well, she used to be one. She has not gone on a mountain hike or even a forest walk for a couple of years.
I asked Jess why she would no longer join our group on these beautiful and fulfilling excursions any more. First, she just said that she had had an accident on the trail but would not elaborate. I was curious, because I knew about the injury she’d had and how someone had rescued her. I could not figure out why she was so traumatized or spooked that she would not even go for a short walk in the woods. Finally, one evening, after a couple of glasses of wine when it was near midnight, she told me this story.
Jess’ Story
You know I like nature. I like to walk around in the woods, surrounded by soil, rocks and leaves. It is refreshing to be there where the air is fresher. I can breathe better.
I can forget the daily preoccupations. I can empty my head. Alone, it is meditative. With other humans, it is a harmonious time talking or not talking. In such places, time and daily business of life seem suspended.
I know the dangerous areas. My body tells me when I am out of my depth. If I feel insecure, I turn around. Best to have faith in my instinct. I do not want to be in a situation I cannot handle.
Locally, on known and well marked trails at the lower levels, I feel confident on my own. Anyway, I normally just go where I have been lead before so that the territory I cover alone is familiar. I have bearings. I have an established time frame. I know the distance. There is never any problem, even if I trip and strain an ankle or tumble and get scraped. I am only shaken briefly, mostly from the surprise of the accident. I wear good footwear and cover myself up, though I will allow myself to wear shorts in the hot weather on easy hikes.
Yes, with this attitude and approach to being in the woods or on the hills, I am free to relax and enjoy the scenery. I do not go into real wilderness on my own. I have only gone to national parks on well maintained trails with experienced people for day hikes. I have rarely been in true wilderness.
There are a couple of times, though, when I took a break from driving on a solo road trip to get out and stretch my legs for a couple of hours in isolated and uninhabited areas. I guess I was in an adventurous mood on those occasions.
Once I was travelling through the Cathedral Mountains in British Columbia on the way back to Vancouver when I had an urge to cut into a logging road and follow it along a river. I was hoping to find a convenient trail for an hour’s hike. I kept on, looking for a turn off or a trail head. This was not actually a managed park area. It was merely protected “crown” land. It was mid-summer on a partly sunny day. I was feeling good. I saw the “road” ahead of me turn up a slope and I pursued it, as difficult as it was for the little four-cylinder commuter vehicle I was driving. Patiently, I let the car take its sweet time. I began to feel a little unnerved. This location was very remote. There was no sign of other ongoing human activity. I was only too aware of my inexperience in the wilderness and lack of knowledge of the outdoors beyond simple campsite tenting and day hiking on tamed terrain. I stopped the car, telling myself that I should take a moment to enjoy the fresh air and scenery. There was not much of a view from this spot, however. I walked ahead along the logging road. It was far too quiet for my liking. I did not even hear or see a single bird. I gulped. I soon lost my nerve and turned around to seek the safety of the car. I got in, restarted the motor and turned the thing around to make the easy downhill flight from the scene.
There was another time—maybe on that same trip—when I was coming in the opposite direction away from Vancouver and on the Hope to Princeton Highway on the Manning Park section. I was just on a five-day jaunt, intending to visit people in the Okanagan Valley. I had time to spare on this short budget holiday.
