I got lost in the woods (sorry, long)

first, I never get lost. I've been hunting with my dogs for over 25 years, but in the wide open spaces of wyoming.
Saturday we had a snow storm, and were due to get more later in the day. I wanted to take the dogs for a run on a wooded 4 acre lot that we have. It's really rugged land, very steep and heavily wooded. Dh and I had andy with us, and we'd put one of the leashes around his wrist so we could help him up the steep slopes and keep him from falling down. We had all four dogs, the two "young" ones (5 yrs old), the 10 year old, and the 12 year old- Iput a coat on her because they are short haired skinny dogs.
The young ones range out a bit hunting, but I call them back if they get too far away. But I looked down to help andy, and when I looked up both monkey and macan were gone. I called them for a while, then left andy with DH and started following tracks in the snow- deer tracks and dog tracks. It started snowing again. I followed tracks for a while, slipping and sliding and half crawling up some of the steep slopes, in snow and deep leaves, covering rocks (I discovered there's rocks under the leaves after falling a couple of times). It was taking a long time, and I thought I'd better start circling back. But although I normally have a good sense of direction, all of a sudden I couldnt' get a good feel for where "back" was.
I stayed on the ridges, hoping to be able to see something, but with the trees, the snow, and more ridges all around, I couldn't. Monkey came in from behind me, but Macan was still missing. I thought oh well, she's probably back at the truck. Since we were just walking the small lot, I didn't have my cell phone with me.
The terrain started looking too different- too many cedar trees, much rockier. So I back tracked. This went on for a while. I tried calling out and listening for an answer, but it was deadly silent in the woods- maybe the falling snow muffles everything. The old dogs were getting cold and tired.
After I was gone an hour, my DH called 911. After two hours, he called my parents and asked them to come up (about an hour and half drive) and pick up andy so he could look for me. The sheriff didn't show up for an hour.
After almost four hours, I found a four wheeler track, and followed it. After a couple of miles, it came out on a narrow road, and I followed this to a house. I yelled hello till someone came out (barking dog in the yard, and I didn't want to approach with my 3 dogs). He let me use his cell phone to call a very relieved DH, and I had to give the phone back to him so he could give directions to his house. Macan had not gone back to the truck, no sign of her. The homeowner said he'd seen macan an hour ago, but she'd run off when she saw him. I was very worried now, and said I didn't want to come in and warm up, I'd walk up the road and call for her in case she was in the area (we were very far from where we started, and it would take a while for the sheriff and DH to drive there). I walked the steep road. We got accosted by five farm dogs and I had to throw snowballs to scare them off. I came around a turn and there was macan trotting away from me, in the middle of the road. I called her name, but when she turned there was no recognition, just confusion and worse- she looked like she was going to bolt. Sometimes when dogs get lost, they go almost feral very quickly- maybe it's the unfamiliar terrain, or some kind of survival mode, but there was no sign she knew me or my voice. I back up and knelt down, and turned one of the old dogs loose. She walked a few steps forward and stopped, and then macan slowly approached close enough where I could grab her collar and get a leash on her. She never greeted me in her normal enthusiastic manner. I continued up the road- it was a very long driveway, and when I got to the main road, I just sat down in the snow and let the freezing tired dogs pile on top of me. The sheriff and DH arrived and picked us up. I needed dry clothes and a hot shower and bed, but couldnt' sleep going over and over the "what ifs".
The dogs had a trip to the vet chiropracter today and all needed some work- monkey and macan have coughs from over exertion and are pretty beat up from running full speed after deer in that rocky terrain. I'm still sore today.
That was my weekend adventure. I have wished for a garmin forerunner for Christmas, before all this, wonder if I'll get it now. But now, I need the forerunner AND garmin astro gps collars for the dogs!
vickie

Wow, Vickie, that was scary to read. I can't imagine how you must have felt! I'm glad that you found your way and your dogs. I hope everyone is OK.

Yow, scary. So glad you are all OK.

Wow! Glad you and the dogs made it ok!

OMG... what an ordeal. I'm glad you got back Macon back. I hope she is okay and not confused.

House cats when they accidently leave a house will do the same. It's a scary feeling that your own baby could run away like that...

I am really glad that everything turned out okay and you made it home safely too.

smilingcat

OY! :eek: Glad everyone one home safe and dry.

