Trapped in a Canyon | Hiker on Pacific Crest Trail Gets Lost and Stranded
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- THE VIDEO THAT STARTED IT ALL! THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING THIS CHANNEL TO SURPASS 50K! The first video for Outdoor Disasters. Unfortunately, it had a myriad of copyright issues. But it didn't matter much to me at that time. I was eager to kickstart the CZcams journey. Decided to revisit and enhance the video to ensure copyright compliance. Some of you may remember seeing this video previously, as I took it down. I hope you find the updated version enjoyable!
At the start of his thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, John Donovan headed north, laboring through the hot, undulating Mojave Desert that surrounds the Pacific Crest Trail’s first 100 miles. San Jacinto, the first major mountain that north-bound PCT thru-hikers encounter, is a cragged giant rising from the desert floor 60 miles beyond Warner Springs. By the time Donovan began climbing Mt. San Jacinto on May 2, 2005, the signs of danger were legion. Snow was 3 feet deep up high, and meteorologists were predicting a heavy storm. He climbed into Little Tahquitz Valley, just south of Saddle Junction, and found that the trail, partly visible until then, was now concealed by snow. Donovan sought help from two other hikers. After leaving the other hikers, No one knows exactly what Donovan did next. No one ever saw him alive again.
0:00 Introduction
0:27 The Pacific Crest Trail
1:14 The John Donovan Story
5:55 The Gina Allen and Brandon Day Story
8:12 John Donovan's Legacy
9:04 Conclusion/Survival Tips
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Much of this script is a dramatic re-reading of this article:
www.backpacker.com/trips/trip...
Music by Scott Buckley "Omega"
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Very interesting to revisit this video. Out of all the stories I could've done, I decided the story of John Donovan would be my very first subject. Funny thing happend while producing this. Without even thinking about it, when I heard of the Gina Allen and Brandon Day saga in Donovan's story, it struck me that it was the perfect material for re-enactment footage in an "I Shouldn't Be Alive" episode. Little did I realize that the episode I had in mind was actually about this very ordeal.
That show serves as my primary inspiration for this channel. You would think it would be a deterrent with all the disasters, but I so wanted to have experiences like these people. Strangely, watching it was the catalyst for my transformation into a more outdoorsy person. Despite all the disasters depicted, I was drawn to having experiences like those individuals. Watching them explain their motivations was really inspirational. Many of them, even after enduring lasting injuries, continued to engage in the very activities that had nearly cost them their lives.
In a way, I consider myself an "I Shouldn't Be Alive" encyclopedia. You'll notice footage from that show in many of the videos I produce because the stories are very similar. I had no clue that Donovan's story was connected to the Allen-Day ordeal, but it seemed oddly fitting. After seeing every episode at least 3 times, I longed for new episodes and would look for new, similar shows. Some were decent, but none could match the storytelling of "I Shouldn't Be Alive." When reading about survival stories, I often thought, "This would make an excellent 'I Shouldn't Be Alive' episode." So, one day, I entertained the crazy notion of creating my own episode in that style. Little did I know this crazy notion would turn out to be what Outdoor Disasters is today. Anways, sorry for the long rant. But reaching this milestone in such a short time, wanted to go back and explore what the hell I was thinking to start producing survival videos on CZcams. Thank you all so very much, this is really awesome!
Glad you took the time to tell us your inspiration for this channel. I love watching and feel I've learned so much about what to do and what not to do in these situations. BUT..I'd never WANT to live through these situations. Again, congratulations, you deserve it, your productions are very well made❤
Thank you telling us how it all got started! Fascinating!
Totally appreciate the share. I'm very thankful for you being inspired to make these videos and tell these stories.
I've heard this story so many times and thought I'd heard it hear as well but it's such an unusual story it's always worth hearing again.
Excellent videos, and I love your narration. You have the perfect voice for this. I'm so glad one of your videos popped up in my feed. I got hooked right away. You're an excellent follow with incredibly well produced videos. Thank you! Dario
While he was ultimately responsible for himself, I can’t imagine seeing an older man falling and struggling behind me on a route I lead him on and then just ditching him
In other reports, he had made comments that made the mother and son uncomfortable. They encouraged him to not continue because he was ill prepared, but he insisted.
