Lost hiker shares valuable lessons after spending night on mountain

Becky Ethington talks on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, about spending Monday night on a mountain after getting lost while hiking in Fernwood Park in Layton. She followed a stream back down the mountain Tuesday morning. | Mike Anderson, Deseret News

LAYTON — Becky Ethington knows Fernwood Park pretty well, but she ventured farther up the mountain and got lost in the dark.

That’s why there was a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter with infrared cameras and search and rescue volunteers from several area agencies searching for her Monday night.

On top of that, family, neighbors, friends, even co-workers from the junior high school where Ethington teaches, all helped with the search.

“I’m appreciative and really grateful for the people who showed up and care about me, and I love them just as much,” she said.

Ethington tried to find her way Monday night for a while with a small flashlight, but ultimately ended up hunkering down next to a tree.

Mike Anderson

Erik Bornemeier, commander of Davis County Search and Rescue, urged lost hikers on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, to go hiking with a full phone charge and don’t waste the battery on social media. Plus, he warned hikers to be aware of the weather. Bornemeier on Tuesday led efforts to find Becky Ethington, who got lost Monday night while hiking in Fernwood Park in Layton. She followed a stream back down the mountain Tuesday morning.

Ethington said there are some things she’s learned from the overnight ordeal.

“(I) told my husband where I was going, said, ‘I’ll be back tonight, a little after dark,’ kind of thing, you know,” she said.

Mike Anderson, Deseret News

Becky Ethington, gets a hug on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, after spending Monday night on a mountain after getting lost while hiking in Fernwood Park in Layton. She followed a stream back down the mountain Tuesday morning.

But she didn’t leave an exact location, which was farther up the mountain than normal.

“I’m up at the top and ready to come back down, and up there the trail is really light,” Ethington said.

And it was getting dark. She tried a couple of times to find her way back.

“Just found a place under a pine tree and leaned back, hoping there were no termites, and went to bed for the night,” she said.

She had plenty of water but forgot her phone.

Erik Bornemeier, commander of Davis County Search and Rescue, said hikers should always have a full phone charge and shouldn’t waste the battery on social media. Plus, he warned hikers to be aware of the weather.

“Weather has a way of draining a battery; so extreme cold or heat,” he said.

Bornemeier also said when calling 911, it will usually give police dispatch your GPS location.

“So if you’re in trouble, call 911 first,” he said. “And call family members after. That way, we can get resources going to you right away.”

“Stay put, really,” Ethington said after finding her way back Tuesday morning. “I wish I would have done that last night. Stay put, have everything in your pack. You know, have your glass of water, have some food, have a sweatshirt, a hat. I usually have a hat. I didn’t have one.”

Bornemeier also said lost hikers should stay put. They’ve ended up following people around a mountain on some searches.

And if you stop sweating, that’s a sign that heatstroke is on the way. Drinking from a creek or stream is better than going through that, but even better — always bring plenty of water.

Ethington walked right into the rescue command post with just a sunburn and some scratches.

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