It was the morning of my first day of this summer road trip and the weather seemed fine. I got the whim to turn into a parking area and investigate hiking trails. There were only a couple other cars in the lot. I parked and got out to go look at the large dark brown sign with the trails map cut into it and painted white and green. Near the sign was the start of a trail that went around through a low lying marsh then zigzagged up a gentle slope into the craggy peaks. I looked up. The distance of this particular trail was written on the map: about five kilometers, I think it said. Easy. I was fit and the weather looked like it would hold out, although I could tell that there had been a little rain over night. I decided to go for it. I got my hat and locked up the car. While I usually go hiking equipped with water bottle, snacks, an extra layer of clothes, sunscreen, and all that, I had nothing to carry this time. I did not even take water. I knew that the trails in this park would be well marked and groomed, so I felt safe. I planned to turn around when I felt insecure. Still no sign of anyone else on this site, I began the hike alone. It was strangely quiet. The trail started out as a board walk across the flat but soggy wooded area. After about twenty or thirty minutes, the ascent began. About ten minutes up the clear but somewhat rocky pathway, I saw the first sign of bears. There were clear foot prints right on the path. As crusts had formed, I figured the animal had passed a few hours earlier, probably the day before. I remained alert, but kept on. I had no bells or whistles with me. I just thought I’d start hollering if I caught sight of a bear near the trail, and hope for the best. Further up the path, there was bear dung. I figured it was from the same animal and was left a few hours earlier. I was not very worried about an encounter with a bear. The trail was open, out of the trees, so I had a clear sight of my surroundings and would see any large animal if it were out in the open. I pressed on. After about an hour and a half of climbing, I was into the craggy slopes, picking my way through rocks but stopping here and there to admire the fantastic view of high mountain peaks that seemed to go on indefinitely like a gigantic ocean frozen during a storm. I checked the sky. Dark clouds covered the peaks across the valley from my mountain. I climbed on. I started to smell the stench of mountain goats, and indeed spotted goat hair on the edges of rocks where, I guess, they had been rubbing. Their smell lingered in the air, so I believed they had hung around this particular spot for awhile, possibly sleeping over night, but I did not think they were close by. I climbed farther and stopped at an outcropping to gaze at my terrifyingly beautiful surroundings one last time. The sky was filling and getting darker. I knew the weather could change awfully fast. I turned around and made quick descent. That was the only time I had ever gone up into mountain terrain to such an altitude alone. I felt glad that I had accomplished the hike alone, but on edge with the full knowledge of my complete ignorance as a recreational city-dude part-time hiker. Any one of a number of situations could have transpired up there. I was probably just lucky.
That day, I just needed to get out for awhile and take in nature so as to release some energy through a strenuous climb and set my mind free for a little while. I had no big ambition. I have no agenda other than that. I was not seeking an adventure or a challenge to my normal abilities or fears. No- I just wanted to get some satisfying exercise outdoors, to go stretch my legs.
I decided to take the car and get out of town. I went up the Fraser Valley until I arrived to Golden Ears Provincial Park. Remember hiking there? Anyway, it was a fine day. I was feeling good. It was a week day, and I saw few other cars. You know that I like hiking when the trails are not busy. I had a day pack complete with all the necessities and safety precautions, so I thought, “What the hell. I’ll pick a trail and head up and see how it is. I can always turn around.” Did I mention I was by myself. Yeah, you know I would not normally go out in the wilderness alone. I just had the urge and felt quite confident, so I caved into my spontaneous inclination and took off.
It was a totally beautiful afternoon. I remembered this particular trail. I think we had taken it a couple of times before. It was well groomed and nicely graded—not so difficult, though a little steep and rocky or rooty in certain places. I just took my time. I took a few pictures along the way. I felt entirely at ease and safe, though there was no sign of any other human nearby.
Yeah, I heard the usual rustles of the bushes and saw typical signs of wildlife, like the remains of a kill off to the side of the trail, rub marks on trees, and various footprints. My food was very well wrapped and sealed in my backpack. I could simply drop the pack if need be, regardless. I had a whistle and some mace, but I did not think I would need it at all on this day. I got decent photos of deer, chipmunks and woodpeckers. The atmosphere seemed very hospital. I was encouraged so I kept carrying on.
Maybe halfway up, there was a bit of an open outcropping with a good view of the valley. Though it was not quite noon at that point, I was getting hungry and this place looked like a perfect place for a break. I removed my backpack, brushed off a large flat rock, sat down on it and took out my lunch. Better to get rid of the food early, anyway.
I lingered there for a while. It felt exhilarating to be there. I took shots of the valley.
Then I noticed clouds gathering in the distance. I thought that I was good for at least another three hours. As I had started up the trailhead somewhere around nine-thirty, I felt I would be good for another hour at the higher levels. The sky above me was still clear and very blue. This late spring weather was fairly warm at a temperature somewhere in the mid-60’s Farenheit. I made a mental note to begin the descent by one o’clock to be on the safe side.
I left the crumbs and apple core on the ground right there, sealed the containers back up, and double wrapped them in clean plastic bags. Then I stashed the lunch containers and bags inside my folded rain jacket deep inside the little rucksack. Actually, it was a relief to have consumed the food.
By noon, I was moving up the trail once more, back in the dense forest but sticking to the well marked and cared for path. It was somewhat dark. I could not see much of the sky.
The forest felt so good and the forest sounds soothing. I kept on at a slow and steady pace. More than an hour passed. I realized it when I reached a clearing where the sky was exposed. Out in the open, it was still a little dark because grey clouds had gathered above me.
I checked my watch which read 1:45. I knew I was pushing my luck, so I resigned myself to cutting short the hike and turning around to return to the car. I sped up my pace so as to get down the mountain quickly.
