Father And Son Lost In Utah: How An Abandoned Backpack Saved Them

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Post on Feb 24, 2025

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Lost in the Utah Wilderness: How an Abandoned Backpack Saved a Father and Son

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – A father and son, lost for two days in the rugged Utah wilderness, were rescued after their resourceful actions, combined with a stroke of luck, led search and rescue teams to their location. The ordeal, which began [on the afternoon of July 12, 2024] when the pair became disoriented during a hike in [the La Sal Mountains near Moab], highlighted the importance of preparedness and the unpredictable nature of even seemingly familiar trails.

The pair, identified as 47-year-old David Miller and his 12-year-old son, Ethan, embarked on what they believed to be a relatively short hike. However, [unexpectedly heavy snowfall] and rapidly declining visibility quickly disoriented them, causing them to lose the trail. Their initial attempts to backtrack proved futile, leading to a frightening night spent exposed to the elements.

"We were completely unprepared for the sudden change in weather," Miller explained in an interview from his hospital bed, where he and his son were treated for [mild hypothermia and dehydration]. "We had minimal supplies, and the temperature dropped significantly as the sun went down."

The turning point came when the pair discovered an abandoned backpack. While initially disheartened by their own lack of preparedness, they saw the backpack as a potential lifeline. Inside, they found a [satellite phone]—a crucial piece of equipment that proved to be their salvation.

“[We were hesitant to use it at first because we felt guilty using something that wasn't ours],” Miller recalled. "But as the hours passed and the situation worsened, we knew we had to make a call.”

Using the satellite phone, they contacted emergency services, relaying their approximate location and their desperate need for assistance. [The coordinates provided by the phone] were initially vague, but using this information combined with the last known position provided by Miller before losing the trail, search and rescue teams were able to initiate a focused search effort.

A search and rescue helicopter, dispatched from [the Grand County Sheriff's Office], spotted the pair huddled together near [a small stream] shortly after dawn on [July 14, 2024]. Both father and son were visibly exhausted and suffering from the cold, but thankfully unharmed beyond minor injuries.

"This rescue serves as a powerful reminder of the potential dangers even experienced hikers can face," said [Sheriff's spokesperson, Sarah Jenkins]. "Proper preparation, including carrying a fully charged satellite phone or personal locator beacon (PLB), can be the difference between life and death in a wilderness emergency."

Authorities are currently investigating the origin of the abandoned backpack and its satellite phone. While praising the Miller's resourcefulness, officials also stressed the importance of carrying adequate supplies, including sufficient water, food, warm clothing, a map, compass, and a reliable communication device, before venturing into remote areas. The experience has left an indelible mark on the Millers, turning a harrowing ordeal into a lesson in survival and the unexpected kindness of strangers, or perhaps, a previous hiker's forgotten act of preparedness. The Millers plan to return to the trail in the future, but only after purchasing their own emergency satellite phone.