Rescue Relief in the Uinta Mountains
Sep 14th, 2007 by D
We had a close call in Utah this past week. A three year old boy who was camping with his Mother and friends wandered away from their campground early in the morning and wasn’t found until just before dark. It was getting really scary because the night before in the Uinta Mountains it had gotten down into the 20s. Seems cold for mid-September but remember this is in the high country of Utah.
At any rate, they found him…a little cold and hungry…about a mile away from camp…but safe. We’re all very thankful. I must say the mobilization efforts of the people of Utah are touching. (Namely, the The Garrett Bardsley Foundation and the Summit & Wasatch County Sheriff’s Offices) It took only a few hours and there where hundreds of volunteers on site searching by foot, horseback and ATV. There is a lot to be said about that many people dropping everything on a dime and collaborating to find little Benjie!
Within an hour, search and rescue teams from surrounding counties arrived. A Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office plane took to the skies with the DPS helicopter. Volunteers – including an Arizona couple on their honeymoon – gathered to help in the search.
Benjie’s mother was shaken but held the right attitude…namely, that you can’t be afraid of the wilderness. It’s too beautiful and too important to the livelihood of children everywhere. What you can do is work hard to educate children about the dangers of wandering off in the wilderness alone. I also really liked that it was her intention to outfit her son with a whistle whenever they camp from now on. Great ending to a scary day in the mountains of Utah.
