This hiking story sounds FAKE but is 100% true (Pacific Crest Trail nightmare)
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- The tragic, yet incredible story of John Donovan on the Pacific Crest Trail.
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Getting lost up there is rough. I got out because some random hiker lady came along and showed the way back down. I can’t imagine not stopping to help others who are struggling.
Did that make you feel like a dummy?
@@PlumSack79 that was unnecessary. go hug someone.
@@jlt131 no no, I asked if they felt like a dummy, I hope so, provide motivation to carry a GPS and 1:25000 map if you're not fully competent at mountain navigation.
@Xi Jinping
Don’t they already? Not a hiker, but would not be caught dead without all of the gear. I’m a packrat, and you should see my purse that I carry everywhere with me. I would be damned if I went hiking without a freaking GPS.🤪 It weighs nothing! And a personal locator beacon
Absolutely 😊
I am a life long hiker and if you ask me, the Canadian pair broke a cardinal rule. If you meet with someone who is less able & they are trying to get down in bad conditions, you stick with them. It was bollocks what that guy said "He was going to climb Fuller Ridge no matter what we said" The old fella was headed down & so desperate for help he shadowed them for some time. They admit he had fallen several times. Obviously his pace was slower than theirs. They'd had words with him the night before and because they didn't like him, they just couldn't be arsed helping him out. They abandoned him.
Even if he had been too much for them to cope with alone, his life would have been saved had they left him camped in a safeish spot and informed rangers he needed rescue as soon as they had got to the town.
It seems to me some hikers are too selfishly focussed on their own goals or schedule rather than helping an other stay safe! Man you gotta hope you never run into people like that..
Totally agree with you. I thought the hiking community was supportive, but no, everyone is too caught up in their own success. Life is not precious these days. Some people are very selfish
I once met a guy in a group kayak/hike tour (we're all strangers to each other, just happened to end up in the same group because kayak company grouped us together. He might be from the States if I remembered right, full of motivational talks, and how he loves to help people, and in his maybe 30, 40s? Fully mature adult. Leaving a good impression to the rest of the us, only later we found out he is such a selfish person whom is full of empty talks. A girl in a less physically also mentally capable state lagged behind, and struggled a lot, as self elected team leader, while we waited, the guy got impatient and didn't want to wait, and asked a 15 year old boy to kayak back to retrieve the girl while he marched on. Yes, there are good vibes in the hiking community, especially the elderlies, it's surprising how strong and experienced they are, yet having a huge heart and love to share the love of nature with others. But you'll be surprised the amount of assholes you also see on the trails. The key point is, don't count on anyone, be nice, look after yourself and fellow hikers, but be fully prepared and understand not everyone is nice and kind nor even genuine. No nature doesn't change everything, selfish and bad people are still selfish and bad.
Right, I was thinking that even if they didn't want to wait for him and/or didn't like him, they could have at least said something to the park rangers when they got down. I do think Donovan was fairly irresponsible to try to keep going when everyone told him not to, but literally just a few words could have saved him.
Well said, every word.
John was an incredibly nice guy who was uncomfortable with technology. He helped hundreds of people as a social worker. He also grew up in an orphanage and had no family. He would have been happy that his death saved someone.
Nice words John sounded like a caring guy
I would appreciate my own death helping someone out, he seemed like the kind of guy who would too. Sad story, but I always hope these cautionary tales make someone plan a little better
BEING A NICE GUY IS ENOUGH!!!!
Stories like this, really make me doubt the karma exists.
@Bluemoonjellyfish
It’s more real than some cosmic retribution.
If you are good to those around you, they will help you when you ask. If you are a jerk, no one is going to help you.
Think of it as you get back what you put out there.
Not because of some cosmic force but because people remember how you treat them.
I like these stories because they portray the potential dangers of hiking even for the experienced hiker. There is a lot of YT content that idealizes hiking, but this channel helps people maintain a balanced perspective. I appreciate the informative and conscientious manner in which you relate the details.
thanks so much, that's a great compliment. Thank you!
Yes, it's true. Another perspective is that there have only been about 15 deaths in the last 40 years and two of those were from a vehicle getting to a resupply off trail. Considering the thousands on the trail every year, it's very few. And yes, it can be with very experienced hikers as well.
@@janefreeman995 I don’t know where you got your figure from. According to the National Park Service (NPS), 120 to 150 people die each year in the United States during hiking.
As a Canadian I'm shocked if indeed they just let him tag along but not help. I know as any hiker knows, you just help anyone in need. There is no debate when it comes to that.
Sounds like they enjoyed the idea of him struggling after whatever he did and likely didn’t believe he was going to actually die. The fact they said he was falling but was ok, shows they understood what they did and backtracked a little. Spite shouldn’t win. There are 2 sides to every story though and I’m interested in what he said that was so bad, he can’t be a really nice person who insults strangers out of boredom. There’s more to this story that will never come out.