I guessed it was my imagination when I heard some wailing and whooping in the background. I hoped I would not encounter wolves or bears up here alone. I tried to go faster.
Around one bend, there was a small fallen tree across the path. I successfully jumped over it, but my boot landed on a root. It twisted, and I tumbled maybe three meters down the trail until I hit some rocks.
After some of the shock had passed about half a minute later, I checked my body for damage. I had managed to keep my head up and avoid slamming it against some object. My backside was okay because of the protection of my backpack and fleece vest. I thought there might be minor scrapes under the clothing covering one of my arms and perhaps my legs, considering the way I had rolled over stones and hit the bigger rocks just off the path. Then I realized that my left foot was hurting. Shaking but managing to push myself up only to fall back down when a searing jolt of pain shot up my leg from my right ankle. It seemed to be seriously injured.
Well, that was just fine and dandy, I thought. I reached for my cell phone. I’d left it turned off to conserve power, so it was working. Unfortunately, though, it still was out of range of any tower, apparently, because I could not make a call. You can imagine how I swore to myself and started to feel upset. What was I going to do? How was I going to get out of there?
I thought I might just rest and hope that the pain would subside after a little while. I removed my jacket, had a few sips of water and then put on my rain jacket. I propped myself up against one larger rock, and raised the injured foot up on another rock, placing the pack under it so as to make a cushion. I started to feel tiny drops of rain and prayed that the bad weather would hold off.
Sitting there after some twenty minutes began to feel spooky. I began to hear weird things like sticks banging against trunks, chatter and barking. I was sure I was imagining it but it was hard to fight off the fear.
I closed my eyes and tried to think of positive things. I brought up a recollection of my Caribbean holiday. Remember when I went there with Scot in 2007? It was an incredibly beautiful time in all respects. The memories comforted me. I dozed off.
(I had heard versions of Jess’ story before. Nothing about what she was telling me now about what had transpired was unfamiliar. She had just added detail. I expected her to start into the rescue. She had told us that some guy had come upon her and helped her down the trail far enough for her cell phone to function. Then the guy had disappeared. The paramedics could not contact the person. She had never heard from him before, she said. I leaned forward, eager to hear more about her hero. I saw and heard Jess gulp during a long pause.)
When I came to—when I came to—I—well, I heard some mumbling and what seemed like growling. I looked up. (Pause.) There was this big hairy man-beast just a few feet from me. Behind him, a few meters away lurking in the shadows of trees were two others just like him, except that one was taller and seemed to have breasts while the third was small, maybe up to her hip in height. I froze, confused. Then I noticed my teeth chattering. I thought I was staring into the eyes of a Sasquatch. There was a family of Sasquatches right there! I was helpless in front of this giant. The biggest one must have been around nine feet tall and he was very muscular with very broad shoulders and thick legs. The middle of his face was bare of fur but the rest of him was completely covered in dark brown fur. The other two were just like that. He was upright on two legs and his hands and feet seemed like normal human hands and feet, though bigger, broader. His face appeared to be part apelike and part human. As he stood looking at me, he curled his lips, showing large human type teeth—no fangs as I heard these things might have. God, I was scared. I had no idea what to do in this situation. He could so easily overpower me. I thought about trying the whistle that hung from my neck, but I thought it might enrage him or scare him and cause him to harm me. My mace can was in the bag under my foot, which I could not reach easily or quickly enough to make any self-defense. I was completely at his mercy.
(I was stunned. I saw tears come to Jess’ face. Her voice got shaky. Then she paused and she looked at me as if pleading. I told her I believed her. Her emotion was too real and I had no reason to suspect that she would lie about something like this. Frankly, I did not know how to respond. I had heard of Sasquatch tales before. There were enough sightings to make it credible that people were seeing something in the mountain forests. Jess managed to resume her story.)
The male and the female seemed to be communicating with each other. There was some chatter and woofing between them, he making noises with his head turned to her a couple of times. I just hoped they saw that I posed no threat.
Then the most amazing thing happened. I have never heard of any incident like this. I was petrified as he approached in a couple of long easy strides. He picked me up!
