Whydmer t1_j6zs6sp wrote on February 3, 2023 at 1:14 AM

Reply to comment by Classic_Cream_4792 in West Fork Oak Creek, Sedona, Arizona, USA [OC] 1920x1370 by ShexyBaish6351

I did that hike whfrom the top down when I was 18, it was a bit of a cluster fuck as we got a very late start considering the mileage and terrain involved. The guy leading the trip didn't pay attention to where everyone was and one guy got so far behind he turned around and headed back to where the cars were parked where we started the hike hoping he would get there before the AR owners were dropped off at them. Unfortunately he went up the wrong side Canyon and got rimmed out. Those of us who were in the car that was he was supposed to be in were waiting at the Oak Creek end for him and we had no idea this was happening. We waited a couple hours before calling Yavapai Sheriff department, and then I volunteered to go with search and rescue back up the canyon to try and find him. He was finally found alive by a helicopter the next evening. I was totally disgusted by the trip leader. I did learn to always know where people were and hike at the back of any group if I had concerns about people.

ShawnBootygod t1_j70gba9 wrote on February 3, 2023 at 4:24 AM

What a terrible trip leader but also did no one notice he was gone when he fell behind?

Whydmer t1_j70j626 wrote on February 3, 2023 at 4:51 AM

Frankly, no. I was at the front of the group most of the way, so I just wasn't paying attention. Once we got to the trailhead in Oak Creek then a couple of us sat down, waited and started counting people. Once everyone was supposedly there those of us counting realized we were missing one person, and I had been talking with the guy at the start of the trip so I knew who was missing. After the trip leader said he couldn't wait around one of the other drivers, myself and another guy or two volunteered to wait.

ShawnBootygod t1_j70kefv wrote on February 3, 2023 at 5:02 AM

Damn dude I wouldn’t hike with that guy again even as an experienced hiker that’s just a shitty thing to do. I had a similar experience in Paria Canyon when on the second day two of the most experienced hikers made it so far ahead we had to make camp without them. The next day I volunteered to get out early and basically jog for awhile to try to catch them. Eventually I decided enough was enough and waited for the rest of the group after not catching up to the two. We did 3 more days in the canyon without ever seeing them. Turns out they just hiked through the night with no regard for anyone else in the group and we haven’t hiked with them since.

Augustus_Medici t1_j729x0x wrote on February 3, 2023 at 3:43 PM

Wow sounds like a couple of pricks. I've mostly encountered friendly people on the trails, but the beauty of nature is appreciated by assholes as well I suppose.

ShawnBootygod t1_j73alwh wrote on February 3, 2023 at 7:36 PM

One of them was a decent hiker buddy of mine and had always had some weird quirks like that but he’d never done anything this bad. Thankfully it was a group of 12 and losing 2 wasn’t that big of a deal other than worrying about them. Myself and 2 others were experienced enough to still handle the rest of the group but the hiker that had ditched us was the only one who’d ever done Paria before so it was pretty messed up. Turns out Paria is a one way in one way out canyon so it ended up fine.

Whydmer t1_j73dp3g wrote on February 3, 2023 at 7:55 PM

I refused to go on any hikes with him for about 5 years, and then I was leading a short hike up Boynton Canyon and I allowed him to come, and he was an aggressive A'hole, and ended up trying to get people, many of whom were inexperienced hikers, to go off trail and bushwack on the way back out. Second and last time I ever did anything with him.