In August, we were called on a SAR mission to help an overdue hiker near the Necklace Valley region. As SAR members were preparing to go into the field, they recieved word that John had found his way back out of the backcountry and hitched a ride to North Bend. Below is a letter he sent into a local paper. This sort of outpouring of kindness from random strangers is just one of the reasons why search and rescue is such a rewarding experience.
Many helped man caught in the storm
Sep 14 2010, 1:40 PM
I was caught in a freak storm in late August, and pinned down by it long enough to have mobilized search and rescue teams. Those personnel were preparing to go looking for me even as I emerged, bedraggled and exhausted, into North Bend.I then came to be utterly touched and impressed by the preparedness, dedication, and general selflessness of a number of people, to whom I want to offer a hearty thank-you. These include organizer Matt Cosand and Hiram Grihalda of the King County Search and Rescue (KCSAR), Tim, who was the sheriff’s liaison, Officer Linde, and a cadre of other people who I either did not have the pleasure of meeting, or whose name in my exhaustion I regretfully forgot, but who were prepared to risk their lives in an effort to save mine. Thank you very much.
In addition, I want to heartily thank several locals, like Nevan Bacon, who, when he encountered me, wet and trudging down the endless Middle Fork Road, abandoned his own important pursuit to drive me fifteen miles to the ranger station, then to a hotel; Sam Mao of the Sunset Hotel, who let get a room even though I did not have money, checked in on me, and then drove me back to the ranger station in the morning; Richard at Twede’s Café, who allowed me to get a meal; Patti at the ranger station; who tried very hard to arrange a ride back to my car for me; and to Steve Widen and Kim Clark of Seattle, who overheard these efforts, and did then in fact drive me back to my car near Skykomish, almost 75 miles out of their way. The warmth and concern of all concerned warmed my heart.
John Burton
Oakland, Calif.
Tags: gratitude, SAR, search and rescue
