Female Hikers Missing in Denali Found Alive
by Allie Comeau on June 19, 2008 
2 comments
The female hikers, Erica Nelson and Abby Flantz, who went missing June 12th in Denali National Park, Alaska, have been found. There’s no word yet on exactly what happened to the two roommates (who were just out for an overnight hike), but they’ve been reunited with their families and that’s the important thing.
Apparently Erica used her cell phone to call her mom, Ellane Nelson. Mrs. Nelson received the call during a briefing at search headquarters. According to the article on CNN, when Mrs. Nelson saw Erica’s name on the caller ID, “it looked like she’d seen a ghost.” After not hearing anything for days, that phone call was probably the last thing she’d expected.
Ellane Nelson heard Erica say that she and Flantz, her roommate, were alive and well. Park officials told the women to stay put, make themselves visible and signal any helicopters that flew overhead.
The cell signal was weak, but authorities were able to trace it to the eastern corner of the 100 square mile search area. The girls were indeed found “alive and well,” but no doubt were also hungry, cold, tired… and relieved.
The situation in Denali reaffirms the need (once again) to carry a cell phone with you in the backcountry. While some may say it’s nice to be “out of touch” and away from it all, you never know when it may come in handy. In the case of Abby Flantz and Erica Nelson, it just may have saved their lives. Who knows how long it would otherwise have taken searchers to find the girls, who were found outside park boundaries.
Carry a cell phone when hiking, backpacking, skiing, snowshoeing, etc. in the wilderness. You may never need to use it, but if you suddenly do, you’ll be happy you brought it. Just ask Erica Nelson.
(If you’re headed out on a backcountry excursion, be sure to also let someone know where you plan to go and when you plan to be back. Tell them where your car will be parked and be as specific as possible about the details of your trip.)
Backpacking in the wilderness is exhilarating, peaceful, and refreshing, but things can quickly go wrong. It pays to be prepared.
June 23rd, 2008 @ 9:07 am
Cell phones are great back-ups for when people get lost in the wilderness, but far too many people rely on them to get out of sticky situations. The search and rescue experts I used to work with were often upset that people don’t try as hard as they should to prevent getting lost, simply because they have the added security of a cell phone. While these are great tools, be sure to rely on yourself when in the backcountry and have the proper knowledge and planning to prevent getting lost in the first place… your cell phone won’t always work when you need a signal.
June 24th, 2008 @ 8:33 am
Hey Ryan,
Thanks for your comment. That’s a good point. Cell phones can be invaluable if you get lost in the backcountry, but they might not always work and shouldn’t be an excuse to trek unprepared.