Stranded WA Hiker Survived for 2 Nights by Burning His Socks & Cash
- Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:27pm by
Becket Adams
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A 66-year-old Tacoma, WA, snowshoer who had been missing on Mount Rainier since Saturday was finally located late Monday night. He said he stayed warm by running in place and burning the cash in his wallet before he was found by searchers late Monday, reports Komonews.com.
Yong Chun Kim had some fire starters with him and burned leaves to try to keep warm. He eventually moved on to burning personal items, including his socks and then $1 and $5 dollar bills in his wallet, according to the report.
And despite spending two nights in the freezing weather, medics agreed he was in great shape and needed little medical attention.
“I feel pretty good,” Kim said while he was waiting for his family at the ranger station.
How did he cope? By taking cover under a tree at night and “dreaming of his wife and a nice hot sauna.”
See the Komonews.com news update:
While he was leading a group in the Paradise area, Kim became separated after he fell down a slope.
Because Kim was the leader of his group, other snowshoers weren’t able to accurately describe where he had slipped, National Park spokeswoman Lee Taylor said. Searchers had initially believed Kim fell in a different area, based on descriptions from the group, Taylor added.
Taylor said they located Kim in a “remote area with deep snow.” Mount Rainier has seen temperatures in the teens, and eight inches of new snow fell in some places since Saturday, reports Komonews.com. Wind-blown snow drifts were as high as 30 inches in some areas.
Because poor weather conditions prevented a helicopter rescue, rescue crews were forced to use a Sno-Cat snow vehicle to reach Kim. Then “searchers had to snowshoe up the river valley to reach him, load him into a kind of a litter that could be slid across the snow, sort of a sled, bring him back down and get him back into the Sno-Cat and bring the Sno-Cat back out to the road,” Taylor said.
“The Rangers, they’re good people,” he said. “I love them.”
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kyheadhunter
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 6:13pmThe guy took a page out of Obama Book on Survival. Burn your socks, underwear and when that runs out burn the cash.
Report Post »Tretka
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:26amI love this story. But man, for a guide he was sure precocious! I heard his radio interview and it made me smile.
Report Post »OklahomaBound
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 12:21amIf we gave this guy all of our tax money to burn we’d actually be getting more bang for our buck than when Obama steals it.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 7:44amThe Obama EPA just found out about burning socks and money how long before he gets his fines for not have the proper filtration on the smoke.
Report Post »One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 7:56pmGood thing he had cash to burn! lol… like Obama’s doing with OUR money.
Report Post »BobtheMoron
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 4:58pmIf he‘d had one of our survival kits he’d had a much better couple of days. Hot tea and some food. Weighs one pound and has a two pound big brother coming soon. http://www.survival123.net
Report Post »RobD1967
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 4:48pmOkay….he was the guide, and he slipped and fell down a slope, and was missing for two days. Right?
Can I get this guy to take my ex on a tour of Mt. Rainier?
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 4:10pmI wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Holder and the DOJ arrest this man for burning money. I know that sounds ridiculous, but everything this administration does is ridiculous!
Report Post »starchy
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 10:53amNot ridiculous at all – My first thought on this was how long they will let him recover before charging him with defacing US currency
Report Post »ShyMan
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:56pmWow Larry. I bet you’re a hoot at parties.
Report Post »wordweaver
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:52pmTwo good lessons here observed by this seasoned hiker. (1) he carried the ‘10 essentials’ for hikers, even on a day excursion. (2) he stayed calm. The acronym we teach in Scouting is STOP: (S)tay calm, (T)hink, (O)bserve, and (P)lan. Good advice. The most disappointing thing about this episode is how little help the rest of his party was. Even novice snowshoers should have a little common sense and mark the location of the accident.
Report Post »Hill60
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 4:50pmI didn’t see/hear any mention of whether he truly had the “10 essentials” or not…
Report Post »The contents of an emergency carry or everyday carry can be debated ad nauseum. At the very least he should have had an emergency space blanket (mylar, very little, weighs next to nothing), a whistle, something more than just “a candy bar”, adequate water, fire starting material and tinder, some para-cord, map & compass, flashlight, pocket knife, basic first aid kit etc. (Most of these items can fit in something as small as a cargo pocket on your pants.)
For a gentleman that was “leading” a group – he should have been carrying more than these basic items. To have to resort to burning your socks and money after just a few days, tells me he wasn’t very well prepared.
Glad he was found in good condition.
vtxphantom
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:47pmHe needs to pay for his rescue, not the taxpayer.
Report Post »RightThinking1
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:45pmAnother example of a stupid person engaging in risky behavior, resulting in taxpayer expense. This guy deserves to be ridiculed, not admired.
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:45pmI fail to see how burning your socks can keep you warmer than wearing them…
Report Post »RobD1967
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 4:50pmRemind me to never borrow your socks…..
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:17pmThere is no wood to burn?
Report Post »wordweaver
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:40pmPlenty of wood, mostly wet. He was using bills and cloth as tinder to get it going. You can nurse a fire along with damp wood, but you have to start with something dry.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 7:57amI have started plenty of fires in the pouring rain and in the snow there is always dry wood.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:09pmYour “dump” will only burn after it has dried out, and he was only lost for two days.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:23pmCame back to this thread and it looks like Larry’s post got “dumped” hehe.
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:03pmCute and funny Thanks ………………..
Report Post »skiz
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:03pmThis guy is racist according to @VZE and @2012obama2012.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:03pmThat military training must of kicked in. Panic = death when you’re lost. Glad he’s okay
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:01pmOh my gosh should he be admitting he burned cash to stay alive That is so going to Pi$$ you know who off for wasting money like that . Poor guy better get jump on a plane and get the hec outta dodge
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:11pmhttp://www.usdebtclock.org/
Cash burning the Obamaway!
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:51pmAmazing story and I am glad there was a happy ending!! Love his hat too!! He is from the good side of that generation and knows hardships!
Report Post »Herokidstar
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:44pmVery awesome guy…
Report Post »Kind of interesting how you can have a group of well intentioned people that all want to help.
And still get the wrong information…
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:40pmGood for him. I see he is a Vietnam Veteran. I wonder which side Yong Chun Kim was on?
Report Post »unequivocally_right
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:13pm@ DETROIT PAPERBOY Did you really have to ask which side he was on? Do you see anyone from the other side proudly wearing such head gear? You’re a moron for asking such a idiotic question.
Report Post »unequivocally_right
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:16pm@ DETROIT PAPERBOY WOW. all your comments are stereotypical of a racist bigot. Leave it to a troll to ruin a happy ending.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:25pmNot funny.
Report Post »Danang1972
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 6:50amTake a hike Irrelevant – I wear my Vietnam hat proudly!
Report Post »netmail
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:33pmHappy the camper survived but I hope the government doesn’t survive by burning OUR cash!!!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:39pmToo late.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:40pmThe way they’re printing it, he didn’t lose much!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:32pmNot sure that my socks would be high on my list of things to burn in freezing weather but, hey it worked.
Report Post »AnAppealToGod
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:31pmSaw this story. This guy is awesome. Very humbling and heart warming.
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