Scouts in Action - Scouts rescue 78 yr old solo backpacker in Emigrant Wilderness (CA)

[RememberSchiff]

Santa Barbara–based troop, Troop 26, was on the fourth day of a seven-day backpacking trip through the Emigrant Wilderness in the Stanislaus National Forest that borders Yosemite National Park. Nine young scouts were accompanied by five adult leaders.

They were trekking with their 40-pound packs through a high-altitude meadow near Long Lake when they came upon a lone, disoriented  78 year old outdoorsman Douglas Montgomery.

He was on a solo 14-day backpacking trip but lost his pack and with it his shelter, food, water, medication, and personal locator beacon.  He did have his survival training from Scouting, but Eagle Scout Douglas Montgomery was cold, tired, and dehydrated when Troop 26 scouts came to his rescue.

There's more at source. Good story with another surprise or two.

Source:

https://www.independent.com/2025/08/24/santa-barbara-boy-scouts-rescue-former-scoutmaster-lost-in-the-sierra-nevada/

P.S. I can relate to this quote from old Eagle Scout Douglas Montgomery

“Backpacking was my first love. But once you learn how to live in the wilderness … and your backpacking skills become more challenged by age, you like stuff where you’re sitting down.”

Scout Salute to all in this story.

Edited 14 hours ago by RememberSchiff