@@teremertz I did actually go on and read a blog mentioning that basically he rubbed her the wrong way and she really disliked him. It’s a tough one, he sounded very stubborn and set in his ways and there’s only so much you can do but it sounds sound like they were eager to be rid of him.
For as communal as the mountain climbing/hiking community comes off, and sometimes having crazy stories of comradery, they also seem like the fastest to leave people behind
Shameful really.
@@lukycharms9970 yeah, I get that he was perhaps a difficult personality but I would hope that wouldn’t keep me from helping if I saw someone struggling to keep up.
How some people are so ill prepared when trekking outdoors is beyond me.
I gaurantee you, 1000%,, you are ill prepared for your basic simple day tomorrow,... in urban suburbia
We knew an experienced hiker who was hiking on Mt. San Jacinto in the snow. He encountered a man who was attempting to hike up to the peak. Our friend reported that the man only had a thermos of coffee!
In the case of Mt. San Jacinto, for a fistful of money anyone visiting Palm Springs can ride the tram up the mountain. In the summer, a fit hiker could easily hike to the summit and back. The hardest part of the trail, in my opinion, is the steep concrete ramp back up to the tram station. Any person riding the tram, who leaves the tram station and goes down that ramp, immediately enters a high altitude wilderness area. That's how easy it is to get into trouble.
John Donovan, on the other hand, seems to have arrived at trouble the hard way, by hiking the PCT.
@@adambane1719 don't know how you imagined one could be ill prepared for urban suburbia at any level even remotely similar to outdoor adventures. Last I checked the ratio of folks dying and being seriously injured from being ill prepared stands at a harsh ratio to such happening in urban suburbia directly due to being ill prepared.
Sound advice. Mr Donovan's death reminds of Jack London's book "To build a Fire". It's a shame, he sounds like he was a good man. Thank you for telling his story.
Compliments to narrator for his engaging vocal tone, rhythm, resonance, inflection, tempo, texture, as well as his steady and authentic flow. Well chosen visuals add to painting the story. Touching details of how the man of this adventure had earlier in his life brightened the days of others with creative outings. The exceptional vocal talent, discerning details and visuals all elicit a riveting tale that honors this man's life. Wishing the storyteller well deserved success for this channel's meaningful work.
I appreciate the very kind words!
You must be a musician. Nice capture of the narrator.
“I shouldn’t be alive” is a main reason why I watch/listen to your channel! I was looking for something like that show but in podcast form so I could listen to it while hiking or walking. Your storytelling is phenomenal and I don’t feel like I need to watch to get a clear picture in my head.
I freaking love that! I know there are many fans on this show that follow this channel. I'm sure you can tell with how my stories are told. ISBA was genius in telling these stories. You felt like you knew these folks. And the acting and re-enactments were second to none. They really went way beyond in finding good actors and people who actually resembled the subjects and recreating the ordeal. I really try to get as close as I can to find re-enactments that are close to the ordeal because I believe it's crucial. Obviously, I don't have the budget for ISBA so I can't hire actors, cameramen, FX people, etc. But try to get as close as I can. Thank you so much for the kind words!
You’re quite welcome! And I must say, the background information that you give on these people-humanizing them and letting us get to know them-is far more important than graphics. You really nailed with words what I Shouldn’t Be Alive did with actors!
Same exactly!!
5:07 A 20 foot waterfall discovered his remains? That's one smart waterfall!
Haha
I wouldn't be surprised if he had a feeling his poor health would take him soon. A horrible way to die,but perhaps deep down it was his way he wanted to die.
I got a feeling, its the way he wanted
For all its beauty and splendor, The Algorithm can be a cruel teacher......Glad you got to 50K!
That's hilarious. Thanks for the laughs! And thank you for your support my friend!
