Teen hiker Esther Wang speaks out after being lost in the woods for over two days – BC | 24CA News
A Langley teen is giving her account of what occurred after she went on a tenting journey in Golden Ears Park final week and obtained misplaced within the brush for over two days.
In a letter printed on-line, 16-year-old Esther Wang says she began the hike on June 27 with 4 different individuals as a part of a youth group.
“We started from our campsite at North Beach, and we used the East West Canyon Connector to access the Golden Ears trail,” Wang’s letter reads.
Wang goes on to say the issue of the path prompted her to lose sight of the place the remainder of her mountaineering social gathering went.
“At one point, the group made a turn somewhere along the trail, but I did not notice because I was solely concentrating on following the trail right in front of me.”
Once Wang realized she was alone; she determined to double again and see if she might return to the right path.
“I tried to turn around, but I tripped and fell down until I reached a flatter part of the mountain. Scared and lonely, I curled into a ball, and I tried to stay as calm as possible,” Wang’s letter continues.
“I started to hear whistles and noises that sounded like a signal. I started to climb the mountain towards the noises; however, I still could not locate the signals.”
After attempting and failing to alert search crews, Wang says she pivoted efforts to discovering water and camp for the night time.
“Thankfully, I was able to refill my water bottles and I had packed food for the hike. I tried to get some sleep on the rocks nearby, but I was cold and freezing.”
She says she used a headlamp at round one within the morning after seeing searchlights up the mountain however says nobody seen her.
“The area is very thick, the canopy for searching from the air makes it very difficult,” based on Ryan Smith with Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue.
“We were literally covering almost every square meter of that area that Esther was in. Unfortunately, it sounds like a few times Esther saw the lights or heard the noises or dogs barking. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to make contact with us and we weren’t able to make contact with her,” Smith defined.
In Esther’s letter, the younger hiker says she felt deflated when the search crews missed her.
“I was filled with hopelessness and fear, but I knew I could not give up.”
At round 5 within the morning on June 28, Wang says she tried to climb again up once more however failed.
She then labored her means down the mountain, transferring downstream however slipped on the rocks and hit her head.
“Thankfully, I did not lose consciousness and I was still able to move,” Wang continues.
“All throughout the day, I saw a yellow helicopter fly over my head multiple times. I tried making noise, singing and even shaking nearby trees to grab their attention, but everything I tried failed.”
Wang says she spent the remainder of the day mountaineering to the highest of the mountain to get a greater vantage level and hopefully alert search crews to her location.
“I used my phone to make noise in hopes that a person might hear it. Sadly, my phone was dying, and it eventually dropped out of my pocket somewhere when I was hiking.”
In Wang’s letter, she says she was exhausted after making it to the highest and determined to sleep below a tree till the following morning.
After waking up on the morning of June 29, Wang says she checked out photos on her digital digital camera to assist recall landmarks to assist her discover her means again.
“Once I was down the mountain, I found a rapid river flowing downstream. As I continued to follow the river, I noticed pink tape on some trees around me and my hopes soared high,” Wang shared.
“Eventually, I spotted a gravel path nearby the river. Filled with relief I followed the gravel trail until I hit a beach.”
Wang says as she continued alongside the gravel path her physique started to fail her.
“The sign at the beach was labeled ‘Hiker’s Beach’ and I knew I needed to get to the Gold Creek parking lot which was in the opposite direction, according to the sign. So, I dragged my feet back to the river and crossed as carefully as possible and followed the path.”
Wang says she continued alongside the trail as disorientation set in.
“I began to feel dizzy, and I started to imagine things in front of me when there clearly wasn’t anyone around me,” Wang recounted in her letter.
“I continued to encourage myself to keep moving forward and to not give up yet. It was around 9:15 p.m. when the gravel road ended at the Gold Creek parking lot, and I could see some people in the distance. I waved and immediately, I recognized my parents and I tried to run towards them.”
Wang says whereas she was capable of make it out below her personal energy, she says she couldn’t have carried out it with out search crews and volunteers.
“They led the way, and I was able to follow. Thankfully, there were park rangers nearby and they were able to radio the rescue team leader that I was safe,” Wang stated.
“Afterwards, an ambulance came to check my physical state and make sure I was alright. They checked the many scratches and bruises all over my legs and arms as well as my head injury. Because I crossed the river many times, the wetness of my socks rubbing against my feet caused the back of my heels to bleed immensely. The medics cleared me to go home, and I was finally able to get a good night’s sleep in my bed.”
Wang credit her 4 years within the Air Cadet program as offering the survival abilities that saved her life.
“The information I have learned from aviation to survival skills played a huge role in my ability to sustain myself in the wilderness,” Wang shared.
“Every incident, we actually encourage each topic who wants assist, to recollect S-T-O-P, based on Sandra Richies with BC AdventureSmart.
“Please stop, think, observe and plan. Search and rescue can find you faster and often in better condition,” Richies defined.
Wang says she and her household are grateful to go looking crews, police and volunteers who by no means gave up looking for her.
