3+ HOURS of Disturbing Backpacking Mysteries | Pacific Crest Trail & Beyond 

Spent 17years as Search and Rescue in mountains of BC. The “stay put” advice works for a few days. During that time you should try to make yourself visible. Have a rescue fire ready to go. If some time has gone by, leave your location, BUT mark your travel route. Go North for 1/2 hour. Then return. Do again in another direction, return. Do all 4 NWSE directions. Do this each day adding 1/2 hour to each direction. Hopefully you’ll find a trail or better location for rescue.

In my twenties, my husband and I hiked a part of a long trail. We lost track of time and it started to get dark. We had only ourselves some water and my dog who I'd to walk by my side without a leash. In the dark we became confused and couldn't see the trail. We followed my dog who lead the way by watching the white patch on her tail. She brought us right to the parking lot and our car. I learned so much on that experience but mostly to be more prepared and aware.

Two books every hiker should read: The Cold Vanished and Deep Survival. Riveting and helpful in understanding the art of surviving in all circumstances. Very interesting video Kyle.

When you see the lightning flash, you count the seconds until you hear thunder and divide by 5 and you'll get the distance, so say it takes 3 seconds from flash to thunder. 3÷5 is 0.6 miles away or 5 seconds is 5÷5 is 1 mile away. The NWS recommends taking shelter for 30 minutes if the flash and thunder is less than 30 seconds apart. Stay safe everyone. Love the content by the way.

once you hear otter's story once, you don't have to hear it again. breaks my heart to recall it. may his memory be eternal

49:17 Im a seasoned outdoorsman having been raised in the Appalchi and Ozarks in rural areas. I am an accomplished veteran of the USMC's advanced infantry being attached to the 15th MEU SOC (Marines Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable) and have lived out my civilian life in the mountains of Arizona and SW Utah. But I'm getting older, and that has affected my abilities on hikes and camping, in the best of conditions. Inclement weather and perilous conditions, especially cold, subzero (Celsius), food and water shortages, and other complicated factors. Can really put your abilites into perspective. You may feel completely capable, until you meet your match. You've got to be honest with yourself. Life happens, age equals... ultimately ability. Fitness and body fat can and will eventually equal you capability. Otter unfortunately found this out in the peril of his ultimate demise. I live in the mountains above 6,000' in elevation. But am very close to the 2,500' elevation of St George, Utah where the weather frequently gets above 110° in the summer. I lived down there for 9yrs and camped in the desert for a total of accumulatively 3½yrs and here in the mountains for about 6mo. And once found myself in peril in the first week of Oct. 2022 with an early winter storm that produce 15" of heavy wet snow. I was prepared and survived. But for the first time, I did not thrive. And learned that inspite of my physical prowess, I was not the man i used to be. Stay real, keep it real, especially to thine own self be true.

As my war vet papaw says, "keep your head on a swivel, follow your gut, and take your big knife". Hi from the Smokies 👋🏻🤗

I am a triple crown hiker. My trail name is Hotlips. Re: otter. I understand the mindset to keep moving in bad weather. If a thru hiker waited for every storm to pass they wouldn’t get very far. I hike regardless of the weather. I have a limited amount of food and I am focused on getting to my next resupply as quickly as possible. Though Otter and Sherpa chose to head out into bad weather that day; that was not their first storm. On that particular hike Otter had already hiked 2,300 miles since Canada in all kinds of weather. Thru hiking is an endurance sport. Thru hikers ignore discomfort and physical pain in order to accomplish their goal-and unfortunately sometimes it costs them their life.