@@kirstybrown1185
Except his stubbornness. He would not listen to his friend who wanted to change the date to later. So he went by himself.
I do not understand why hikers do that.
Maybe they were annoyed that he wasn’t listening to their advice. I mean, obviously he was adamant about going and perhaps that was their beef.
I don’t know, obviously, but it sounds like that may have been why they were so put off.
Still, I can’t imagine not offering to at least alert the authorities that he needed help and encouraging him to stay put.
I understand letting folks make their own mistakes and if he wasn’t going to listen, he wasn’t going to listen.
Eh.. I've passed plenty of Canucks in the White Mountains.. not all that friendly.
@@dirtgrub2841 I have wondered about that. I imagine some aren’t very friendly to Americans from the US.
I remember hearing this story on the show on Animal Planet, "I shouldn't be Alive". I was thirteen or fourteen and I couldn't stop thinking about it for days. I remember googling the story and not being able to find ANYTHING on this guy, only the couple's story. Thank you for bringing attention to his story.
EXACTLY! I’ve heard their story many times. Never John’s part.
Same here i remember on i shouldnt be alive in his journal it said ' too weak to hike out and he was trapped in a valley or something. Thats why the couple started the fire
@@justinlugo1661 exactly, because they realized that if someone that experienced and much better equipped than them couldn't make it out, they had absolutely no chance. Had no idea he was actually trying to hike the PCT, though -- it really puts into perspective just how lost that couple was.
I think to remember that he actually explained why he was stuck there in his journal. He hurt his leg, but also to get down there was quite a scramble with no way back up. That was the problem. He simply couldn’t climb back up, which the couple also realized once they made their way down, because they thought they could follow a river or sth to civilization but also ended up stuck at that spot with no way back. It’s been a while and I vaguely remember. The couple also didn’t figure out the date right away, the year that is. They initially thought it was a recent entry but I think the guy found the dead body and they read the journal which told them that he had tried everything and that there was no way out without ropes and proper gear. That’s when they figured out it’s been a year later and decided to light that fire. Crazy story for sure.
Your right, ...I believe I have also heard this same detailed version of the story.
It's crazy that there was No Way back out of that valley. The randomness is so scary. It's like if Mother Earth doesn't want you to pass foward;...your simply NOT gonna pass foward...period.😮
I began the PCT on May 5th, 2005. My hiking partner and I weren’t too far behind John. We hit snowpack at San Jacinto and zero trail, confused footprints in every direction. Being the highest precipitation year in 150 years, the lack of visible trail due to snowpack , not to mention river fords, suncups the size of crevasses, and no reliable GPS back then, made the trail particularly difficult. I began falling and becoming hypothermic near where John became disoriented. Luckily, my trail hiking partner recognized this and we immediately stopped and set up camp, me getting into my sleeping bag while he got a fire going. Made it down Devil’s Slide into Idyllwild the next day. By the time we got to Kennedy Meadows, we were bombarded with hikers asking us if we’d seen/ passed Mr. Donovan. His through boxes / packages were sitting at the post office, waiting for him. It was disturbing. We all knew something was very wrong. Got shivers and choked up during this video. Thank you for covering his story! We’ll NEVER forget that aspect of the hike, this mystery in the back of our minds as we trudged onwards. RIP J. D. -Thirsty Girl & Trail Ninjah/ (Zirk Zeigler on AT)
Side note: Thank heavens we could read a map and compass! There were times when I had to convince hikers with GPS that they had to get water at this or that source because they were so off by 3-7 miles sometimes, on where exactly they were. Maps and compasses were far more accurate! I believe EVERY through hiker mandatory hands down, must know how to use these
@@comingoutspinster-rebellik1479Was just about to say the same. I'm amazed at how many of these lost hiker/climber stories don't have maps or compass while they're hiking/climbing in unfamiliar areas. I'd bet in 50% of the cases they could self-rescue if they were just a bit more prepared. Cell phone isn't gonna help either.
They were stuck in a gorge , they didn’t have a way out, the year before Donavan realized he was stuck in a gorge and left a message stating there’s no way out every direction is unclimbable. Very sad story but i remember this from a while ago
I grew up in Southern California, and that mountain is not to be f***ed with. Kyle ... I am liking the lost hiker format!
I second that. When i was 18 a buddy of mine and i went from hwy 74 to interstate 10 on the PCT. While it was july or August, I can’t remember exactly, but it was cold as F on top of San J! Those mountains are a lot like the white mtns of new hampshire where they are so close to large population centers and people completely underestimate the sturdiness of these mountains.
Man!! Nice job Kyle.
Great job honoring the humanity of this hiker Kyle.
Your mom must be very proud of how your content has matured and how you have grown.✨🕊✨
Wow. I learned the story of the couple from that show “I Shouldn’t Be Alive” a few years ago. Interesting to learn about the man on the other side.
