joannqn Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 UPDATE: They finally made contact. They were just moving slowly and the road up there (dirt road) was bad which further slowed them down.He went on his first hike with boy scouts today. They were do back 2 hours ago. No one has heard from them. It is two adults and two boys. One adult is an experienced hiker; I don't know about the other. I'm waiting for my husband to get the car info on the other adult (still at the drop off point). We are hoping that will help us figure out who the other adult is and maybe try calling a cell. If that doesn't pan out in the next 15 minutes or so, we're reporting them missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*lifeoftheparty* Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Oh my :( I'm sorry. I am about to go to bed and will pray about this! I hope everything is ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying, JoAnn. Where did they go? Fortunately today was a good weather day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyontheFarm Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying. Please don't wait to call the police. They really won't mind if you call them back in 30 minutes to say oh never mind they are back! Call now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 They went to Alpine Lakes, wherever that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JadeOrchidSong Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying! Hope they will be back safely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Oh no! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 :grouphug: Praying that everything is okay and he's home safely very soon. ' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilaclady Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying. Hope they return quickly. Pls call now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Oh my! Heartbreak! Praying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMV Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Prayers for your son and the rest of his party's safe return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying for their safety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Did they have to drive to the hiking area? Maybe they're just stuck in traffic coming back. Hopefully everything is okay. Please let us know when you hear from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbookbuzz Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Lifting all of you up in prayer! Please keep us in the loop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbi in Texas Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying here. Please update when you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 :grouphug: Hoping for a safe return. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in SC Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying here. Hugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbmom77 Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying for a safe return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 They finally made contact. They were just moving slowly and the road up there (dirt road) was bad which further slowed them down. By the time they get home, they'll be 3 to 3 1/2 hours late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairClaire Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyontheFarm Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praise the Lord! I'm glad they made contact with you! Everyone is ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 I'm glad that they are safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 They went to Alpine Lakes, wherever that is. the alpine lakes wilderness area is between cle ellum, leavenworth and gold bar/off hw 2 depending what part they go to. you're in Olympia aren't you? that's quite a drive each way. how long did they estimate to be gone total? one map estimated nearly 3 hrs each way just for driving. highway 2 - stevens pass is open to play in the snow this past week. yeah - in September/October. (the road itself should be clear of snow). at least the weather has been nice today - it even hit 70 at our house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 They finally made contact. They were just moving slowly and the road up there (dirt road) was bad which further slowed them down. By the time they get home, they'll be 3 to 3 1/2 hours late. That seems to be the norm for Scouts and hiking. It ALWAYS takes longer than they say it will. I mentally add 3 hours to whatever time they say they're going to get home. Actually, nobody around here even gives "arriving home" times anymore...when they get here, they get here. Glad your son is safe and sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 Praise the Lord! I'm glad they made contact with you! Everyone is ok? We need to talk to my son in detail when he gets home. The story is that they were just slow moving and the road up there (a dirt forest service road) was really bad. However, when my son called he sounded shaken. The first thing I said was "Where are you?" Then I heard his voice and switched gears and asked, "Are you okay?" I was hyped from everything I had blocked that out until my daughter mentioned that he sounded shaken when he first called. She's sitting about three feet away from me and heard it and mentioned it (even though she wasn't on the phone and the phone wasn't on speaker...you know how you can sometimes here the caller). