Left in Wilds, Man Penned Dying Record

[mstng86]

He dumps his shot shells in the river, he doesn't set up a pickup for the pilot to get him, he mistakenly tells a rescue pilot that he's fine and doesn't need help, then he shoots himself in the head.

Exactly, I started to point out everything in my last post, but thought it wasn't necessary.

He could have done that to save face to the world. Maybe he would rather have been looked at as a dumbass than considered a professional bullet muncher.

[chuckacosta]

This thread, in and of itself, is a very good read. Thanks for the entertainment boys!

[Strychnine]

No conspiracy, just a dumb ass.

This...

I can't help but have a little respect for these guys getting out and living their dreams. It may have killed them, but you might also die not living your dreams.

And this.

[Jose]

He made mistakes constantly, over and over, which ended up getting himself killed. If I was out there, I would always carry a weapon to take down any target of opportunity. I surmise given his bad decisions he probably didn't proactively store food until it was too late.

Totally agree. He was ill prepared to be out there and probably should never have been there in the first place.

[DamonH]

Totally agree. He was ill prepared to be out there and probably should never have been there in the first place.

Unless you believe the theory he went out to commit suicide (which I don't), he was plenty prepared for the trip he intended to take. He did not take any big game guns because he did not think he would need to shoot big game. He had only planned to be out until August. If he would have not mistakenly forgot to clarify his flight out of there everything would have been fine and he wouldn't have needed any of the supplies/guns/etc you guys suggest. He stayed 3 months past what he had planned and I think some of you are glassing over that. He had been there for 5 months a few years before and survived just fine. I'm sure he didn't know how dire his situation was until it was too late. Had he realized his mistake earlier he could have possibly conserved enough to hike out, or survive the winter.

[CJ]

Unless you believe the theory he went out to commit suicide (which I don't), he was plenty prepared for the trip he intended to take. He did not take any big game guns because he did not think he would need to shoot big game. He had only planned to be out until August. If he would have not mistakenly forgot to clarify his flight out of there everything would have been fine and he wouldn't have needed any of the supplies/guns/etc you guys suggest. He stayed 3 months past what he had planned and I think some of you are glassing over that. He had been there for 5 months a few years before and survived just fine. I'm sure he didn't know how dire his situation was until it was too late. Had he realized his mistake earlier he could have possibly conserved enough to hike out, or survive the winter.

You're mistakenly assuming he was unaware of clarifying his flight home. He knew the moment he was dropped off he didn't have it taken care of. I find it hard to believe he suddenly realized he forgot to pay the pilot to pick him up. He left no indication when he should be rescued, etc. He even had a rescue plane check on him and he waved him off with the "wrong signals." I can understand the suicide plot to a degree. The pilot essentially says he made 4 passes and had no indication he was needing rescue, as far as the pilot is concerned, he was waving him off. His actions are so belligerent I have trouble even making assumptions on his behalf. The evidence is there to support both theories.

[EW]

Uh...wouldn't the first step of planning the trip be when will the trip start and when will it end? Then how much stuff will I need to be in BFE for that long? You could only figure out how much stuff by knowing how long. Seems like a really dumb move not just a mistake like "dang it, I forgot my camera."
And...he left no itinerary with ANYONE????
At least today, there are pocket GPS units that can send signals whenever you want.

[CJ]

Uh...wouldn't the first step of planning the trip be when will the trip start and when will it end? Then how much stuff will I need to be in BFE for that long? You could only figure out how much stuff by knowing how long. Seems like a really dumb move not just a mistake like "dang it, I forgot my camera."
And...he left no itinerary with ANYONE????
At least today, there are pocket GPS units that can send signals whenever you want.

Exactly. Let's just say he happened to forget he forget to book a flight home. He notes it in his journal. The moment you realized this (for the sake of discussion) it would be time to pack your shit up and leave right at that moment. Once fall/winter comes, you're dead.

[Jose]

Well if he was planning suicide why even bother signaling the plane at all?

[EW]

That's what I was thinking. If he had started walking early, he would have been out of there.

[Lone Sailor]

Well if he was planning suicide why even bother signaling the plane at all?

If his intent was suicide then he probably thought if he didn't signal to them then they would send someone in to check on him, which would foil his plan of people thinking he took his own life out suffering to the extreme.

[mstng86]

I am telling you guys, he committed suicide and wanted to make it look like it was negligance on his part to save face and not disgrace his family.

[CJ]

Well if he was planning suicide why even bother signaling the plane at all?

Then he can't commit suicide. He waves them off, and now he's back on his terms.

[Jose]

I still don't get the suicide angle here. If he offs himself with the gun why bother going through all the hardship of running out of food and starving himself and getting frost bitten. He's not saving face because he looks like a complete dumb ass and in the end, he still shoots himself in the head. I don't know... either way he's an idiot.

[DamonH]

It was easy to miss, but blownragtop posted a link to a newspaper article that had more information. You can see it here -> http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...pg=1147,130812

And...he left no itinerary with ANYONE????

In the article above, he did leave maps with some friends in Fairbanks and one with his Dad. The problem is he had left the trip "opened ended". If things went well he'd stay longer, possibly even through winter his Dad says. His friends were the ones that alerted the plane that flew over, but the pilots misread his signals.

You're mistakenly assuming he was unaware of clarifying his flight home. He knew the moment he was dropped off he didn't have it taken care of. I find it hard to believe he suddenly realized he forgot to pay the pilot to pick him up.

Granted I'm going from the newspaper article, but from what he put in his diary he expected to be picked up in August from the pilot. He gave the pilot money to fix his plane, and expected to be dropped off and picked up. The pilot says it was only to be dropped off. Carl noted in his diary that after several conversations the pilot said, "not to count on him as he could be in Anchorage by that time". That should have been a big time clue that he needed to solidify the agreement, but still looks like a misunderstanding to me.

He left no indication when he should be rescued, etc. He even had a rescue plane check on him and he waved him off with the "wrong signals." I can understand the suicide plot to a degree. The pilot essentially says he made 4 passes and had no indication he was needing rescue, as far as the pilot is concerned, he was waving him off. His actions are so belligerent I have trouble even making assumptions on his behalf. The evidence is there to support both theories.

True, there is no way to know for sure. Just as signals can be confused. I've seen lots of actual rescue videos (this sort of thing really intrigues me if you can't tell) and most people just non-nonchalantly wave - either due to zero energy, not actually believe they will be seen, or not believing what they are seeing is actually real.

I am telling you guys, he committed suicide and wanted to make it look like it was negligance on his part to save face and not disgrace his family.

Pretty elaborate plan just to go commit suicide, I'd think there were a lot better ways to do it.