If someone gets lost in the wilderness, please, build an SOS sign in an open field near your camp. Make it as large as possible and try to add color to it if possible. And make a signal fire if possible. Also, don't just sit there, but rather, explore radially out from your camp site 1/4 to 1/2 mile (and potentially more) by creating highly visible landmarks every 50 feet or so to mark your trail back to camp (such as stacked boulders, or by creating arrows on the ground using loose branches that have fallen from trees). As you build the trail markers and walk away from them, stop and look back at them as you walk away from them because they look different from different angles. Sitting there waiting for rescue is foolish unless you are physically too weak to explore your area where you might stumble onto the trail you departed from. I carry brightly colored bio-degradable tape in my backpack to mark trees when I am off trail. It does not weigh that much and makes it easy to mark your trail when you go off trail. Practice doing so because it is a skill that will take some trial and error to learn to do properly (you need to learn the distance that is best between markers and how to mark the trail so you can actually find your marks on the way back as it is harder than it seems to do correctly). PS-In 1990, anything with a satellite would have been unbearably expensive and way to heavy and fragile for use in hiking. Remember at that time, the PC had just been invented in the mid-1980s and PCs at the time probably had hard drive capacities measured in kilobytes. PSS-As a runner, I often encounter stray dogs. If one ever charges you, immediately charge back at it viciously and ferociously. I have found when most dogs are challenged, they cower in fear (not every time, but most of the time). If that does not work, deploy mace or the bear spray.

I'm not a hiker, but if I spotted someone who looked to be struggling on the trail I was hiking, I'd do my best to contact the local rangers to let them know so that they can have a head's up before it becomes a missing person's case.

Gigi imho was inspirational and just caught a bad break in hiking. I'm glad to have heard of her thanks to you! She passed doing what she loved and where she loved being

I’m not an experienced hiker but I love your channel. I just go for hikes that are safe (always remain in the trail) and usually go for short hikes.

Kyle, I really appreciate your channel. I’m too old to hike anymore and I sure miss it. I grew up and live in Utah. With 7 older siblings I always had someone to tag along with. They pushed me even though I had an artificial leg 🦵. Watching your videos makes me feel like I’m out there again ❤

Why do I torture myself and watch these videos before a backpacking trip? 😂 (rhetorical question..lol)

Although every tragic hiking story is sad, Rev. Turner's story really hit me hard..The combination of his daily journals and his poor dog Andy wanting to help and realizing there was nothing he could do to rescue his Dad...Andy probably ran around for days trying to find help...This makes me cry...Ive heard this story told on a few hiking channels and it hits even harder each time...I can't imagine being pinned under a boulder, trapped, getting weaker by the hour and just waiting to pass...So very sad ...RIP Rev. Turner and all the lost souls of the hiking community 🙏🙏🙏

It bewilders me how like 80% of people who hike in remote wilderness never even think to spend $300 on like a garmin In reach. In an emergency they can beeline to ya as a beacon. Like kayaking at sea same thing with a beacon and radio. When you flip over and current pulls you away you’ll never be found again. Life lost over $300

David Boomhauer s story is so so sad I’m so sorry his life was cut short so sorry for his suffering and his family

You speaking their names and telling their stories is amazing. One can only hope that their name is spoken after their days and maybe just maybe their 'story'. You're a scholar sir.

I don’t understand why when someone is missing the authorities don’t bother to check campgrounds. They have the ability to use a snowcat and check ever single campground. Maybe these campgrounds could a small emergency building with solar powered radio system…… sad for Otter and his family. Chris Fowler’s disappearance is suspicious…..

man, Otter really tried EVERYTHING! So so sad :( May he and all of the others in this video RIP.

About Sherpa’s case: a safety beacon that could’ve saved his life required a subscription to work?? That should be illegal.

"come here and let me tell you something"😂 yours and mr ballens youtube videos are my favorite i love the visuals

Watching videos like these really keeps you on your toes when solo hiking 😂

The first video really shows how much better your recording equipment is now🎉

Can't believe I finished a 3-hr youtube video. You did an awesome job. Thank you!

On todays episode of “Kyle Has Hiked Here Before” 😂

this channel has made me realize that hiking is soooo much more dangerous than i ever imagined

I have never hiked in my life but sure do enjoy your storytelling! Thanks!

