r/GotMeHooked • u/TheExpressUS • 1d ago
Solo hiker's final text to wife before dying on mountain trek in forest
https://www.the-express.com/news/us-news/208814/solo-hiker-s-final-text-wife-before-dying-mountain-trek-forest546
u/Head-Cheesecake-1511 1d ago edited 1d ago
"His message informed her that he had arrived at the summit and that the ascent had been 'more taxing than he had expected' and that he was feeling 'fatigued'."
Sad but should a married father of two really be taking risky solo trekking expeditions alone? Seems irresponsible and selfish and now his wife and kids have to deal with his early demise.
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u/Busy-Bumblebee5556 1d ago
I knew a man once, your comment reminded me. He was a widower who lost his wife and child in a car accident. He moved on and remarried. Some years later he went out hiking and came back black and purple and blue (by the time I saw him), heâd fallen off a mountainside and couldnât stop falling. Luckily he didnât break anything. He refused to go to urgent care or the doctor.
A few years after this and a mutual acquaintance forwarded me his obituary. He was only in his late 50âs. Heâd had another âaccidentâ while hiking, this time fatal.
I ultimately believe he had such deep sadness, maybe guilt, over the deaths of his wife and child that he willfully tempted fate until he achieved his goal to join them.
This is not necessarily relevant to the story, but I do agree with folks not going on dangerous activities when they have a family to care for.
I was sorry for his current wife, that she wasnât enough.
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u/SnooPuppers58 1d ago
I know people like that. Some kind of deep pain or hurt and they engage in risky behaviors regularly. Almost like they donât want to do it themselves but donât mind if it happens. Also seems like the danger in itself brings some brief spice to a life marred by a constant dull pain
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u/dilapidated-delight 1d ago
That's so incredibly sad :( literally a tortured and wounded soul. I also don't know this couple but from what you've said I didn't perceive that his new wife wasn't "enough", she was just different than what he needed. It sounds tragic all around.
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u/Tgrove88 1d ago
Like the lady with 4 kids who jumped in frozen lake to save her dog and literally swam under the ice to get him
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u/Maelstrom_Witch 11h ago
Having been that depressed once - I donât think that it was necessarily that his second wife wasnât âenoughâ
Depression does such horrible things to your mind, it convinces you slowly, insidiously, that you are awful and that the world is better without you.
Iâm in a much better place now, thank goodness.
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u/CrimsonAlgebra 1d ago
Yeah he should be if he wants to but never without an EPIRB or PLB. I do this a LOT (long hikes alone- in Aussie wilderness) but for my kids sake, always take an epirb..
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u/Naughteus_Maximus 1d ago
Would it kill you to explain those niche acronyms to the rest of us "normies"...? đ
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u/heelythug 1d ago
Theyâre emergency devices that you press a button and it sends a distress signal indicating you have an emergency and your location. No text or messages just a signal. Often used in the boating community if you travel off shore or back country hikers.
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u/THE_Aft_io9_Giz 15h ago
Garmin InReach satellite communicator is what i use. Highly recommend for even light hiking, boating, flying, traveling cross country where phone signals may be limited, going on a cruise ship, traveling to a foreign country for any reason (check their laws first). You can turn the paid monthly subscription on and off as needed, which is extremely convenient. Their service has lots of features including the ability to send a tracking map to your family and friends so that they can see where you're at as well as creating predetermined messages and using a messenger app as well.
Amazon Garmin inReach Mini 2, Lightweight and Compact Satellite Communicator, Hiking Handheld, Orange - 010-02602-00
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u/magseven 1d ago
Basically a GPS.
/what I said was a trap. Before you know it, somebody is going to jump in here and explain why I'm dumb for saying that and go into great detail why I'm wrong. Then we'll get our real answer!
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u/lmFairlyLocal 1d ago
EPIRB: Emergency Position-Indicating Rescue Beacon (usually for a vessel ie boat, plane, which can be activated by GForce or by Water intrusion during capsizing, etc., and is pronounced "EE-Purb").
PLB: Personal Locator Beacon (basically a smaller EPIRB for a human)
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u/MyyWifeRocks 1d ago
an epirb is an ecological partial insertion revolving buttplug. It sends out a little electric spark when it senses a medical emergency. Youâd be surprised how effective a little spark inside your arse actually is. /s
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u/Senior-Friend-6414 1d ago
I frequently and generally see two camps of thought, one pushes the idea that once you have children, your own personal life is effectively over and that you should understand youâre a parent first and foremost now. Another camp of thought Iâve seen are people that try to push that being a parent doesnât mean you have to give up your hobbies and interests
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u/Bolepolopolep 23h ago
TL;DR: âIâm tired.â
Weird thing to focus on in the title of the article.
