The October issue of "Adirondack Life" has a rather extensive article concerning the large number of unsuccessful SAR missions in the central Adirondacks. There have been many cases where the lost adventurer either turns up dead months later (in one case 30 years) or in several cases has never been found. The disproportionate number of disappearances is starting to give the area a "Bermuda Triangle" reputation. I've explored this great area since I was a kid and never had a serious problem. It's remote but I wouldn't consider it overly treacherous for the well-prepared outdoorsperson.

So here's the question for discussion: Do you think some people go into the woods not wanting to be found? Either as a quiet and dignified way to end it all or to fake a disappearance and come out a different trailhead to start a new life? It'd be great to get some opinions from those with SAR experience.

I couldn't agree with you more. I don't know if you've read "At the Mercy of the Mountains", but there are several stories with similar situations in the book. And after reading it a few years ago, I began to wonder the same question you have just posed. Very peculiar indeed.

Hmmm, interesting, I'm not doubting it, but I do know there are a lot of unprepared people who wonder around up there. I wouldn't be surprised if over half of the incidents were just out of pure ignorance.

Hotoven wrote:Hmmm, interesting, I'm not doubting it, but I do know there are a lot of unprepared people who wonder around up there. I wouldn't be surprised if over half of the incidents were just out of pure ignorance.

I completely agree that a lot of unprepared people go out into the woods. I think that in general SAR does an admirable job of saving them before they can't be saved. This question relates more to the fraction of a percent that are never found alive, or never found period. The article I referenced quoted cases with both experienced outdoorsmen and newbie hikers just vanishing.