I think one of the problems about lessons, is that they are often so obvious that they tend to be ignored or mocked for that reason, in part because many people who hike these trails often don't want to talk publicly about how disenchanted they are with life in the first place, and therefore take chances most would not. It goes without saying that you don't want to take hikes like these without being prepared, and having the right gear, food, location devices, maps, phone with power bank etc is advisable. Obviously pay attention to weather forecast, patterns, season etc, and be familiar with the trail before going. Don't do drugs on such trails as you are likely to need all the strength and wit when you are out in these elements. I could be advisable not to go alone, and try to be visible and communicate with people along the way as much as possible. Be aware of potential dangerous animals and how to best deal with them if you encounter them. I would also advise hikers on these trips and people in general to sort out the real reason they are doing these hikes, and what it means to them in regard to society, family, relationships and even existential beliefs about God or a Godless universe, for when you are out there alone the belief and attitude you have about people, nature, the elements around you, life and death becomes far more important than when living a normal life where you have the luxury of putting the serious thoughts away. I am aware that many go on these trails to push both the world and these serious thoughts away, but would advise that this is not smart. You can't run from truth, life and consequences of decisions, so don't take dangerous hikes unresolved about what the possible consequences can be. It is not uncommon for people to die or feel regrets about life's choices when faced with the unpredictable and tough often brutal nature. That said, people will do what they do and many who end up dead or with regrets did so knowing better, but willingly going against their own advise as priorities easily change when you depend on conditions which so easily change. There is plenty of good advises out there for people who seek it to live to the best of their ability, and get the most out of hikes with the best chance of survival. Still every man dies, not every man truly lives and I think it is impossible to ignore that people who leave civilization on a regular bases, often do so without the same fear or opposition to death most "city slickers" has. Still death is a very final thing, so my biggest advise would be to think about everything you can be prepared for, both to stay safe and alive, but also to leave life with closure for both yourself and others, if the inevitable day comes sooner than expected. Prioritize love, truth, details, preparation, respect, faith and hope and I have no doubt you will be better of regardless of what happens than without it.

I love your content … Otter’s story reminds me of a time when I’d gone sea kayaking in a rental kayak that had a hole and started getting filled with water … I did my best to save the kayak and there were a bunch of sailboats far out though when it started looking like it both me and the kayak were goners vs just the kayak I swam to shore and abandoned the kayak … it was a scary situation when I was in it though no regrets on my decision

I LOVE this Chanel as an avid hiker and woods person. I too have run across a few sketchy situations. I mostly hike the Ouchita and Ozark Mts

I have little flags that can be affixed to a tree to help with both navigation and S&R if missing. It narrows down the travel radius. You can date the flags to give S&R even more data. Hope I never have to use them, but they are good insurance, I think.

25:20 nah this is so scummy. The SOS should not be locked to a subscription. That's straight up evil

I gotta thank you for the drink lmnt advertisement...I have been recently diagnosed with an adrenal Insufficiency and this is a perfect recommendation! I love them and use it daily now that it's summer. Thank you thank you!

Rest in peace to the beautiful Gigi Wu.. Otter 🦦 my heart is with your family and friends ❤ Rest In Peace to everyone who passed doing what they loved

I love your channel Kyle. You seem like a wicked good dude. These long compilations are awesome. (Hopefully I can say this...) when I'm trimming my um "greens" I put on a compilation and it makes the task of trimming those sweet flowers all that more enjoyable, less tedious. I also watch all of your new stuff in my downtime before work in the morning.I love your channel. You are a strait shooter. I feel as though you're a good soul and that your personality shines through in your video making. Keep on creating. But, feel no pressure. For the people that love this channel will always be here.

Kyle....I love your channel. Your presentation of incidents is well researched by you! You are articulate, intelligent and also handsome. Never change your format. Yikes you even show pics and maps of where incidents occur. Excellent channel.

When hope starts to dwindle I think that's when things really begin to deteriorate !!

I feel so bad for Gigi, bikini was marketing & a great idea but she was a real person and so sad she injured her legs and could not set up her tent etc to stay warm. RIP ♥

Haven't watched the video yet but I just gotta say I've been addicted to watching these videos and happy to see a 3 hour long one. Keep up the awesome work!!! I always look forward to seeing your videos pop up on my feed :)

Very glad Andy survived.

I am a new subscriber. I love your channel. I've been binge watching your videos for days now. ❤ 😊

Kyle-Satellite phone or SOS device? Or both? What are your thoughts? Thanks! Love your story telling :-)

It is shuh-nook like a breakfast nook... rhymes with book

Feel so bad for David boomhauer. First his wife cheats and leaves him for his best friend, then he dies alone in the wilderness

We love you, Kyle!

