Unaccountably, the CHP, using helicopters, and local SAR groups found him after five days in the NorCal/Tahoe area Mokelumne Wilderness, at the 7800' level in the alpine forests about 25 miles south of Lake Tahoe.For one California man, what began as a day fishing trip quickly turned into a five-day fight for survival.
Mike Vilhauer, 58, went fishing Aug. 6 at Lower Sunset Lake in Alpine County when he noticed he wasn’t catching any fish. Deciding he needed more bait, Vilhauer, butterfly net in hand, left on what he thought would be a short trip to find some grasshoppers.
“I was just zigzagging up and down the mountain,” Vilhauer told ABC News. “I didn’t see anyone for quite a while.”
After a few hours, Vilhauer said it began to get late, and he decided he should probably head back to the fishing site. “That’s when the fun began,” he said.
Vilhauer began to make his way towards what he thought was the fishing site. But with darkness upon him at about 8 p.m., he decided to make shelter under a pine tree, covering himself with pine needles and willow branches in an attempt to stay warm. Vilhauer attempted to call 911, but a weak signal thwarted his efforts.
Vilhauer continued his search for the help on Thursday. Weak from his lack of food and water, he adapted what he called his “survivor man routine,” drinking water out of puddles, regardless of what else was in the puddle.
Let's score his efforts:
The 2003 version of The Mountaineers Ten essentials:
Updated Ten Essential "Systems"
1.Navigation (map and compass) -Doofus had a raggedy old topo map, no idea how to use it, and no compass
2.Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)- Nope
3.Insulation (extra clothing) - Nope
4.Illumination (headlamp/flashlight) - Another fail
5.First-aid supplies - fail
6.Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles) -fail
7.Repair kit and tools -no
8.Nutrition (extra food) -Total fail
9.Hydration (extra water)-total fail
10.Emergency shelter -absolute fail
Final score 5% out of 100: Too Stupid To Live.
The fee for rescue in such situations should include 10 days in the public ankle stocks, with a dunce cap, a billboard detailing your exploit, while local scouts and such were allowed to come by and throw fruit at you and put their chewed gum in your hair.
It's hard to say the planet wouldn't have been better served had this guy ended up as mountain lion scat, but evidently his family still wants him, for reasons passing understanding.
He should have his driver's license amended to read "not allowed more than 500' from pavement".