That said…. And I’m not trying to be critical of these victims, but people blow my minds. Bad things happen, yes. But when I go out into the wilderness, my backup plans have backup plans. I don’t set foot into a place without knowing what the terrain is, the temperature range, the weather, geological landmarks, the wildlife, the equipment needed, navigation (practiced and studied beforehand)…I know where the surrounding towns are and I read the news about these places just to have a sense of what’s going on. I always assume that things will go wrong and I have a plan for each potential issue. My route, time frame, clothing, equipment, vehicle and license, medical info, etc, is all left behind with trusted people who know what I’m doing and what to do if they don’t hear from me, and of course I have a GPS with communication features (I realize this is a modern luxury, but still). Do. Not. Play. When it comes to going out in the wilderness.
Not too long ago I spent a few days at Big Bend National park. I had heard a lot of people got lost and died and it was dangerous and honestly I was a little worried. But I spent months researching and being prepared and making contingency plans. When I got there, I realize why so many people died. They are idiots. I found people out in the desert trails in the heat with zero sun protection, 1 empty plastic water bottle, wearing flip flops and with no tools or gear. No map, nothing. They just parked their car and got out and started walking with no plans. I was truly concerned for some of these people, gave them water and directions. Y’all…don’t do this lol. Even for a quick day hike, be prepared.
I think a lot of people think if you are “just going for a walk,” then there is little to no risk.
Usually, they are right, but one wrong turn, one fall, one too hot day, etc….and you are in trouble in the wild, with likely no help nearby.
A man whose life mission is to only help others has one more calling - rescue a young couple in dire need. On the exact date one year later, proving the Hand of God was working through Donovan in life and death, the young couple are given the means, if used intelligently, to save themselves. Donovan may have had only a few friends in life, as was his choice, but now he is loved and respected by thousands for his last good deed. Thanks for honoring him Kyle. You always do a good job.
If the Hand of God can't do any better than this tragic incident, I will pass. It's the same with the Children's Hospital down the street from me.....have your God show up and heal all the kids there. But he won't because he is practically nonexistent.
These stories serve as a reminder that experienced backpackers can get in to these situations without much effort. Just goes to show you should never under estimate nature. This story hits home a bit with me, as I'm in my 40s and just started hiking again to get back in to shape, just like John did. I've had my fair share of falls and scrapes already, even fell into a creek twice a month ago. It's Sad he is gone, but his memory will live on.
Just because he larped a few times and joined some stupid hiking society doesnt mean he was experienced. Some of the worst people ive bee in the back country with were so called "wilderness guides".
It's definitely important to know your limitations as you grow older, and choose the level of your activities, accordingly. For instance, at our age, we still do the things that we've loved all of our lives, but in different, safer ways. With some sports, we say that "We're just getting a taste of it now" (less risk), like "hiking" means a loop through trails on our land now, instead of climbing up to mountain peaks. We stick to the green and blue trails when skiing, and we traded in our sport fisher for a pontoon boat.] As you grow older, you can still be in great shape and do a lot, but unfortunately, all those injuries from your past (that you may have thought were gone) begin coming back to haunt you, your knees start developing problems, arthritis hits your joints, and your eyes start to go. And, your stamina just isn't what it once was, and pretending that it is, and you're 22 again, and biting off more than you can chew (because you have dentures 😂) can get you into trouble, fast.
@@mainemermaid6596... well said!
👍👍👍
I’ve heard the couple’s story multiple times, but none ever went into the story of the man whose belongings they found. It’s awesome to hear it from the other side.
Ouch. Just climbed St. Helens and even under good conditions, need ice axe and navigation. I appreciate the way you humanized John Donovan.
did u see bigfeet?
@@MikeHunt-fo3ow Of course they did!
@@MikeHunt-fo3owno they were killed in the 80's eruption
@@murray8958 lies
I was around 10 years old when Mt St Helen’s erupted. We had some good friends who had moved to Marysville, Wa a year prior. My family flew ( my first plane ride, and my little sister got lost in the Denver airport) to Seattle to visit them and the state in general. The plane flew close enough to Mt St Helen’s to be able to see the crater and devastation. While we were there Mt St Helen’s had a small aftershock/eruption during the night. I think this was in June or July. There was a small amount of ash on the ground. While out exploring the next day, we stopped to view a river. My dad wouldn’t let any of us to walk down to the rivers edge because the rocks were slippery from the ash. My dad slipped on an unstable ash covered rock and broke his arm. My mom collected some of the ash from the bridge rail into a Tylenol bottle. Back then, there were no child safety caps. The cap just snapped on and off. I still have that bottle of ash.
Ironically, this channel has basically singlehandedly gotten me interested in through hiking and ive already started to learn as much as i can about the safety and planning that needs to go into it so i can one day tackle some serious wilderness trails one day. I appreciate it man, love the videos too.
