Christen Bejar
ABC15.com
YAVAPAI COUNTY, AZ- Deputies in the Yavapai County Sheriff’s office have a warning for hikers after a recent incident involving four missing hikers was ended on Monday.
According to authorities, four hikers were reported missing after a mother received a phone call from her son who said that he and his friends were lost.
Officers reportedly discovered that the four hikers, between the ages of 16 and 20, had been traveling on the Baldwin Trailhead in Sedona and became lost after sunset with no light source on hand.
A deputy reportedly contacted one of the hikers by cell phone. He had the hiker give him GPS coordinates from the device and then shut it off in order to save the battery power, officials say.
According to authorities, the deputy used the coordinates to determine that the hikers were about 200 yards from the trailhead. The deputy then reportedly drove through the area and sounded his siren intermittently.
The deputy then contacted one of the hikers again and together they determined where the group was according to how loud the siren sounded, officials say. The hikers then reportedly relocated the trail and were eventually led to the police car.
All four hikers were reunited with their families without further incident.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s office uses this incident as an example of what can happen if hikers are not prepared to hike at night or lose track of time while they are out.
Below are tips the YSCO supplies to all hikers on Arizona trails:
1. Avoid hiking alone.
2. Proper footwear only on any hike should be mandatory.
3. Review maps and information provided by the US Forest Service before your hike.
4. Carry a fully charged cell phone that is GPS enabled.
5. Carry a light source of some kind.
6. Consider bringing a whistle. The sound can be heard at very great distances by rescue personnel and will increase the chance of locating your position quickly.
7. Water.
8. Warm clothing in case you become stranded.
9. Let a family member, friend, etc., know your hiking itinerary.
10. Include a portable first aid kit with your safety supplies.