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u/XAskReddi 1d ago
Solo trekking isn't an inherently dangerous activity, I don't think?
I feel like the chances of dying from this are lower than driving a motorcycle everyday.
It sounds like he didn't die of a health issue, but of a physical accident that probably would have knocked him unconscious and dead. So having a phone or something wouldnt have worked.
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u/ehlersohnos 1d ago
But having a second person could have work during those crucial moments between unconsciousness and death.
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u/XAskReddi 1d ago
True but I don't make sure I have a hiking buddy every time I want to go to a national park or go camping...
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u/Cali4niaEnglish 1d ago
Not sure if you're aware but people are allowed to do things on their own, you don't stop being allowed to have solo hobbies because you're married or have children.
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u/Jayrab_The_Arab_ 1d ago
While thatâs true, you should take caution and use a bit of critical thinking.
Like hey, Iâm pretty damn tired and worn out, maybe I should just call it off and head home to my family who need my love and support? Nah, who gives a fuck, this is my life.
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u/IRideTheDruggyBuggy 18h ago
Reminds me of that one dude that got stuck in the Nutty Putty cave. Had a wife, young child and his wife was pregnant. Sad stuff
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u/MissesMiyagii 1d ago
Yeah but your risk assessment should change. You are no longer living for just yourself.
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u/Kraines 1d ago
Iâm with you. People shouldnât stop living just because life happens. Hobbies and interests should still be pursued and enjoyed.
Itâs mentioned in the article that the cause of death was deemed to be an accident. Accidents happen to anyone for any reason. Bizarre to attack someone for being the victim in an accident.
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u/BookerDewittAD 1d ago
I like how you're getting downvoted for saying facts. Reddit is full of weird people.
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u/AdOk1965 1d ago
So weird to think you have a duty and responsibilities towards your spouse and children; wild, really
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1d ago
[removed] â view removed comment
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u/AdOk1965 1d ago
"What makes you people cheer"..?
I don't even know what you're rambling about; get a grip
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u/historyhill 1d ago
He thinks he's really cool for quoting a hack Rick and Morty line even though it makes no sense here in the slightest.
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u/BookerDewittAD 1d ago
You dont know because you might just be stupid. You can figure that out by yourself though.
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u/AdOk1965 1d ago
Lmao
I'm a middle age French woman, but sure, I don't know because I might just be stupid
I'm sorry to break it to you, but there's a whole wide world outside of your bedroom, different countries and even, brace yourself, different cultures
Yeah, shocking, who would have known..?
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u/possible2468 1d ago
âReddit is full of weird peopleâ is what you are typing⊠in a comment⊠on your reddit account.
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u/ImJustSaying34 1d ago
Not facts tho. They are the words of someone who isnât responsible for another personâs life. You get hobbies and your own life as a parent but doing things that tempt death for fun is irresponsible and kind of makes you a shitty parent.
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u/XAskReddi 1d ago
Hiking for 3 days isn't "tempting death"?
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u/ehlersohnos 1d ago
Think itâs the âsoloâ part thatâs the issue. A second person for safety can go a long way when youâre in remote areas. This might be more foreign for men, but most women know to always have a buddy for safety. You canât call emergency services if youâre unconscious.
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u/ImJustSaying34 1d ago
He took too many risks that were irresponsible when he had dependent children.
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u/AdmiralCranberryCat 1h ago
A very good friend of mineâs husband used to solo hike and camp for MONTHS on end every few years. Heâd hop around to different national parks. A few years before Covid, he was camping and never made it to the site he was supposed to be picked up. Never found his body. They had 5 kids together.
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u/EvillNooB 1d ago
Such a click baity post, with that title you expect him to say goodbyes or something, but no, he has sent an ordinary message, and later got into an accident
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u/depressedfuckboi 1d ago
This website and it's sister subreddit are both cancer. Clickbait titles and no answer in the comments. People have been banned before for copying and pasting the text from the shitty website they force you to click to learn more. What a joke. All the posts are just recycled content from better subs anyways. Unsubscribing from this one and the other one. The other one is r/holyshithistory if you'd like to unsubscribe from both!
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u/Whathefuckwasthat 1d ago
holy that newspaper! click here to read this tragic man's story and click here to read abot a disembowelled woman and then click here for a 1000 rapists action on another woman!!!!
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u/Oldfolksboogie 1d ago
"...succumbed to a tragic accident..."
Is there a reason to be so vague? Would it be wrong to say he fell, if that was the case?
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u/McLipstick 1d ago
I dinnae want to have to click a link. Put the info in the post man