I lived in the san Jacinto mountain range (the Idyllwild you mentioned 😁, great pronunciation by the way!!) for ~6 years and the conditions can be pretty brutal. So many people think “pfff it’s SoCal, how bad can it get?” Snow, ice, hail, sleet, boulders and sharp cliffs, disorienting echoes leading you in deceptive directions, mountain lions and packs of coyotes, the list is endless… 2 people went missing in Idyllwild while I lived there, the Irish pct hiker and Roy Prifogle (my high school friend’s father). My class president got lost while on a hike for 3 hrs but the school was able to eventually locate her, just before dark. Just because it’s SoCal doesn’t mean the weather and conditions are nice and easy. Even day hike with caution.
Garmin Inreach, worth every penny. So are waterproof matches.
Solo hiking should demand an InReach! Ought to be a prerequisite. They're not cheap - but what is preserving your life worth?
@@drunkvegangal8089 £250 then +£29.99 activation fee then £34.99 plan fee then £15 a month, so £500 in teh first year, plus £180 or more for life apparently
That's quite a lot of money.
My husband and I thru hiked the PCT and were on the mountain that day they rescued those hikers. We could hear the helicopter.
"Before they knew, half an acre was burning...." That's a wildfire. I feel bad for Donovan, he sounds like he had a big heart. I feel bad for San Jacinto as well.
Yea .. I wondered how that was put out , and also ... too bad the older guy hadn't done that first
As an avid outdoorsperson I love these stories as it highlights we are nothing compared to nature and always need to be overprepared!! When you get that feeling in your gut stop, take notice, and make smart choices.
I appreciate your compassion in telling these stories. Thank you
That couple was lucky to have stumbled upon John's backpack, but they were probably really creeped out 😮 I know I would have been.
@@jamie_marie_ ok, I looked and don't see anything about this couple. Maybe someone else did a video on them?
@@musingwithreba9667i heard they were on the tv show I shouldn't be alive
@@musingwithreba9667Yeah….it’s a separate video, and the “I shouldn’t be Alive” channel tells the couple’s story in detail.
The couple separated from a tour group, left out overnight with no one noticing, tried to walk and descend their way out and reached an area with gorges and cliffs, where they were trapped.
Then the couple found gear, and were hopeful, until they realized ….the gear had been there a while. Then they found a journal of the other hiker saying he was trapped, and goodbye. He left the matches the couple used to draw help to them.
@@Itried20takennames oh wow!
If you look at the 15 deaths on the PCT, the San Jacinto mountains seems to have the most.... this is over 40 years time.
What a hell of a story. Don’t hike in the winter especially in snow conditions. It’s a lose-lose situation.
this is great. I've heard this story a couple of times before, but it always started with the dating couple, I was very happy to first hear John's story as I feel it's just as important as the other to learn lessons from and sets up the story well for the couple.
Truly a sad, yet heartwarming story. One can never be too careful. The older I get, the more I live by the Boy Scout Motto: "Be Prepared."
I carry a map and compass, a Garmin, an inReach, a headlamp, a Swiss Army Knife, leather work gloves, rain gear, a fire-making kit, three freeze-dried meals, a water-treatment kit, a meal kit, an SOL Bivvy Bag (the breathable kind), a Jon-E-Warmer plus fuel, and a 7' X 9' reflective tarp. These things are in my daypack, which is always in my car, except when it is with me in the woods.
Exactly. Your great emergency kit is focused on self-preservation/survival, and not overly focused on technology. So many in these stories are climbing in unfamiliar areas, without even a paper USGS-equivalent map.
why no gun tho
So many questions on all of these stories where otherwise healthy, uninjured people die in the back country a few miles from civilization. In almost all cases, even if you forgo basic safety equipment such as a SPOT or satellite phone, you can walk downhill following a drainage for one to two days and reach safety in non-winter conditions anywhere in the lower 48, (no additional snowfall or whiteout conditions). It takes weeks to get to the point where you cannot walk. Many people leave extensive journals depicting their final days, (weeks really) where they are in some remote spot, off-trail, in an area unlikely to be covered by search crews, but with the ability to walk their way out of the problem they created. I carry an emergency gps/spot device with me when I hike, not because I fear getting lost or putting myself into a position I can't get out of on my own, but because I fear an injury or other, unforeseen event to limit my own ability and I don't want the thing I love to do to be the cause of my demise. It wouldn't be the worst event for me, but those I love would be devastated, and that's not acceptable.
Yeah, it's a common thread that the victims didn't have proper navigation equipment or a satellite phone.
Actually, from other reports I've heard of this story, the couple started going down the mountain and ended up sliding into a bowl formation on the mountainside with no escape. It seems that John got into the same bowl, with no way out, no food, and few resources to get help.
I've seen that the dead branches on evergreen trees will always light, even in wet conditions. I can't attest to this, as I've never tried it myself. However, if true, being able to light such branches on a mountain may have saved John's life.