I’m glad I went through SERE training in the military. Many lessons learned went into that syllabus.
Love everything about your videos. Your voice and storytelling are unrivaled.
He’s really Morgan freeman 🤣🤣
Wow, thank you!
👍👍❤️
Are you kidding?
It’s an AI voice tho based on Morgan Freeman. It’s not his own. Still a great channel I like to watch every video he/she puts out.
Edit. You can really notice on how the town “Idyllwild” is pronounced
I mapped it out because I'm a So Cal native from the 90's and know that many have perished in the San Jacinto mountains and there are even mountain lions there.
Well he was basically at the last topographical challenge because right after the falls there is the rolling foothills and just a 2 or 3 miles is the edge of the city of Palm Springs... absolutely heartbreaking to realize he was literally... right there 😔
I used to go hiking at Castle rock in big bear me and my girlfriend. That’s been over 20 years ago. I’m 70 years old now I wouldn’t think of going hiking and if I did, I would take it very easy and slow. It’s too dangerous, especially for us older guys, I’m sorry he had to die in such a terrible manner. He deserved better, but just the same. I love these videos. I learn a lot. Thanks for this one appreciate it. Have a great day.👍🏼😁😪
You still could- there are many beautiful beginner-moderate trails in our local mountains- I just took up hiking again in my 60’s. There are also great local hiking groups, as well as older hikers looking to hike with others. I think it means starting slow, knowing our limitations, and carrying the essentials, which I think at our age include a satellite SOS.
Another remarkable story from outdoor disasters ( CZcamss best ) about a man who perished in a way we can only surmise to be horrendous! Hurt and unable to save himself or get help from anyone in the end found a way to save some other hikers from almost certain death! God works in mysterious ways! May Donovan rest in peace!
I live in Hemet right under the mountain. I remember this story
East coast people: Wait, what? It snows in California? 🤣
Whooohooo 50.2 k 😘😘😘😘 soon it will be 51 k then on and on to the big one 🤣🤣
Thanks for the video. Getting lost, especially in driving snow, is really easy to do.
I’m going to hike the PCT in a few years. Can’t wait!
Awesome! Be safe and good luck!
@@outdoordisasters Thanks 🙏 I will do my best to not end up in one of your videos!
I hiked it in 2021. No doubt it was the best thing I’d ever done in my life. Wishing you happiest of trails out there
Safety on trail is acquired. And not with top dollar at REI. It’s a blend of respect, survival skills, planning, redundancies in gear and safety protocols and experience.
3:32 let’s talk about this “ultralight” craze.
Firstly Ray Jardin was a badass alpinist and Yosemite Valley renegade who already made a name for himself in big wall climbing & gear innovations before penning the book that started the trend. A trend that barely works for individuals with Ray Jardin’s experience (recall in the book Ray’s wife struggles with his insistence on not carrying an extra Ziplock bag or pocket knife and his hyper focus on trail performance : it’s always about “miles, miles, miles”) Forget absorbing your surroundings or delighting in a quality meal or sleeping snuggly- warm and waking up refreshed: PERFORM, DAMMIT !!
(No one reading this is Ray Jardin from the mid-90’s.)
There are reasons that quality 3 season tents are $600 while a decent “ultralight” tarp is $89. Ever tried to find REM sleep under a tarp in frost with a 30mph wind razoring through the canyon? It totally sucks.
There are reasons that 200 years of sojourners chose boots over low-cut shoes. A rolled ankle is game-over out in the big lonesome. Prior to the 21st Century no helicopter was churning to anyones rescue under a blaze of av gas for a rolled ankle. Your best bet was an ACE bandage, a sturdy green branch, some Tylenol and prayer.
When Ray published the book the youngest adult generation was Gen X. Millennials were still in school. Gen X is the last generation not completely duped by the “just google it” or “there’s an app for that” mentality. We grew up, graduated high school, got jobs & started families BEFORE the internet. Or during its infancy. We got our “life legs” under us before the idea manifested that the way to fix things is to contact someone else. It never occurred to us to sue them if things didn’t turn out perfectly, either.