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 the alpine lakes wilderness area is between cle ellum, leavenworth and gold bar/off hw 2 depending what part they go to. you're in Olympia aren't you? that's quite a drive each way. how long did they estimate to be gone total? one map estimated nearly 3 hrs each way just for driving. highway 2 - stevens pass is open to play in the snow this past week. yeah - in September/October. (the road itself should be clear of snow). at least the weather has been nice today - it even hit 70 at our house. They left around 7:30am and said they would be back between 5:30 and 6pm. Even the leader's wife was worried because he's usually back on time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilaclady Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Glad they are safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Just saw this, very glad he is OK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 the alpine lakes are at elevation. Many at above 4000'. stevens pass had two feet of snow last weekend (*very* unseasonal). they were open today (I think they set a record for earliest season open). the important thing is they are on the road coming home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Hope everything is ok even after they come home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 I'm so glad to hear they're safe! I ALWAYS make sure Indy carries his cell phone (not a smart phone). There is generally a rule that the Scouts shouldn't have phones, but I tell the Scout master that I want Indy to carry it in case of emergency. If they're going to be late or whatever, he can call me and let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 He's home. He says he was scared because I had told him that we had called the police. Apparently, he had no clue that they were late, let alone late enough to call out search and rescue. He also feels a little guilty because he was the slow one, and he had been asked if he wanted to turn back half way and do just five miles. He opted to do the whole ten. We explained that the leader, knowing that they were behind schedule, should have made that call himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 :grouphug: glad he is safe :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 I am very glad your son is home safe! That's a scary feeling, waiting for the overdue child on a field trip. That said, I have to ask - was this an official scout trip, or just a couple of friends who happen to belong to the same troop. Because it seems to me that that is an unusually small group for an official outing. BSA requires a minimum two deep leadership team, and the Youth Protection policy states that no leader may be alone with a boy out of sight of other adult leaders. In the event that someone were injured on the trail, and someone needed to go for help with the injured while another went for help, there goes the ability to follow both of these very basic BSA operating tenets. I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I'm wondering how some of the other BSA trained boardies think about this. Do your guys usually go on such small outings as official field trips, especially to somewhat remote areas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 I think it's great that he completed a 10 mile hike at age 11! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 One thing that added to everyone's worry is that sunset was at 6:40pm today. So not only were they two hours late before they called, but it was dark and cold out. The high today was only 56 with an overnight low of 38. It was an official hike for the troop. The troop is the oldest and largest in the area, but hikes seem to be handled pretty casually. They are announced and information about where, when, and what to bring is provided. Then whoever shows up goes; there was no sign up. Had another adult not shown up, the trip would have been canceled. My husband had to wait around this morning, which is why we knew it was nearly canceled. As far as attendance on other hikes, I have no idea since my son has never gone on a hike. We had been waiting for a 5-mile hike to come up for his first one, but they kept scheduling 10 milers (and the annual 50 miler). His last two requirements for rank advancement required a hike. He really wanted to go so he could get his next rank. He knew if he didn't go, it would be a month or longer before he could get rank. So I let him go even though I didn't think he was ready for a 10 mile hike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 So glad he's found. Many hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 As far as attendance on other hikes, I have no idea since my son has never gone on a hike. We had been waiting for a 5-mile hike to come up for his first one, but they kept scheduling 10 milers (and the annual 50 miler). His last two requirements for rank advancement required a hike. He really wanted to go so he could get his next rank. He knew if he didn't go, it would be a month or longer before he could get rank. So I let him go even though I didn't think he was ready for a 10 mile hike. I'm not sure if this is how Boy Scouts works, but would it be appropriate for a member to ask leadership to arrange for the kind of hike/support that he needs to complete his project/rank? It could be a good lesson in speaking up to ask for what you need... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 I'm not sure if this is how Boy Scouts works, but would it be appropriate for a member to ask leadership to arrange for the kind of hike/support that he needs to complete his project/rank? It could be a good lesson in speaking up to ask for what you need...It would absolutely be appropriate. The boy interested in a shorter hike could easily research area trails of that length and should feel confident that making a proposal about a shorter hike would be met with support and enthusiasm by the leaders. Of course they would have input and final say over the actual activity chosen, but scouts is supposed to emphasize a scout (youth) led group, with leaders there for guidance, support and safety. Joann, your son is a trooper. Way to achieve rank! But personally I feel that the leaders did not do their due diligence with ensuring the activity was on par with the participants' level of experience (impossible without a sign up list). Not sure this "old and established" troop would change its ways but at least now your son knows that he might need to ask questions/speak up when he needs more info about activities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 Even the scout master and the leader's wife were worried when they were two hours overdue with no contact. Apparently, this guy is normally good about knowing how long a hike will take and getting back on time or close to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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