So well said. I have lived in places where bushwhacking down draws would take you to places you would never be found. Pushing your luck with the elements is rarely worth your life. The ones we leave behind pay the price… they rarely feel actual relief when they say the corny phrase, “at least they died doing what they loved”.
I'm sure there are places where following a drainage downward will lead to safety. San Jacinto is not one of them. People who try this end up on a seemingly endless path into the desert. The mountain may be cold, but the daytime temperatures in that part of the desert exceed 100 degrees.
About when this video was published I was in a similar snow situation near the PCT. I planned to stay 4 nights near Kearsarge Pass, but it was still covered in snow way down in Onion Valley. I ended up spending all 4 nights in Onion Valley instead of being featured in one of these videos
I had heard the story of the two hikers years ago and never have seen anything about John Donavan since. Love how you tied them together!!!
Wow I've heard that 2nd part about the couple multiple times but never the story of the man behind the belongings 🤯🤯
You did a great job bringing that whole story together quite cohesively, thank you!
One other version of this story is that they saw the journal and thought that the hikers entry was from the day before.
MrBallen covered this story too I think, it’s been a while since I heard it, so it was probably done over a year ago at least! I remember how fortuitous it was for those 2 hikers & how at first they didn’t realize it was a year before! The rest we know because they survived!
I must gave head that sort on Mr. Ballen too
Shame on the Canadian hikers for not helping him more and keeping him with the group. They will have to live with that. I would never do that to someone no matter how annoying they were at a camp site the night before.
They are not his mommy. They probably just assumed he was competent.
Sounds like you were never a boy scout. You don't leave people in dangerous situations even if you are not their mommy. It is just part of having good morals. If you ever find someone in that situation help them out. I would help you out in that situation.
Glad for people like you
This isnt a city park. This is the back country, helping someone who wasnt prepared and got themselves in too deep and will only slow you down while trying to beat a storm...idk. Know the risks before going balls deep into something you have no idea about. You cant always expect others to needlessly risk their lives to save yours. Especially when you didnt value it enough to adequately prepare.
Baker tried to talk him out of it. Any imbecile knows to not hit the pct too early. But he wouldnt take heed to logic, so he paid the ultimate price. Natural Selection doesn't care how much you larp on Facebook, it will sift you like wheat in nature. If only we could do that in the "civilized" world we could cure society of much of its ills. Dude was an egotistical prick, maybe if he didnt piss off the Canadians the night before they would've helped him.
Be careful who youre an asshole too i guess.
@@whiteyfisk9769 hope your life gets better. Peace
I'm not sure why, but UA-cam seems to have decided I should watch all your missing hiker stories :)
Maybe you should work to get an emergency GPS sponsor!
This guy is trying to be famous because of others research and writing skills.
@@albertawheat6832 go away, troll. You must live a miserable life if all you have to do is spam his comments section with this kind of crap.
@@albertawheat6832 He can only speak four words before needing a break. He then edits all these together with unnatural gaps which makes his presentation a pile of garbage.
Same, youtube has decided hes gonna be famous. He must be part of the club or something (Freemasonry).
@@TwoFingeredMamma I don't know about the assertions you speak of...But I do believe he is just another rich kid and was entitled to do as he pleases because Mom and Dad paid his way to an easy life. The system of the elite always look after there own lazy kids by pouring money and fame onto their path. And buying you tube fans is as easy as that, Who knows for sure but the fkg begging for subs is pathetic. all his research can be found on google so, how much research did he actually do ?People are lazy, so lazy they can't copy a name he printed and paste it on google ...to actually get the back story on the subject matter.
I did Wilderness Basics training and my snow camp and hike was on Mt Jacinto. The snow wasn't 3 ft deep, more like 1.5'-2' deep. Brutal hike, but so worth it.
Nice doesn’t always seem smart not to listen to others. So easy to get turned around if you go off of trail. Really appreciate your experience and informing people how things can go wrong. I take my Garmin in Reach on road rides, trail rides and even short hikes. I usually am by myself. You just never know.
When having to hitchhike to re-supply it was reassuring.
Nice doesn't... huh?
As someone who lives about 20 miles from where this happened, please request rescue with your Garmin, not a forest fire, ty.
I’m sure if they had one that would be the desired method!
And if we don't live about 20 miles away, how then should we request rescue?
@@alanhyt79 astral projection ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
@@GingerKC you realize wildfires kill people, right?
I'd have to agree, in so-cal we are allready natures tinder box, fires here become deadly here stupid fast. This season has already been a tough one my friend lost their entire homestead, near all their animals died along with a neighbor of theirs.
It seems like 90% of these tragic stories - maybe even more - could have been prevented by having an inReach or Spot as insurance.
We'll yeah, but they didn't exist then.
That said, I had one and I often had a hard time getting it to send a signal if I was in tree cover.
@@Sailorlimabean20 PREACH!!! Same! No signal! Rockies block everything sometimes!
