John Smith

And it was because he sort of looked at the world as this grand gift from God. And imagine being in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness, looking at this unbelievable terrain. I mean, it looks like, you know, God made this. I mean, who else could? This is so strikingly beautiful.

And it was because he sort of looked at the world as this grand gift from God. And imagine being in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness, looking at this unbelievable terrain. I mean, it looks like, you know, God made this. I mean, who else could? This is so strikingly beautiful.

And it was because he sort of looked at the world as this grand gift from God. And imagine being in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness, looking at this unbelievable terrain. I mean, it looks like, you know, God made this. I mean, who else could? This is so strikingly beautiful.

And so with that as context, on this particular day that Mike had stopped to sip water 11,000 feet up on this mountainside, this was actually the fourth day of a nine-day pre-planned solo hike through this wilderness that Mike had been planning out for over a year.

And so with that as context, on this particular day that Mike had stopped to sip water 11,000 feet up on this mountainside, this was actually the fourth day of a nine-day pre-planned solo hike through this wilderness that Mike had been planning out for over a year.

And so with that as context, on this particular day that Mike had stopped to sip water 11,000 feet up on this mountainside, this was actually the fourth day of a nine-day pre-planned solo hike through this wilderness that Mike had been planning out for over a year.

Now, even though Mike was a very skilled hiker and backpacker and survivalist, he knew doing any sort of really long solo hike came with a whole bunch of risks that only really come if you're solo hiking. The biggest risk being that if you get into trouble when you're out on a solo hike, well, you're all alone.

Now, even though Mike was a very skilled hiker and backpacker and survivalist, he knew doing any sort of really long solo hike came with a whole bunch of risks that only really come if you're solo hiking. The biggest risk being that if you get into trouble when you're out on a solo hike, well, you're all alone.

Now, even though Mike was a very skilled hiker and backpacker and survivalist, he knew doing any sort of really long solo hike came with a whole bunch of risks that only really come if you're solo hiking. The biggest risk being that if you get into trouble when you're out on a solo hike, well, you're all alone.

So you better have a really good plan for what you're going to do if you get into trouble. And so Mike had come up with a great plan. He had spent that whole year mapping out this off-trail path he was going to take over these nine days. It was a 60-mile trip through the Fitzpatrick Wilderness. And he drew out basically exactly where he expected to go on a map.

So you better have a really good plan for what you're going to do if you get into trouble. And so Mike had come up with a great plan. He had spent that whole year mapping out this off-trail path he was going to take over these nine days. It was a 60-mile trip through the Fitzpatrick Wilderness. And he drew out basically exactly where he expected to go on a map.

So you better have a really good plan for what you're going to do if you get into trouble. And so Mike had come up with a great plan. He had spent that whole year mapping out this off-trail path he was going to take over these nine days. It was a 60-mile trip through the Fitzpatrick Wilderness. And he drew out basically exactly where he expected to go on a map.

And he gave that map with all the different coordinates and exactly where he'd be on each day to his wife, who also was a very enthusiastic hiker. And he told her, on the ninth day, you're going to meet me at this spot at the end of the 60 miles at noon on this ninth day right here. And I will meet you there and you can take me home.

And he gave that map with all the different coordinates and exactly where he'd be on each day to his wife, who also was a very enthusiastic hiker. And he told her, on the ninth day, you're going to meet me at this spot at the end of the 60 miles at noon on this ninth day right here. And I will meet you there and you can take me home.

And he gave that map with all the different coordinates and exactly where he'd be on each day to his wife, who also was a very enthusiastic hiker. And he told her, on the ninth day, you're going to meet me at this spot at the end of the 60 miles at noon on this ninth day right here. And I will meet you there and you can take me home.

However, that plan had changed on that fourth day as Mike was sipping his water on the mountainside. And only Mike knew it because he had no way to communicate back to his friends and family. Cell phones were very primitive at the time, so he couldn't just call somebody. I mean, basically, if he deviated his plan, he was the only one who would know.

However, that plan had changed on that fourth day as Mike was sipping his water on the mountainside. And only Mike knew it because he had no way to communicate back to his friends and family. Cell phones were very primitive at the time, so he couldn't just call somebody. I mean, basically, if he deviated his plan, he was the only one who would know.

However, that plan had changed on that fourth day as Mike was sipping his water on the mountainside. And only Mike knew it because he had no way to communicate back to his friends and family. Cell phones were very primitive at the time, so he couldn't just call somebody. I mean, basically, if he deviated his plan, he was the only one who would know.

Now, the reason why Mike on the fourth day of this nine day trip decided to alter his course made a lot of sense. So even though Mike was technically solo hiking, he was not actually alone. With him was the family dog named Andy, who was a very good natured black lab mix who loved going hiking.

Now, the reason why Mike on the fourth day of this nine day trip decided to alter his course made a lot of sense. So even though Mike was technically solo hiking, he was not actually alone. With him was the family dog named Andy, who was a very good natured black lab mix who loved going hiking.