Alright let’s “go there.” Without 911, trail apps and helicopters, ultralight would be killing thousands instead of dozens. When the ultralight trend lit, it was understood via social inferences that ultralight was a concept for people with significant trail time. Outdoors enthusiasts with experience built up over many years and dozens of treks under Jansport I frame packs and even Kelty 74’s. Carrying a single Bic lighter “and socks for mittens” is throwing a huge disrespect marker on natures table. Notice it’s NATURE’s table. Not ours.
These 18 year old kids trekking onto the AT (and Good Lord, especially the PCT) with 18 pounds of “equipment” will keep channels dedicated to chronicling their demise in endless material. And in perpetuity.
As far as the youngest two generations amongst us are concerned a basket lift rescue is just another Insta story. Never mind 80 SAR professionals dropped what they were doing, leashed the dogs, spun up the helos and risked life & limb to attempt rescue. Never mind both coasts lose 2-10 rescue professionals per year in the attempt to save someone else from their lack of preparation.
Up here in NW Washington I live 2 blocks from the regional hospital. It is the only hospital on the NW Peninsula with a helicopter pad. Six months a year that helo pad is practically a bus stop with life flights, County Sheriff, Coast Guard & even the Navy bringing in bozos who don’t realize how close to curtains they came. We see them mugging and taking selfies as they are rolled into the ER. This is slowly, grindingly and relentlessly becoming an epidemic. It will get considerably worse. Dynema is amazing but it don’t fix stupid.
People watch a few youtube videos, hit REI then wander off into Olympic National Park or rent a kayak and paddle into some of the most hardcore kayaking in North America (Straights of San Juan) with neither experience, proper gear or having bothered to tell anyone where they are. At least no one who can alert help when they fail to check in. Ironically “their followers” always know. But what’s a screen name in Panama supposed to do? Drop a pin? Make a tweet? God bless ‘em, many do. But that’s a seriously elongated rescue window. Especially if you’re hypothermic of suffering a cracked kneecap.
Last night I perused Amazon for wilderness survival stories. The books number in the hundreds. All published in the past 5 years. Ten years, tops. It used to be 4 inches of shelf space at Barnes and Noble.
Best remedy? Parents (anow, grandparents) TEACH the skills. Teach a touch of reverence. Teach the younger folks that hollering into a selfie stick while bashing down a trail is a bit disruptive to others who want to decompress and enjoy the wind. The birds. The squirrels.
Maybe someone will read this and recognize that the reason there’s dozens of thriving channels on youtube covering major wilderness wipeouts is because there’s a ton of wilderness wipeouts happening? Most receive only local coverage. There are dozens of local SAR incidents for every story that gets picked up nationally. Myriad variables determine which way a story breaks and that’s outside the parameters of this communique.
Maybe some will take a survival class? Land navigation? Gear redundancy? Learn how to use garbage bags for emergency shelter & sleep systems. Light a fire with wet fuel and in a blizzard. Carry an extra knife. Carry a folding saw. Carry multiple layers of thermoregulation. While folding that extra wool sweater, nest a pint of whiskey, a few narcotic pain pills & an Epi pen into that garment, in a Ziplock bag, then compress the entire package using mom’s Food Saver. It’ll shrink down to the size of 2 Mountain House envelopes. And speaking of, carry a few extra Mountain House meals too.
Carry a signaling kit consisting of:
•SOL signal mirror
•Laser pen (SOS is ••• - - - ••• )
•high lumen flashlight
•2 whistles
•chem stick tied to 3 feet of cordage (buzz saw)
Those cheap folded “mylar space blankets” are the exact same material that birthday balloon are made of. People freeze/die under them all the time. Invest in a proper emergency blanket (should cost around $45)
Anyone ages 15-75 who is in decent shape should be able to up their base weight from 18 to 32 pounds without destroying their trip. And if you can’t hump back country level gear? Either hit the gym for six months or stay out of the back country. It’s okay to enjoy nature 2 miles from the trailhead. The big secret? It looks almost the same as 22 miles in.