People relying on stuff to save them are usually the most careless people. It is why antilock brakes ended up having almost no effect on saving lives. Just don't be an idiot and you are 99.9999% likely to be fine.
The very first time I heard this story it was from the point of view of the two hikers who got lost and came upon his campsite. Sad, but very cool story
Your content is so respectful to the deceased hikers you cover and still so informative. Thanks for running such lovely content
These are interesting stories and you have a knack for telling them well.
Another sad but great story. I like these because each has a valuable lesson. The lesson for this one is to keep connected with people. You don't have to be close to a person to ask them to be your safety person while hiking. Just have someone know where you are, keeping an eye out for you. Fortunately I just got a Garmin mini 2, so my loved ones will know every step I take into the woods and will be able to see me on a map anytime they like. Even when I didn't have that, I told them what trail I was taking and the direction, and would text when I got home.
Thanks for covering this tragedy that inadvertently helped the stranded couple a year later 🙏❤️
I wonder why the 2 hikers didn't offer him help if they knew he was having trouble. How sad. Thanks for sharing Johns story.
I was wondering the same thing
At the very least they could have contacted the park to get him some assistance, that is not cool, every hiker I know and myself included, cares about fellow hikers and would try to help
I really needed help once on the trail because my dad was having medical problems (couldn’t walk) and I was worried I’d have to leave him to get help and come back. 5 hikers went by us and didn’t say a word, they were almost freaked out at our bad situation. You can’t expect strangers to have your back as sad as that is. They had no problem looking the other way and ignoring us. We made it out though! Thankfully I was healthy and prepared if I needed to leave him for help
@@JuanLopezXVIII I’m glad you got your dad out safely, sad to hear the other hikers ignored instead of helping
@@sandiklein1906 The two Canadian hikers were a 20 year old man and his 46 year old mother, who was a nurse. Most nurses I've known really do have a notable amount of empathy and compassion for people in trouble. She must be an outlier among nurses.
A fitting tribute to the man, and lessons for the unprepared.
I had seen this story on "I shouldn't be alive." It was more so about the two survivors, and I don't recall hearing how John had got there. I think in his journal he mentioned there was no way out of the valley. I'm guessing due to snow fall, but I'm not sure.
There was no way out because they jumped way down into a crevasse that was impossible to climb out of. They thought it would lead to civilization, but it dead-ended in a giant waterfall. The same waterfall John was found at the bottom of. Likely self-inflicted once he ran out of food. He wrote about running out of food and it being his last day.
You're doing an awesome job. Love this channel.
Thanks for the upload
thanks for watching!
The snow in the SoCal mountains is pretty wild and unpredictable. I think the desert/chaparral can be tough terrain to navigate too.
About 5 years ago a friend quit her job in Oregon and moved to California getting a job there, training and stock piling to hike the PCT. She took the next year to do this, got MAYBE 200 miles and had to bail. She said NOPE, can't do it to rough. She tried again a few months later and this was her last time. She moved back up to Oregon and is now happily married with two kids.
Now she was in her mid to late 20's at the time and if SHE couldn't do it think of a man closer to HIS age. While yeah he might have been in great shape there were A LOT of factors that could come into play. I have SO MANY camping horror stories that have put me off long distance hiking (and REALLY bad knees!)
I hiked from 0 elevation to that tram and it’s so easy to get lost, and it’s the most elevation gain on a single trail in the United States. And once you get 3 miles in you really can’t tell where you are and it’s nothing but forest in most directions.
I grew up in the mountains of Colorado and the first thing we learned was "Never go alone". No matter how experienced you are or how well equipped, things can happen.
How sad that this story of a life ended up like this. I believe we are all interconnected, and there turns out to be a reason for everything. Every life should be celibrated.
There’s a really good “I shouldn’t be alive” episode on this for the couple that survived. I highly recommend it!!!
I already the couples story somewhere on you tube. It is out there.
I remember the story of the couple finding this guy.
There was a guy here in Colorado back in September, Chad Pallansch, who was an experienced trail runner. Took off wearing shorts and a light jacket to run a high mountain trail with no food, bad weather was forecast for the next several days, still missing to this day.
Sad stories and important stories to tell. Sounds like John was a great guy. All we can do is try to minimize risks and learn from others and you keep doing a great job saying that.
It’s good that the inept couple got out and that Donovan’s gear could help. It’s important to have the right set of skills and equipment before venturing off trail.
Too bad that John didn't listen to his more experienced friend and waited a couple of more weeks for the conditions to improve a lot. Unfortunately for many, once they make up t heir minds that they're going to do something there's n persuading them not to. Their friends are left to wonder (often for the rest of their lives) if there was something else those friends could have done to prevent them from going and then dying.
This series of videos is well done & interesting, Kyle! Each one must be a ton of research & work. Lots of lessons learned, too. Thanks for doing them!
Yes!
This is a very sad story…now, I’m crying at 9:25 in the morning.
