Every year, people get lost and need rescuing in the Sandia Mountains, which are right on the edge of New Mexico’s largest city, Albuquerque. The hiker in this story was in even more rugged and remote country. A dayhike can become a death march. mjh

DenverPost.com – Taste of state left hiker hungry By Monte Whaley, Denver Post Staff Writer

Terry Harlon got that taste of the Colorado wilderness he wanted so badly.

“In fact, I got a little more of the Colorado country than I bargained for,” said the soft-spoken, 48-year-old.

Harlon took off for a day hike at Rocky Mountain National Park on May 25. A week later, the Louisiana man was spotted by a helicopter after spending a week lost in the park’s backcountry.

Harlon spent Friday at St. Anthony Central Hospital, recovering from dehydration, sunburn and the effects of not eating for a week.

Rescued hiker glad to be alive By Katie Kerwin Mccrimmon, Rocky Mountain News

He had set out May 25 and lost the trail as he began “slipping and sliding and sinking” in the snow. He was doing a loop hike and kept thinking it would be shorter to continue on the loop rather than retrace his route. He had come to Colorado to scout Rocky Mountain National Park and bring his wife back for a trip this summer.

Harlon was wearing jeans, hiking boots, a flannel shirt and a light jacket. He had only a daypack with an apple and sunflower seeds. Once darkness settled in that first day, he knew he would have to spend a night out. For the next four days, he tried to find a trail or road.

But one day stretched into a week. Harlon was getting weaker and weaker and knew he wouldn’t survive much longer.

“The night before they found me, I had come to the conclusion that I could only last a few days,” Harlon said.