The bar definitely has a security camera, bars often keep camera logs since so much can happen at them

new subscriber here! i stumble upon one of your videos the german family and like it, now im watching the rest of the videos keep it up!

Just looked up the Kalalau trail, and apparently there's an outbreak of very contagious norovirus going on right now. Cursed indeed

Another great compilation. Thank you very much.😮😊

Please do a part 2 some day 😢 may otter rest in peace 🙏

I grew up and live in the Smoky Mountains. I spent my childhood and young adult life camping and hiking. Not anymore! 😮

16:18 i hate to critize the SAR methods, because they seem to never take into account their varied advice about "never attempt to self rescue" shelter in place isnt any kind of advice if you're certain to die in place. Honestly, picking a direction on the compass is normaly a 1 in 180 chance of being successful. So, its about 50/50 but that better than hoping SAR will actually search more than a mile outside of a potential known possible location. If they'd use the planes and helos to do circular patterns expanding 400 meters in the rotation. Instead of back and forth grids no more that a mile and a half from your possible location.

I have burnt my tent and all my hiking gear. I am not becoming number 412 !!!

Here we go! Day just got better!

Sh-nook. Great video compilation.

love you guys. I think you and your journey is the best thing on youtube.

Use to feel like the AT in Georgia was just about sacred land in the 80s and 90s. Did day hikes alone all the time some over night alone too. Never occurred to me how dangerous it could be. (Doubt that cell phones work in most spots there to this day. But who knows.) Then I read a book (out of print) call Blood on the Trail about murdered hikers in West Virginia or Virginia. Ran into a weird guy on Springer Mtn once too but I just got down the trail. Today, I wouldn't do it if I could unless I was packing protection, defensive means.

(rubbing my hands together like a cartoon villain) ive been waitin for this one

Lake Placid has large alligators. 😜🤣🤣🤣

It would be really nice if you add time stamps between the stories so I know where one ends if I’ve already heard it and then where the next one begins

I am from Hawaii raised and born on Oahu. I know many stories about mainlanders visit hawaii and go hiking and get in distressing situations. Big island maui and other islands are dangerous to hike. I personally at the age of 15 hiked the ko'olau ridge trail and can say if you ain't from Hawaii do 3xpect jungle style settings and yes hawaii has the most rain fall in all of the use

Loved hearing about your own (mis)adventures

im so happy i found this channel 💛

3 hours of Kyle hates hiking 🚶‍♂️ 😮it's like Christmas came early! 🎄 Woooooo!!! Already paid my admission with the subscribe button way WAY BACK so I'm ready! Lesss GOOOOOO!!!!🤘🏻

Love listening to ur experiences .u know something isn't right. Kim UK x

Good reporting. Thanks!

Great video! I would have made several different hour long videos out of it for later content. Between this and your last video you could have had 6 or more individual videos as content. Plus, sometimes it's nice to get smaller doses and have the wait of anticipation. Either way I love all of your content. Thanks!!

Three hours! Love you kyleeeeee

Poor Otter 😞

Hi Kyle Ready for our trip

You were so close… Chinook Pass is actually pronounced “Shin-ook”👍🏼 love your channel

I never understood how people can stoop to speaking negatively about someone that is deseased, that is just plain evil and nasty.

I dont think articles calling her The Bikini Hiker are at all offensive. Isn't that how she was known? Now, if they slammed her in the article in any way, that would be sensational, irresponsible, and unkind.

Mirrors and powdered dye are probably not bad to take when your hiking close to winter.

Gigi Woo carrying 70 lbs. looks like approx. half her weight, could be too much ,but if you are comfortable with the weight and are use to it then there's not much of a argument against it. Accidents can happen for no logical reason. A loose rock, slippery root, etc etc. The only consolation, one dies doing that which they enjoy and love. Always sad when the hikers is so very young.

55.18, you can clearly see GiGi Wu's clothes in a lot of the shots she took, but of course all the public like to see is a morality tale about a pretty girl and social media. The "serve her right" implicit in peoples reactions is despicable, especially when they were the kind of people who would have given her the likes.