I have never smelled anything as horrible as that before. He really stunk far worse than a skunk. His fur was coarse and matted. There were bugs on him. His breath was awful, too. He sort of sighed and growled a little. He moved down the slope in steady and even great bounds. Jeez, he moved powerfully and fast! I had no idea what was going on. I was terrified into near paralysis. I did not dare try to utter anything. The only thing that gave me hope was that he was going down the mountain and generally following the direction of the trail, though he did not heed the trail at all. He easily maneuvered around, between and over obstacles like it was all very familiar to him. I heard barks and whistles and growls behind me. I thought his family was following us. Within a very short time, he came to a stop by the trail. There, he set me down on a mossy area. Immediately, and with a bark that was louder than a few dogs barking at the same time, he turned his back on me and proceeded back up the mountain. I looked his way and saw the female placing my backpack beside a tree!
I was completely irked and stunned such that I remained motionless for a long time, maybe nearly an hour. I realized that it was raining steadily. I knew I needed to get out of there before I was overexposed or caught a nasty cold. Judging that I might be about 30 minutes from the parking lot at the trail head, I tried the cell one more time.
I took the device out of my pocket, thanking God that it was still there. I flipped it open and punched in 9-1-1. There was an answer: “9-1-1. What’s your emergency?” I really didn’t know what to say at first. “Hello? What’s your emergency?”
I managed to make a reply. “I’m hurt. I’m on the trail. I can’t walk. No-one’s around.”
“Where are you?”
“Golden Ears Park, maybe 30 minutes up from the lower west side parking lot. Trail B.”
“You’re alone.”
“Yes. Now I’m alone.”
“There was someone there at the time of the accident?”
“No. I fell. I was hurrying down too fast because the rain had started.”
“You shouldn’t hike in the mountain alone.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“We’re sending someone there to fetch you. Stay on the line. Tell me what happened.”
“Okay.”
“Do you have a jacket? What about water? Have you eaten?”
“Yes, I’m wearing a good rain jacket. I had lunch about three hours ago, I guess. Yes, I have water.”
“Have some water now.”
“All right.”
“Tell me more details. What exactly happened? How long ago?”
“I was enjoying a good climb when I noticed the weather turning foul. I checked my watch, so I know it was 1:45 when I turned back. I was in a hurry to beat the rain. I guess I was going too fast when I rounded a corner and suddenly had to jump over a fallen tree trunk. I landed on an exposed root then tripped on some sharp stones and fell over onto some rocks.”
“You’re hurt badly?”
“I might have broken my ankle. I couldn’t walk.”
“You fell right where you are now?”
“Well, no. I managed to get down the hill farther.”
“Why didn’t you call right away?”
“I was too far up. I was out of range. The cell wouldn’t function.”
“I see. So you crawled until you got exhausted?”
“No.”
“How did you get down the side of the mountain, then?
“Uh—well, this stranger came along. He carried me down until he reached this spot.”
“Can I speak to this guy?”
“Sorry. He took off. He just left me here.”
“He left you? What’s his name?”
“Yeah. Oh, I didn’t get a name.”
“No name or contact information?”
“No, I guess I was a bit too shaken up to ask. I didn’t think of it. He’s gone now.”
“Give me a description.”
“You want me to describe the guy?”
“Yes. What did you rescuer look like? And, did he tell you anything about himself?”
“Uh—no. I don’t know who he was?”
“Well, what did he look like? What age, color of hair, height, and so on?”
I was at a loss as to what to say. Then I made up a description of a non-existing person. I figured no-one would believe the Sasquatch story. I figured they might want to examine my head if I said that.
“Did you hit your head?”
“No, no. I managed to avoid that.”
“You’re sure?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Were you assaulted?”
“Oh, no. Nothing like that happened. I was alone when I fell. I was rescued. The guy helped me down quite a ways, then simply took off. I suppose he had his reasons.”
“The ambulance is at the parking lot now. They’ll meet you shortly. Hang on.”
“Okay. Thank you all.”
I repeated that story over and over. It was all true except for the description of the “guy” who saved me. I was not going to even hint of some intervention by a big ape in the forest. No way.
It’s all behind me, except for the memory. That’s as clear as ever. I can’t forget that experience. It was wonderful and absolutely terrifying at the same time. That’s why I don’t want to into any forest or up any mountain again.
What Jess told me that quiet evening in the pub was totally unexpected. She never mentioned it again, and neither did I. I was perturbed and annoyed at first, then bewildered. I had to believe her, as incredible as her story sounded.
I still go hiking, but never alone. I take no chances. Once in a while, when I am up in the mountains or on a wooded trail, some sound catches my ear. I wonder what is out there. I think about the mystery of the legendary Sasquatch. I have to believe the legend. I think it’s out there. I don’t want to run into one, but I’m curious in spite of myself.
END