PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – An Appalachian Trail hiker who died after getting lost in the woods of Maine did the right thing by setting up camp to wait for help, officials say. But the guidance evolved into a gray area, they said, after she went a week without being rescued.
Rita Hennessy from the National Park Service, which oversees the Appalachian Trail, said people who’re lost are commonly advised to stop moving.
“When you realize you’re lost, and nothing looks familiar, then stop, don’t panic, and stay put,” said Hennessey, program manager for the national trail system.
That’s exactly what 66-year-old Geraldine Largay of Tennessee did in July 2013 when she left the Appalachian Trail to use the bathroom and became disoriented.
She had most of the items on hikers’ “10 essential” list. She had food, water, shelter, maps, a compass, several lighters, a whistle and cellphone, meaning she was equipped to survive in the woods while awaiting rescue from hundreds of searchers. Her husband also knew her hiking route.