Perhaps most importantly: tell a trusted contact “this is where I am going. If you don’t hear from me by 6pm on such n such date, call EVERYONE and raise hell. I’m emailing you a map of my intended route” Remember you could be sitting under a garbage bag, compound fracture, in agony, counting off minutes so BE SPECIFIC ABOUT CHECK IN TIME. Don’t give 12 hour windows.
I’m 51. Started backpacking in 1981. I want you to stay alive and don’t care if a reader thinks I’m “mean” or calls me a loser. Try tumbling into icy mountain runoff headfirst and getting pinned under. Or navigating through hardcore burnt terrain where everything looks the exact same: white ash/blackened stumps. Trek 5 miles in 105F after some jackass kicked your last 1.5L of water off a cliff. Or awakening at 4am to a rangy old black bear herffing and sniffing outside your tent. Directly outside.
It changes you.
Hope this helps. I’ll check my email tomorrow for the hate.🫶🏼
Thank You. First class advice and life saving information.
Always carry a GPS unit with terrain map downloaded and tracker on. No reason for anyone after the 2010s to ever get lost in wild.
Thank You.@@nickl5658
Not mean or a loser. I think your spiel was delivered with care and contained lots of helpful content. If it helps just one person, it's worth it!
Amazing work you do, I appreciate the effort and research you do so you can narrate so well❤
Thank you so much!
With respect ❤What a wonderful giving mam John was..thank you for bringing this story to our notice..in the UK.
There are some excellent books and videos on the PCT. Thanks for sharing.
Ultra light hiking always strikes me as crazy. You can always drop stuff if you really need to, but you can’t bring more once you’re out there…
❤ Thank you soooo much for another fantastic video!!! Appreciate all your hard work in bringing us these interesting and educational stories!!!
And I appreciate you Mary!
Thank you!!! ❤
Sad to hear of a person who gave so much of themselves to others was lost simply due to a lack of common sense.
Only sad if they had kids before natural selection could kick in.
I’m just telling you that you spoiled the whole thing for me. Why do you have to write the ending?? I wanted to watch this. Yours was the first comment so I couldn’t help seeing it when I pulled up the video. You’re mean and nasty. I can’t even watch it now, mean guy.
Brave man. I'd never hike alone. I'd neve hike at all these days. LOL haven't hiked since the 80s.
John Donavans death was painful I’m not going to sugarcoat it. True, he was a strange outspoken full of sarcasm and basically a pain in the ass. He was cheap and didn’t want to spend unless he had to, that’s why he carried the bare essentials. John had a heart of gold. I’m guessing the Nurse and her son, had some remorse after hearing about his demise shortly after they ditched him. Shame on them
A fall? That looked like a gnarly dive into Bud Ice at 4:24
🤣🤣🤣🤣
50 THOUSAND subs!!! I knew you would get there fast! Congrats! 🎉 100 K will happen fast too cuz this channel is AWSOME! I LOVED the show I shouldn’t be alive! Watched every episode! Keep it up, I have no doubt you will get to a mil in no time!
PLBs are around 350.00. Push the button and within a few hours help will be on its way.
Congratulations on 50k🎉
🙏
I’ve climbed San Jacinto in the winter and it’s a good challenge. Sad to hear about this gentleman.
People venture into “ wilderness “ without any clue as to what the definition of “ wilderness “ is.
I’m a new subscriber to this channel. The narration is very impressive. It’s kind of Erie, of the 10 or so episodes I’ve watched 8 of them I have been to and explored myself. The area Mr Donovan was found is a transitional period in regards to hiking the PCT. Up to this point in his hike, he would have encountered mostly a desert hike then making a steep assent into the San Jacinto mountains. In May the desert and that mountain range can be very unpredictable in regards weather. He could have experienced desert heat in the 90’sF and finding himself in a freezing snow storm on the mountain within a couple days hike. The mountain community you mentioned is pronounced eye-da-wild. I mention this because it has a mysterious history of people going missing while hiking or just visiting and you will probably find yourself having to mention this city’s name again in your videos. Great content!
