Buy That Lady A Gps!

[+briansnat]

Hike turns into ordeal for mother, daughter

Friday, September 9, 2005

 

By RICHARD COWEN

STAFF WRITER, (Bergen) Record

 

Diane Battersby figured it would be the perfect way to spend the last day of

summer vacation with her 7-year-old daughter Lorian, on a morning hike to

Wyanokie High Point in Norvin Green State Forest on Wednesday.

 

"I thought it would be a nice mother-daughter day to mark the end of summer,"

the Riverdale mom said.

 

It was a lot more than that. Battersby's mother-daughter day evolved into an

ordeal that lasted deep into the night when they got lost on the trail and their

dog, Shane, injured a paw - forcing them to hunker down on the chilly forest

floor. It wasn't until a search and rescue team reached them about 3:30 a.m.

Thursday that the three weary hikers were headed home.

 

"We were on the blue dot trail and made it to High Point," the 48-year-old

Battersby said. "Then on the way back, somehow we ended up on the yellow dot

trail. I don't know where we missed the turnoff, but then all of a sudden we

were on the white dot trail and we were lost."

 

Lost in the mountains of northern Passaic County, without a cellphone and

without any water. Nothing to eat except some crackers and half a peanut-butter

sandwich. And a dog that had rubbed its paw raw on the rough terrain.

 

As dusk descended, Battersby decided it was safer to stay put than to wander the

woods in the dark. So she and Lorian found a flat piece of ground, hung their

backpacks on tree limbs to keep them away from wild animals and got ready to

spend the night.

 

Battersby said she began to shiver from the cold and that Lorian began to wonder

if any bears would attack.

 

"We said our prayers and sang our songs," Battersby said. "Then we listened for

animal noises. But all we heard are owls."

 

Lorian had a sweater in her backpack and put it on. But her mother had nothing

but the layer of clothes on her back. So she told her daughter about

hypothermia, a dangerous loss of body heat.

 

"I told her if mommy wasn't moving, then she should just stay here until the

rescue team arrived," Battersby said. "I figured it was better if she knew

rather than not know."

 

Battersby had told her husband she was going to Norvin Green State Forest, and

she figured he would contact authorities when she didn't come home. Around 8:30

p.m., her husband, David Gish, phoned Ringwood police. By 11 p.m. a search and

rescue team numbering about 100 people was combing though the forest, which is

primarily in Bloomingdale.

 

Capt. Bryan Enberg of New Jersey Search and Rescue said it's not unusual for

hikers to get lost in Norvin.

 

"It's not a huge park, but it has a lot of trails," he said. "It can get pretty

complicated."

 

Lorian fell asleep, but Battersby stayed wide awake. To her relief, the search

and rescue team arrived around 3:30 a.m. and they began the one-hour trek out of

the forest. Her husband was waiting at the entrance with a big hug for the two

of them.

[+AuntieWeasel]

Buy her a cellphone.

[+BlueDeuce]

and a cigarette lighter.

[+GPS Guy]

And a flashlight and map and jacket. At least she told her husband where she was going, and knew to sit tight in one place.

[+Packanack]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Norvin Green has the highest number of lost hiker reports of any State Park. Due in part to its bumping up against open areas that do not have marked trails.

[+reveritt]

So what was the husband doing all that time?

[+GeoKender]

So what was the husband doing all that time?

The husband is the one who notified the authorities. I am glad they came out OK.

 

Thanks to the S&R teams!

[+briansnat]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Norvin Green has the highest number of lost hiker reports of any State Park. Due in part to its bumping up against open areas that do not have marked trails.

I know they get a lot. A local ranger told me Norvin Green and the Brushwood Pond area of Ringwood State Park are the worst spots for lost hikers.

 

They recently posted signs at all the trail intersections in Norvin Green to help the situation.

[+GeoKender]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Norvin Green has the highest number of lost hiker reports of any State Park. Due in part to its bumping up against open areas that do not have marked trails.

I know they get a lot. A local ranger told me Norvin Green and the Brushwood Pond area of Ringwood State Park are the worst spots for lost hikers.

 

They recently posted signs at all the trail intersections in Norvin Green to help the situation.

 

Perhaps a "YOU ARE HERE." kiosk would be helpful for some.

[Captain Chaoss]

Perhaps a "YOU ARE HERE." kiosk would be helpful for some.

That was a good one. LOL. It would make a great Saturday Night Live skit. "Look mommy, we must be a hundred miles from civilization !!! " From off screen, " actually little girl, about 38.4."

 

Camera pans to David Spade sitting there with his earphone headset, and a laptop.