Accident Reports
Appalachia, Winter/Spring 2006
In Separate Incidents, Two Hikers Get Lost Along Zealand Road
On December 25, 2005, Howard R., 50, planned to hike along Zealand Road to Wildlife Pond. At the pond, about 1:30 p.m., he asked another hiker how to get back to the parking lot and was advised to take a right at the end of Wildlife Pond Trail. He took the right up the snowmobile trail that leads to Mount Tom. After some time, he lost the trail and tried to head south to reach the parking lot. He was reported overdue, and was located approximately 4 miles from Zealand Road around midnight by rescuers who had followed his tracks in the snow. He had neither a map nor a compass with him.
On February 24, 2005, Alexander S., 14, was hiking along Zealand Road with his mother, Dianne A. and his younger sister Eloise S. (no age given for the latter two). Alexander requested permission to go ahead, claiming to know the way. He took a wrong turn at the first junction, and followed Snowmobile Corridor 11 back to Rt. 3 in Carroll, where he was found. The rest of his group continued to Zealand Hut, assuming that he was ahead of them. Rescuers took him to the AMC Highland Center, and made radio contact with his mother at the hut. Alexander spent the night at Highland Center, his mother and sister stayed at the hut. They walked out next morning and picked Alexander up at the center.
Comment: Zealand Road is flat, widely used, and close to “civilization," so it seems very unthreatening. Nevertheless, people get lost in that area every year. Unfortunately, Howard R. attempted to go south to the parking lot, which in fact is to the north! As soon as Howard found Zealand Road difficult to follow, he should have turned around. A map and a compass would obviously have helped, but in this area, many maps do not show the snowmobile trails.
The HikeSafe website is unambiguous in its disapproval of splitting groups. The third item of its Hiker Responsibility Code states: “When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group. Pace your hike to the slowest person.” There is no doubt that always heeding this advice would prevent all the “separated hiker” accidents, but I feel that it ignores the real-life dynamics of hiking in a group whose members hike at different speeds. On the other hand, it is good to follow this advice in the winter season, since the risk of separation can be much greater in cold conditions. It seems hard to get lost on Zealand Road, especially for someone who allegedly “knows the way.” When hiking alone, I often have to force myself to concentrate fully on the trail, not let my thoughts wander, and not take anything for granted. A full listing of Accident Reports may be found in the Winter/Spring 2006 issue of Appalachia.
- Mohamed Ellozy, "Accidents" Editor