Get off the antidepressants
I love hiking. Been doing it all my life. This "Through Hiking" doesn't appeal to me at all. I enjoy European hiking. So many well-marked trails in diverse distances.....and always a nice cold beer and food waiting for us. It's all about the "reward" at the end ;) I guess, other than some alpine hikes where you can stay in huts along the way, there is the big one: Camino de Santiago for those that enjoy "Through Hiking"
I've heard this story a few times before, but it's always been told from the couple's perspective. Nice to hear the story from John's perspective.
Well didn't expect to be getting teary eyed watching this but well done keeping his memory alive
I saw this case from the couple's pov in a documentary called 'I survived'. Worth a look.
This is so heartbreaking, John sounds like a very kind man and a great friend, its too bad he didn't have a relationship with his family.
Apparently he grew up in an orphanage. ☹️
This is my copy & paste comment because either 1. - I am being too lazy to type something out (even though you deserve it) or 2. - I have nothing to say that someone else hasn't commented better and there are already a bazillion other comments anyway. But I'm posting this because I know the comments count as interaction. Great video, I look forward to your next one!
Thank you for this video. Fascinating story!
The one thing that keeps bugging me concerning “all” search and rescue operations and the on-going issue of never actually spotting any lost subjects due to forest canopy when flying over them: why in the heck are HEAT-SEEKING CAMERAS still not mandatory to be used in such occasions??? It would definitely nullify the issue and exponentially increase chances for success, especially when searching stretches of forest and wilderness. With all the technological crap at our disposal these days, for rescuing people it should be absolutely mandatory to then also use it to the fullest of its wretched capacity. There are no two ways about it and any-thing less is simply absurd in a world saturated and drenched in the unnatural ways of “technology”.
If I’m wrong in my line of thought concerning heat-seeking cameras, please do tell because this is truly bugging me.
Sounds like there was a Trail Angel at work. Great story! Thanks for sharing✌️🙂
Moral of the story: if you want to be rescued, bring enough matches to start a forest fire.
Kyle, you should consider making a channel JUST for "true crime" hiking stories! You have a nack for it!
I will tell you on my thru hike of the pct in 2020 there were alot of people that had bad times san jucento is no joke
I remember, heading toward a high pass in the Himalayas and climbing for several days to get there… I it’s an extremely dangerous situation… We had no crampons but having so planned to be there, exerting so much energy in the climb you get to a point where mentally and spiritually you cannot turn back… I can imagine as he climbs through the snow after all those years how difficult it would’ve been to retreat.
I've heard this story from another UA-camr. But you told it well. I would never hike the PCT, it seems extremely dangerous.
San Jacinto mountain is dangerous because of its climate and because hikers coming from a low desert aren't always fully cognizant that you can legit freeze to death or get stranded in snow or slide of the side of the trail to your death up there if you get caught in a storm while transiting, and without proper equipment, which thtough hikers tend to be liath to carry because "the mountain is @short" and they don't want to buy and carry extra equipment for miles. Also, it's very close to a population center in a very warm climate so day hikers can go there thinking it's just a day excursion not realizing it's a mountaineering level feature duevto elevation and terrsin features once snow hits, which is actuslly anytime a storm system comes through.
I love your channel. I live in Palm Springs so I know that trail at the top of the tram very well. I watched one of your videos about The White Mts in NH last night, I was on that trail a few weeks ago!
It amazes me how many people set out totally unprepared.
great story from a great story-teller, very useful channel
Some where in a Asian country a man was lost but was found because Of a giant SOS on the ground he didn’t built, people realize another person was out there.. sadly the other person passed 2 years before they found the other man
Japan
Sounds kinda cold that two experienced hikers knew an armature was out of their league and ignored the danger he was in and walked on.
Yes I find that very upsetting actually thought people could have more etiquette And a bit more care for people that needed help
Very quickly becoming one of my favourite youtubers.
Really enjoying your channel I just found it. Clicked the subscribe button too, can't wait for more of the true crime stories. I find even if I've heard the story before whenever you hear from a good story teller such yourself that it's still interesting and you can learn new facts. There's always something to learn, thank you.