I have no desire to go out hiking like that, risking my life, doing it.

Greatest channel on RU-vid 👍🏻💪🏻😊

What i get out of watching these vids is WHAT NOT TO DO!!

Thanks!

It seems highly probable that some missing hikers may have been killed for their gear. Imo, this makes missing gear "un" mysterious. That includes shoes.

If you do another one of these videos I would appreciate if you could add a person his name is Kenny Veach he's out of Las Vegas and he was a hiker and Explorer if you type in his name you can get the whole story on him there's many people looking for him he's been missing since 2004 he disappeared in the mountains of Las Vegas anything you can do would be appreciated

technically the flag is obstructed, also the candle is beneath a lampshade, also great video per usual

hi kyle- greetings from switzerland!🥀

It kind of baffles me Garmin doesnt allow a nonsubscriber to still use the SOS button. Cellphones are required to let emergency calls go through. If a hiker uses the SOS charge them after the fact for a subscription or something. But ppl should be able to call for help if needed. Sure they should subscribe but like what? I also havent looked into the GPS in awhile so could be wrong about not being able to use SOS as a nonsubscriber.

Yes im ready for this got ma cuppa and im settled in ready. Bring. It. On!!! Hello from England!❤

David Paulidis said that all new iPhones have that SOS transponder already installed and everyone can access it during emergencies. Also changing your voicemail to state your coordinates or location so anyone calling will know and get the info even if phone dies is smart.

Kyle, I don't want to say that I have the Kyle withdrawal syndrome when you're gone, but I'd be a lot happier if you just never left. Welcome back!

The last story in Alaska does kind of remind me of the Grizzly man story which ended with a terrible bear encounter. Not sure if that's a different part of Alaska.

Dogs are typically pretty smart. Let them see you pick up a rock, either to bash or throw at, and see how they react. Be careful, but pick up a rock and watch. They notice, and sometimes back down and even run.

awww Chinook rhymes with book, very common term up here in Alberta. ;)

I'm over here laughing so hard at the possibility that people may have thought the bikini hiker actually did her hiking while wearing her bathing suits😂. I feel so bad for her that she almost got help. She seemed the closest to coming home.

Chinnok -> "Shin-nook". I grew up in a town off hwy 410. Government Meadows is a regular stop for hikers, snowmobilers & jeepers. (I'm of the latter) 🤙

Im not a hiker, but i do work with dogs. The trekking pole was a good idea. If you know of dogs on a trail, maybe bring treats, meaty ones with a strong smell are great. theyre a really good distraction. If that doesnt work theres also a can of compressed air they sell at the pet store used as a dog deterrent. It scares the crap out of them. Even a whistle would be a good idea. Anything to make a loud scary noise should deter them. Don't make direct eye contact either. Its a challenge to them. A super aggressive dog might take that as a sign to engage.

Bottom line is thru hikers are not backpackers in the traditional sense and have little actual outdoor skills. They wonder from town to town, from resupply to resupply. It’s all about following some over rated trail and not an actual wilderness experience.

I did a bit of Hiking in Himachal Pradesh. That was a different beast. So many headaches due to the thin air

Whats the deal with ppl so upset about pictures of gigi in her bikinis? Is it really that big a deal, she was young and beautiful so y not? If had a body like gigi I'd have taken bikini photos of myself too. Beautiful young woman such a tragic death😢

I enjoy your stories, even though I don’t hike for the sake of hiking I feel for the families but I also feel that people who take these type of risks, should understand their chances of not coming back. Some of these are tragic as they are more regular adventures gone wrong, but the extreme ones such as your last one here, it’s hard to feel sorry as that person accepted the risks and the potential outcome before they stepped foot on the trip. Not taking a gun in bear country, I can’t understand or comprehend that when they knew that time of year the bears were hungry Self preservation and being prepared for any outcome, no matter how unlikely, should be mandatory thinking when you have experience or Google for that matter to see how to prepare Very sad for the families who loved them, they are the real victims sadly…

Kyle, try telling the dog to sit and stay. Most are trained in those commands.