I didn't read the book, but watched a small docu about on television a few years ago. It depicted how the same men (rangers/wardens) who had searched for her insisted on being there and carrying her out. Very sad.

Yes, Petalique, I just finished the book & thought it was a good read & recommend it.

No, I didn’t know Gerry. She didn’t seek solitude, but in fact was a gregarious, people person, who seemingly never met a stranger.

I had the book on hold from the library, but I’m not remenbering how i happened upon it. I like nonfiction books & perhaps the title hooked me? There was nothing nefarious about her tragedy, though conspiracies flourished & it’s remarkable how people are suseptible to going down that path.

The author incorporated scientic research into the story line & that sparks my interest. Example: his discussion on spatial orientation. I could relate to losing one’s bearings. My instinct is to always turn the wrong direction. The body’s physical and emotional response to being lost was an interesting topic.

I've read so many books that I can't remember but I know her story and have watched a few videos about her. Very sad, she wasn't far from the nearest trail, which makes it so much worse. I've gotten lost a couple times, one by myself in the woods behind my apartment in Germany. I'd walked it many times before but that day went down a different path and got lost after deciding to just walk out the other side. Germany has small little patches of woods here and there, well, this one went further than I thought. It was pretty scary and I never walked back there again. I ended up in a farmer's field and the two men there pointed me toward my village which was really far away by then. What was supposed to be an hour or so walk turned into about a 5 or 6 hour ordeal by the time I got home.

Kath, it sounds as if you had a glimpse of the experience that Gerry from the book had in her fatal loss of orientation. You must have been exhausted by the time you arrived home, not just from the walk, but also from the adrenalin overload from being stressed.

beeOhio, it was pretty bad. I can't imagine going through that day after day.

I remember the story, but haven't read the book. Maybe it was an article in the NYer?

Here's an article from the New York Times in 2016:

Geraldine Largay's Wrong Turn

Scary. My DM once told me about getting lost in a mature cornfield when she was a little girl. Her DF found her in about one minute by telling her to shake the stalks.

I'm now thinking of another sort of 'disorientation'. Someone makes a single bad decision that quickly entraps. It's the stuff of tragedies, where a seemingly small mistake compounds until the person is 'lost'.

For an interesting read about other people who were killed on nature hikes, check out Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon. It was written by a couple of travel guides, and is a collection of stories about of all the people (that they know about) who died hiking the Grand Canyon since 1869. It's a big, thick book.

I do a lot of trail running in the forest and yes, I do have to go pee sometimes. I often think of her and mind where I'm going. I'd rather be seeing going pee then stray to far for privacy.

Her experience is not uncommon. The Smokies have a number of missing. I havent read the book either but have seen a documentary. It is certainly easy to get turned around.

I havent read the book either but i also recall the story. Yes, there have been numerous stories of lost hikers on the AT and on its west coast counterpart, the PCT as well.

Further, nefarious people on any trails are not new. If anyone read ’Wild’ you will recall the author was approached by some men, apparently hunters, while setting up camp one afternoon. She felt uncomfortable after speaking with them and as soon as she could, she broke camp and hiked on. I think this was also portrayed in the movie. My good friend rides trails, never alone. She had an uncomfortable feeling not long ago when they came upon someone just sitting in a vehicle smoking where they planned to start riding. Their plans changed very quickly, even though both were carrying concealed.

Alusande, that’s a good article in the NY Times.

Judidupi, i have that book! i had read several stories in it but havent had it out in a long while. Thanks for the reminder.

i’m still thinking of Gerry. I can’t imagine a worse way to die, absolutely alone, starving to death. And she had a fear of being alone, fear of the dark, & suffered from panic attacks.

Her family & friends must have suffered greatly, not knowing for 2+ years, then learning how she actually died must be excruciating.