The couple was just lucky !! 😮☝️😊💯
Feel bad for the Veteran ! 🕊️
What a shame. But the silver lining is that he did save two people, I remember that episode of ISBA.
Just trying to help... they are pronounced "Mount San Yacinto" and "Idle-wild"
In Southern California, with the prefix "San" it's a safe bet that the "J" in "Jacinto" is pronounced as the harsh, Spanish "h" sound, or like the German or Scottish "ch" or whatever Russian letter is transcribed as "kh."
It never ceases to amaze me how unprepared people go into the wilderness. Tragic.
Such a sad story. Such bad decisions.
Which is it? Make up your mind
“The whole acre or two caught fire and created a really big smoke signal.”
So they intentionally started a forest fire to get help?
They are neither the first, nor the last, to light a fire and have it get out of control. Mark Twain burned up a forest on the north side of Lake Tahoe. More recently, people having a "gender reveal" party not too far from Mt. San Jacinto inadvertently started a brush fire, which spread out of control almost immediately. A firefighter was killed in that one.
This reminds me of my DayZ runs
“A notoriously bad navigator”
I have a question? Why would that woman and her son leave that man? They saw the trouble he was having I can't wrap my mind around that. She was a nurse why would they not at least tell rangers about the trouble he was having. Wasn't it in the newspaper or on the news, why am I asking these questions they know what they should have done? They could have been the difference between his life and his death. I just down understand?
I was wondering the exact same thing--they know he needed help and was struggling...I can kind of understand not waiting for him bc they had to worry abt themselves first...KIND OF...but seriously, they didn't do anything at all? Seems crazy
I know and its baffling to me that a women how had dedicated her life to saving people left someone to die. Unless I am not getting the whole story that was a f#%ced up thing to do. It make me so angry to know they might have been able to save him.
He was following two people and they saw him fall and they just left him there???!! WTF?
I know. Shocking. Horrible people.
Poorly prepared seldom ends well.
Sounds like he had a deathwish.
That was my thought as well.
He lost the trail and luckily encountered two other hikers. Unluckily for him, they immediately gave him the middle finger, then purposefully dropped him by going too fast after warning him they wouldn't take the most direct trail back to safety. Good on them.
Did you commet that between video games?
At least he lived his life... outside, in nature
The whole story is shocking fste. Considering the second pair of hikers.
TRAIL SHARKS!
You’re pushing your luck doing that at nearly 60 years old. No matter how we may think of ourselves, age controls.
👏👏❤️
1:52-2:22 every single survival/SAR/wilderness fatality story starts the same.
It seems so...
A lot of these stories could of had a different outcome if only they had a satellite phone.
3:36 What is that blue structure in the background?
So much of this could be prevented with a little common sense ... Socks and a tarp smh
Ridiculous to take that on without proper preparation. 🙁
It's comical how people are criticizing him for being unprepared. Even the overprepared die when they misstep and fall into a canyon. He died because wilderness types don't care about others. He was abandoned by experienced hikers. These are the same people who climb over their dying peers to reach the seven summits. People who hike these areas are narcissistic or lost.
Poor guy
Nickname: Mr Socks for Gloves
I love it!
Don't cross the trail in the winter.
Or alone.
Common sense.
HA! Hilarious
"Area where Allen and Day WERE stranded", not "was".
Haha, as I said, this was my very first video, riddled with issues.
Skipped your coffee today did you?
@@outdoordisasters There are always "Grammar Police" lurking about to catch our mistakes~:)
I hope I die just like Donavan! Alone in a beautiful place with just me, my thoughts and my god.
So the mom and son left him to die.
A steep gash called Hidden Valley.
Reminds me of one of my ex-wives.
LMAO
I stopped watching after 0.33 because I couldn't take this guy's voice any longer
No sympathy for the unprepared. I just he wasn’t a Boy Scout 🤡
Heard this story bunch times but it’s still heartwarming how his supplies recused the two others. 🫡