That is one scary adventure story you've got there. I'm glad you and the pups made it back home safely. A good lesson for all of us that even a short, fun trip can turn "bad" in a hurry. I always carry my phone (much to my DH's relief) when I wander, because sometimes I wander too far; especially on my bike.
I'm really glad you're ok!!! :)

you're right- I didn't have my cell phone because we were so close to the cars, and my husband had his. I should have at least got his from him prior to setting off after the dogs; my cell phone was in the truck, and he could have used it if necessary. I also own a handheld gps- it was at home- once again, because we were only walking around this small wooded lot (this is in missouri- rocks, hills, and woods). I usually have high visibility hunting blankets on the dogs, as well as elastic collars with my phone number on them. None of these, because it was just supposed to be a quick walk due to the weather.
never again, I've learned my lesson not to get complacent about these things.

wow, quite the story. Glad you all made it back!

I am so glad you are ok!

So glad you made it back and found all the dogs! That is a scary experience! I've been lost a couple of times - finally found my way at the end but it is very disconcerting and then to know you did not have one of your dogs too would be really scary.

That GPS is a must!


spoke

So glad things turned out the way they did! Getting lost is one thing but getting lost in a snow storm is another. I am glad you and the pups are safe and sound. Its time to remember the "girl/boy scout" motto of always be prepared. I am learning that the hard way quite often these days.

My Mom tends to walk on the beach by herself alot and doesn't carry ID or cellphone on her. I got her a RoadID for Christmas so hopefully she will wear it on her little jaunts.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Wow, so glad all came out positive for you and your furkids. That is one scary experience. I am glad you shared your story because it will make all of us who read it, think twice when we head out the door for 'just a short walk'.

Hey there Fastdogs, don't apologise for the long post... a good if somewhat scarey story, and a timely reminder for those having winter now to always be cautios and never underestimate conditions.

So pleased you had Monkey and crew to keep you company - it will have helped to have others to listen to you, and give you reassuring looks while you all tried to find your way clear.

Like the others here, so pleased this story had a happy ending.

So glad you're ok. Sounds like something that could easily happen to near any of us, your story is a good reminder of that.

Just a reminder for y'all, hypothermia isn't strictly a wintertime or even cold weather event.

So glad you are OK!

I am currently reading a book called Panic Rising. It is a bunch of short, true accounts of people in a variety of locations and conditions who got caught out in bad conditions through a variety of circumstances...and all made it home. It is not a preachy book at all...just a very good book to remember just how fast the natural world around us can change, even when we are close to home and the weather is perfect when we start.

It is an interesting book. Good cautionary tales, and kind of neat to read about regular folks making it out of all kinds of things.

Holy cow!! that is one scary story! I'm glad it turned out all right in the end.

Wow! What an adventure! Glad it ended well. Glad the other dogs were with you (can help stave off both panic and cold!).

Thanks for the post and I am soooo glad you are all ok! Like everyone has said, it's good to read as a reminder. I just go out for a "bit" all the time and forget how quickly things can change.

Your harrowing hours are a good wake-up nudge for all of us.

Holy cow! You were lost in Dittmer!!! It is soooooooo wooded there. You could go forever and not see a road or house back in there. Did you have a cell phone? I imagine the signal may be iffy in parts. And that snow we had was unreal. My son saw his friend flip his truck on the road. (Friend was fine). It just dumped. Did the snow hit before you were found? So glad you are okay!

I have a Garmin GPS. It's the Venture CX. Fairly inexpensive and it has a backtrack feature. I got it because I got lost on the gravel roads here. One for the dogs sounds like a good idea, though. Whew...that must have been scary.

It was near Eureka, a little place (not even a town) called hoene springs. If you look on google maps at meadowbrook valley in eureka, you can see the wooded area between HWY W and john mckeever road. I would love to know the route I took.
I don't think I'm getting the forerunner I wanted for Christmas. But I bit the bullet (charged up the credit card) and ordered the dogs (two of them, the younger ones, the troublemakers) gps collars. The handheld reciever is a regular gps, so it'll have to do for on the bike as well for now, just carry in my handlbar bag. The thought of one of them lost is more than I can stand. It'll be useful when I go hunting in wyoming after jackrabbits, so might be fun to play with.
No cell phone on me. It was during the day, and was snowing pretty good the whole time. I need to just carry a fanny pack with me no matter how short the walk, whenever I've got the dogs along or go off by myself, and carry the cell phone, gps reciever, and maybe even something to start a fire as was suggested. Sounds like overkill till I remember being out there. I just heard on the news a father and three kids were just found after being lost in the woods for three days- they went to cut a Christmas tree and got lost. Don't know where it was though.
vickie

I know where Hoene Springs is. There are, what, 3 houses and one curve on W there? Lots of hills and Big River. When I moved to Belle, my dad insisted I not take Hwy W home because if I broke down I would have to walk and walk to find help. Were those ridges the ones overlooking Big River? Man, you did some climbing, didn't you? And you WERE in that snow. That was the weirdest storm. So fast. Guess you never know.

Have a Merry Christmas, Vickie, so glad you are safe!