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Gr8fulJ420
strange but nota stranger


Registered: 02/17/01
Posts: 2,778
Loc: 0 moco
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Hikers not in distress rescued
#5383805 - 03/10/06 12:09 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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I've hiked along the stream at the bottom of the valley here, but never ventured onto any of the ridges - there are some *extreme* grades! It's a rad little park, with plenty ground to explore. It's about 16 miles from my house :-)
(check out the pic at the link) ------- http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=17611
IAO VALLEY ? To at least one person, four hikers in Iao Valley looked like they needed to be rescued as they negotiated a ridge high above Kepaniwai Park Wednesday afternoon.
Actually, they were fine.
But they were plucked one by one by a Maui Fire Department helicopter, anyway.
Acting Battalion Chief Rex Takushi said dispatch received a call around 3:45 p.m. that there were "possible hikers in distress."
Because it would be dark in a couple of hours, the department decided to send the helicopter.
The objects of concern ? four people who described themselves as avid hikers ? had been in Iao Valley for about three hours, taking pictures and enjoying the sights.
Then, they saw police and fire crews arrive at Kepaniwai Park below them.
"I thought there must be a rescue down there," said Monica Belz, 23.
So they decided they should head down the ridge.
About that time, the Fire Department?s Air One helicopter came with its basket to pick them up.
And when the first hiker was picked up, the rescuers learned the group wasn?t in trouble at all.
And the hikers learned it was they who were being rescued.
Later, the hikers said they were embarrassed over the attention and the trouble they caused, and they apologized to fire rescue crews.
"We just created a scene," said hiker Josh Durkin, 19, of Lahaina, who took pictures as the helicopter hovered over them on the ridge.
Cars had been cleared from the park?s parking lot so the helicopter could land and drop off the hikers.
About 20 onlookers had gathered to watch the rescue.
Takushi said the group wanted to hike toward the cloud line on the ridge, but the clouds kept rising so they decided to turn back.
They debated about which direction to take, and they may have debated so long that they gave the impression they were in trouble, Takushi said.
The ridge the hikers were on is more than 1,000 feet high and not conducive to good hiking, Takushi said.
The area is rocky and has scrub brush.
As a rule, people should hike in areas they are familiar with, Takushi recommended.
It was not clear Wednesday afternoon if the hikers were in a restricted area; state Department of Land and Natural Resources Forestry Division officials could not be reached for comment.
The hikers were fine and in good spirits after they were brought down to the parking lot.
Belz, who just moved to Maui the night before from Oregon, said she was going to call her mom to tell her about the incident.
As the four walked to their SUV, Durkin said, "It was a fun day."
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus



Registered: 08/22/99
Posts: 9,126
Loc: Las Vegas
Last seen: 2 hours, 29 minutes
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Re: Hikers not in distress rescued [Re: Gr8fulJ420]
#5387460 - 03/10/06 09:42 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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When I was in the Grand Canyon a few years back one of the rangers was telling me a story about a 'mistaken' rescue. Some backpackers were in a remote part of the canyon and one guy started playing with his compass. He was using the glass face to reflect the sunlight onto the canyon wall and make patterns. A passing airliner saw it and mistook it for a distress signal, called the park service, and soon a helicopter showed up to "rescue" the hikers.
The park sevice sent the hikers a bill for several thousand dollars to pay for the rescue effort!!
-------------------- You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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Dreamer987
The VerbalHerman Munster


Registered: 04/15/03
Posts: 5,326
Loc: Texas
Last seen: 16 years, 1 month
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Re: Hikers not in distress rescued [Re: Gr8fulJ420]
#5387904 - 03/11/06 12:26 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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"As a rule, people should hike in areas they are familiar with, Takushi recommended."
right, that is a great rule. "sorry, can't hike there, we've never been before, lets take an adventure to the grocery store!"
"The park sevice sent the hikers a bill for several thousand dollars to pay for the rescue effort!!"
Thats when you kindly tell the rangers to fuck themselves. pay for the rescue effort. What kind of shit is that. If you save someones life, do you expect a check in the mail?
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