How dumb are people?

[Bicycle Bill]

Howzabout so dumb that, even though they're lost in a Colorado forest in the middle of the night,they ignore calls to their cellphone from a search-and-rescue squad because they don't recognize the number?

A Colorado hiker lost for 24 hours
ignored rescuers' attempts to reach them
because they didn't recognize the phone number

• A hiker set out to trek Colorado's highest peak for 24 hours on October 18.

• They were reported missing, and a search-and-rescue operation was carried out through the night.

• While the search was underway, the person ignored calls; they didn't recognize the phone number.

A Colorado hiker who got lost on a trail ignored calls from search-and-rescue officials who tried to locate him for 24 hours, because they didn't recognize the number repeatedly calling them, according to the New York Post.

In a Facebook post, Lake County Search and Rescue officials described the ordeal, which happened on Mount Ebert, Colorado's highest peak.

According to the officials, the hiker set out at 9:00 a.m. on October 18, and by 8 p.m. that evening, they began searching for him when an individual reported that he had not returned from his hike.

"Multiple attempts to contact the subject via their cell phone were unsuccessful," the post said.

The officials said that first, a team of five set out at 11 p.m. to search for the missing hiker and stayed out until 3 a.m. on October 19. A team of three picked up the search a few hours later, at 7 a.m., looking in areas that hikers typically get lost.

But by 9:30 a.m. the following day, the search was called off.

"At approximately 0930 the reporting party reported the subject had returned to their place of lodging. All personnel were out of the field by 1000," the post said.

The officials said the individual "lost the trail around nightfall and spent the night searching for the trail, and once on the trail, bounced around onto different trails trying to locate the proper trailhead."

The missing hiker reached their car the next morning and 24 hours after they set out for the day hike, and had no idea a search and rescue operation was underway because they declined calls coming in from the officials.

"One notable take-away is that the subject ignored repeated phone calls from us because they didn't recognize the number," the officials said. "If you're overdue according to your itinerary, and you start getting repeated calls from an unknown number, please answer the phone; it may be a SAR team trying to confirm you're safe!"
(story from Insider)

-"BB"-

[Gob]

[MajGenl.Meade]

And the journo thought that "he" was two people!

A Colorado hiker who got lost on a trail ignored calls from search-and-rescue officials who tried to locate him for 24 hours, because they didn't recognize the number repeatedly calling them, according to the New York Post.

Hope no thems were upset

[Big RR]

I was thinking the lost hiker must have been royalty, or that Insider wasn't taken any chances.

[Joe Guy]

And the journo thought that "he" was two people!

A Colorado hiker who got lost on a trail ignored calls from search-and-rescue officials who tried to locate him for 24 hours, because they didn't recognize the number repeatedly calling them, according to the New York Post.

Hope no thems were upset

Maybe “he” turned out to be a transsexual or unsure, which technically made him a them. Ask Scooter.

[Burning Petard]

Please note the hiker managed his own problems and emerged back at his car without outside assistance or any personal injury. Not evidence of stupidity on the part of the hiker.

snailgate

[Big RR]

True, but if you are overdue on a return from a hike, you would have to realize that people are concerned and may be searching for you, so it is silly, if not stupid, not to answer one's phone.

[Bicycle Bill]

Please note the hiker managed his own problems and emerged back at his car without outside assistance or any personal injury. Not evidence of stupidity on the part of the hiker.

snailgate

There's an old adage, attributed to Otto von Bismarck, which goes, "There is a providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children, and the United States of America”.   So the fortunate ending could just as easily have been — in fact, more than likely WAS — the result of good luck as good outdoor skills.

-"BB"-

[Crackpot]

Though it does raise the question as to why the person who reported him missing didn’t call him

[MGMcAnick]

Please note the hiker managed his own problems and emerged back at his car without outside assistance or any personal injury. Not evidence of stupidity on the part of the hiker.

snailgate

Well THAT part might not be.
It's similar to a pilot filing a plan before taking off. You'd better remember close the plan, or the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) will attempt to contact you before sending out a search party to look for your crash site. They really don't like it if they search for someone who forgot to close a flight plan.
Note: It is not mandatory to file a flight plan unless one is flying IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) .

[Big RR]

Though it does raise the question as to why the person who reported him missing didn’t call him

Maybe (s)he did, but he didn't know the "individual's" phone number.

[MGMcAnick]

Mrs Mc and I can locate each other's phones, within about 100' with an app, but 'location' must be on. It is my understanding the the authorities can locate a phone, NS-EW, even if 'location' is turned off. Did they not do that?