Here’s the deal with John Donovan. I hate to speak ill of the dead but I see people blaming the hikers for not saving him and that’s bs so that’s why I’m saying it. While John did have a good relationship with a couple of friends that he met in the hiking club and was also a selfless volunteer for the disabled, that was really the extent of people that he got along with. He was described by his co-workers as “cantankerous” and said he was so blunt that he often insulted others. And that’s what happened with the 1st set of hikers, which were the Canadian mother and her 20 year old son. Their meeting started off badly. The mother and son had already setup camp for the night and were sitting there when John walks up. He doesn’t really say anything to them but just starts setting up right beside them, like right in their camp, even though there was no one else around and he didn’t even ask them first. Maybe his trail etiquette is different than mine, the Canadian hikers, and most others I know, bc that’s like walking up in somebody’s living room and taking a seat without knocking first, imo. But it was whatever so they didn’t say anything about it, just introduced themselves. He sat down with them and they made small talk. When he told them of his plans they, being very experienced with hiking in bad weather, both told him what a bad idea it was. He waved them off and insinuated they didn’t know what they were talking about. Then, within the first 15 minutes, managed to tell her son he wasn’t a man yet and she was a bad mother. So…it went beyond just “rubbing them the wrong way” lol. They did not like John and didn’t want to spend anymore time around him. They intentionally got up earlier than planned just so they could get well ahead of him. But, apparently, he got up right after they left and managed to run back into them a little later. He just joined them, again without asking, and tagged along. The mother told him a few different times they were going a different way than he was planning. And even though they weren’t a fan of his, they did still try and talk him out of continuing on. Especially when they say he didn’t even have the right crampons to fit his shoes. But, again, he waved them off and didn’t listen. So as soon as they got to a point where they could change routes, they did. The mother said she told him one last time that he was asking for trouble by continuing with the storm approaching but, again, he didn’t change his mind so the mother and son went on their way and he on his. He also ran into the other group of hikers that were coming down bc of the weather. These hikers also tried to get him to turn around and come down with them. They saw that he wasn’t wearing crampons, wore very light clothing for the weather, and didn’t even have gloves. He was wearing an old pair of socks as gloves. But, once again, John didn’t listen. He continued to hike higher, thinking he knew better. Even though he was notorious for having no sense of direction. And was also notorious for being so frugal that , not only did he live in the vault of a burned down bank for many years instead of renting an apt, he also refused to spend money on items he actually needed (like gloves or new crampons-those didn’t fit bc they were a used pair from someone in the hiking club)
So that’s the story of John Donovan. He wasn’t a bad guy. He had a couple of good friends and he was very nice to some people. But he also had his flaws and, unfortunately, all of his worst flaws came together on the PCT. His horrible sense of direction, his frugalness, and his inability to make new friends very well. And they all combined to put this tragedy into motion. What happened to him is sad but it’s also all completely his own doing. Blaming any of the hikers that he met on the trail is ridiculous.
I live pretty close to where this went down. I remember it. Here's what happens pretty frequently. Hikers from other parts of the country, or world, often have misconceptions of Southern California. If they're doing the PCT they've walked almost exclusively on relatively flat, dry ground before reaching the range and they don't take it seriously. They might hit a little dusting going up without considering the feet of of snow up higher. And it holds snow until usually June. And when it moves past freeze/thaw you're dealing with melt and rockfall. If they're coming from another part of the country to hike, and think SoCal is just sunshine and warmth, they're very wrong. I'm only at about 7,200 feet and I've walked too many people out of the forest who are incredibly unprepared and disrespectful. Don't be that person. A little humility isn't that hard.
What's up with the hikers who likely knew he was, or was going to be, struggling in that snow storm?
Awful
Learn a lot from your stories, thanks for putting in the effort.
The advice you should have given is to carry a good lighter and quality compass in your pocket at all times, learn and practice basic woodcraft skills and don’t get complacent.
sometime stubbornness can kill you. sometimes 1 dumb mistake will kill you
Did he fall out with Buddy Baker at the end? Since he knew John was taking a risk, I wonder why he wasn’t keeping an eye out. 12 days missing before anybody realised is just so sad.
Jonh was stuck... he had descended down a steep slope and was unable to climb back up... the couple did the exact same thing and also ended up stuck... John let them know through messages left on his map!
"I shouldn't be alive"
Wonderful man! so sad he was ready to enjoy his retirement and lost his life.
I'm a geographer and learned celestial navigation but until I learn land orientation, not leaving the trail unless it is a short ways and I can mark it.
People always say I will be alright. But if you ask them how they know they have no answer. 😟🇨🇦
Your videos are so good. They are not only technically excellent but your videos will probably save someones life, if not already. Thank you.
Love your content
Thank you so much!
@@KyleHatesHiking stop it! Huge fan from Canada, Ontario. Grew up hiking Algonquin park and the parts of the Trans Canada Trail. You make fascinating content mate!
All of his stories can be found on google.
@@albertawheat6832 aha thanks jeeves
@@MandieLynneReview I prefer to research things as opposed to taking someone's story of events. but thanks for the thks.
Devils Slide!! I was watching another one of your videos about “Otter?” the Irish fellow who disappeared around the same area. I’ve heard of a story about a boy in the late 60’s maybe or could have been the 80’s that mysteriously disappeared around that place but it was during the day with no snow. From my understanding it has to do with the devils slide area having a supernatural vibe there.
Loving your content. The background music on this one was a bit too much to the foreground for my taste - no idea if that's just me 🙃
Love the ads. Really increases the value
thank you for sharing this story!
"If you have watched to the end of this video..."? How could anyone NOT watch to the end? Could you imagine getting half way and saying, eh, not interested??