A mother and son surnamed Liang got lost while hiking on New Year’s Day. Officer Lin Jin-lu from Dadong Police Station of Heping Police Precinct confirmed their location via mobile phone and, together with staff from the Anmashan Work Station of the Forestry Bureau, conducted a rescue operation that successfully escorted the pair down the mountain safely.
The mother and son entered the hiking trail at 26.5K on Xueshan Road, Hengling Mountain, in the morning of January 1st. They had planned to hike the Yuanzi Ridge route that day. Around 1 p.m., while trekking near the triangulation station on Hengling Mountain, they became disoriented due to unfamiliarity with the path and foggy conditions that reduced visibility, prompting them to call for help.
Officer Jiang Ming-zhong immediately coordinated with personnel from the Forestry Bureau’s Anmashan Work Station. The two used GPS coordinates to locate and rescue the pair. At around 4 p.m., they found the mother and son at the junction of the 15th and 34th forest compartments of Baxian Mountain. Both were unharmed. After a brief rest, they were safely guided and escorted down the mountain.
Chen Yong-chang, Chief of Heping Police Precinct, pointed out that in recent years, many hiking enthusiasts have taken advantage of holidays to explore the mountains in the Heping area, and cases of getting lost occasionally occur. Hikers who stray from their group or go alone are especially prone to losing contact. He particularly urged the public to prioritize safety.
Analysis of past mountain accident causes includes not carrying satellite phones, GPS locators, or radios; entering the mountains alone; hiking separately from one’s group; poor physical condition; altitude sickness; unfamiliarity with mountain trails and lack of a guide; adverse mountain weather; insufficient warm clothing and rain gear; inadequate supplies of water and food; lack of lighting equipment; and not carrying—or carrying incomplete—survival kits or first aid supplies.
(China Times)