[pct-l] Hikers over Yosemite falls

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

On Jul 22, 2011, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> What's your stupidest thing that you've ever done in the  
> wilderness? Maybe we can all learn from each other's mistakes.

Well, when I hiked from Santa Barbara to the PCT I had one more  
connector trail to go to get to Interstate 5 near Hikertown. I  
followed the trail and then it just ended. I got out my map and  
identified all the peaks and identified Buck Creek canyon, which is  
where I was supposed to follow the Buck Creek trail. I just couldn't  
figure out how to get there. I searched around for an hour and  
couldn't find a trail. I finally decided I better return up the  
really steep hill I had come down and find the trail. I went only a  
minute or two and then saw a perfect trail headed completely in the  
wrong direction. It was such a perfect trail that I ignored the  
little voice in my head telling me it's not the right way. I passed a  
spring, just like the map said I would, a campsite just like the map  
said I would, and then climbed a ridge and headed for Hungry Valley.  
Woops. That's not right. Dang motorcycles! I was following a  
motorcycle trail!

So I backtracked and saw some horse poop near the creek and followed  
a faint trail down the creek. I ended up spending the next 4 hours  
becoming increasingly desperate as I followed animal trails and  
finally bushwacked down the creek through poison oak, stinging  
nettles and wild roses. The rocks were slick and every time I stepped  
in the creek I slipped on the rocks. I hit my head once. I had a  
sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I had absolutely no  
idea where I was and I could slip, hit my head and die and nobody  
would ever find me. I tried to comfort myself with the fact that I  
was heading downstream and all creeks would drain into Pyramid Lake  
so at the very worst, I might have to flag down a boater to take me  
to the other shore.

After 4 hours of desperation and on the verge of tears, I reached a  
confluence with a large creek. I followed the large creek and found a  
fence with a box on it. I opened the box and found angler survey  
cards. It seemed to suggest I was on Piru Creek. Piru Creek? I looked  
beyond the fence and there was a road. Could I be right next to  
Hardluck Camp? I walked out and sure enough, I was right near  
Hardluck Camp. I looked at my watch. It was 4pm. I had estimated that  
following Buck Creek trail I'd be right at this very spot at 4pm.  
What luck! I was fine and right on schedule!

I suppose that's not as stupid though as all the times I set my  
alcohol stove right on the duff in Oregon and had to put out the  
resulting fire with half a liter of water.