The Trapper Trapped
He was down but most certainly not yet out. Trapped, yes, and there's the thing of it, for he'd gone out to check on his trap lines.This 56-year-old outdoorsman, well experienced and with a store of recognition of the wilderness area around where he lived well outside of Calgary, Alberta, was also a volunteer paramedic, often called upon in his community to assist in search and rescue operations. So he knew his way around, and he was most certainly in his element, and confident of his ability to face the elements.
It gets awfully cold in that part of Canada, throughout the winter months. Before leaving, he'd informed a friend he was on his way to check his traps. Good thing, as it happens. No one felt uneasy when he hadn't shown up the next day or so, because it was his habit to occasionally stay over in the places he was so familiar with.
Friends ventured out to look for him after a number of days had passed, but weren't too worried, knowing how well equipped he was to look after himself. It was his failure to show up for a work shift a day later that alerted a wider group to his absence, and a search was initiated. Before they could set out, however, a 911 call was received from a brace of hikers.
Who had serendipitously (for him) come across the man, Ken Hildebrand, as he had reached the decision to amputate his right leg which had been pinned under his ATV when it rolled over on him. His good leg; his left had been compromised by polio in an earlier lifetime. He had been out there, trapped in the wilderness for 96 hours.
Throughout the nights he tried to keep awake so he could whistle to alert hungry coyotes and wolves to the fact that he was capable of forestalling their instincts to make a meal of helpless prey. He survived the cold, deprived of food, shelter and sleep. By the time he was discovered by the hikers he was suffering from dehydration, frostbite, starvation; hypothermic.
He'd attempted to still the pangs of hunger by 'eating' snow. Even tried to eat some of the bait he'd left in the beaver trap he was checking on. Then vomited the rotten flesh.
Don't suppose it'll be too much longer, after a bit of a refreshing rest, that he'll be back in business.
Labels: That's Life
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, January 24, 2008
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