[Bright River]

I left Janice Raddish starting the Little Giant Pass trail(LGP), which is the PCT Detour. We saw no warning at either the Buck Creek PAss trailhead nor at the LGP Th that the trail was unsuitable for stock.( And I had not used the Detour but had ridden the orignal PCT route around the west side of Glacier) She camped at Little Giant Pass that night and began the descent down into the Nappequa. Not far below the pass, on a very steep stepdown obscured by brush, the pack horse pulled both her and the lead horse off the trail. She tumbled about 50 feet and was shaken and bruised. Both horses fell out of sight and she was unable to find them, but after a lot of sketchy and frantic searching, she did find them both dead. She took a panier and used it as a pack with enough equipment to survive, and was able to get back to the trail, and then use her Spot to call 911. She was able to walk a couple of hours to where a heliocopter could reach her. She is still badly shaken and distraught, and having a hard time dealing with such a large loss ( she breed and raised the horses, and had already covered 1,700 miles of the PCT with them). This is a very hard ending for something that was a wonderful dream and that seemed to be going so well. She is at Wenachee State Park with her husband, who had been shadowing her movements down the PCT. If That state park is filled , she will be at Fish Lake, and if that is not possible, she is at Wenachee Lake Airport. They are trying to figure out how to retrieve the equipment that is still at the accident site. Packers will not use that trail. I was hoping that hikers could help in this situation. Pack some of the equipment over the Pass and down some, and pile it far enough down the east side of the trail to have it picked up by a pack horse. A single pack horse/mule being lead could probably be loaded with her paniers and saddles and carry everything out. What is needed are hikers that are willing to sherpa the stuff over the pass for a ways. At this point, I do not think that either of them is physically or emotionally very capable of going back to the accident site. This operation is still in its inception, and any help and support would be appreciated. She has a GPS coordinate for the accident site, so that it will be possible to find the area. I do do have A GPS, or rather are illiterate with its operation.

[grannyhiker]

I guess the Forest Service assumed that people would look at their website where the stock detour is clearly outlined. A link to this map is on the PCTA website under "trail conditions," but dated 2008. Of course nearly all hikers are now taking the original route. I don't know if this info has gotten into the various PCT guidebooks, but it ought to be there. It's unfortunate that information that is widely disseminated and known in the Northwest (such as the reputation of the Little Giant Trail) has evidently not penetrated elsewhere. I am not in a position to do so, but I sure hope that some of you can come to the aid of these folks! I know that losing beloved companions is devastating! Losing expensive gear on top of that would only make matters worse. My condolences to Janisce!

[GarnetTurtle]

I've cross-posted this message to the PCT-L

[Tazz]

I am soooo sad to see this post. That woman was doing something i have always dreamed of. I can sympathize with her loss of her dream and the horses (her friends). I wish i could help.... I am sorry bright river...

[wrecksduke]

Here are the SPOT "help" coordinates where Janice sent the signal: 48.0407,-120.8913 I hope folks in the NW can help. I'm in Southern California.

[Bright River]

Well, that was interesting, took me an hour to find my old GPS and get batteries in it. And now I actually have the co-ordinates. Ah technology! Thank you for sending these. But nothing can take the pain and heartache away. I just can not believe it , I rode the whole PCT with my horse, and have even walked most of the PCT detour on either side of Little Giant Pass. There was just this one little tiny piece that I had not been over, and I escorted her and her horses right to the trailhead. She was a good equestrian and I thought that she had a real chance at completing the thruride. I was thankful that I had had a chance meeting. Sometimes we just need to sit on a summit or a hill, and see the long long view and know that everything is impermanent and we in it as well. All our dreams in the end, just that - dreams.

[postholer]

[GeoHiker]

I was thinking of heading over that way on tuesday and could pack out some gear if it's still needed. My heart goes out to Janice and her devastating loss.

[William J. Erickson]

I will be in the vacinity on Wednsday with a saddle horse and couple pack horse for several days in the Entiat Basin I could divert and give a hand...

[Tazz]

I LOVE this site!! goof folks... helping good folks!!

[camut]

I just received an email from a friend who has been in phone contact with Janice. He advises me that two mule packers will probably be going in there today to try to help. I know both the men who will be going in; they are highly capable and I can't imagine anyone better for the job than these two. If anyone here is planning to be in the area (geohiker? Mr. Erickson?), I'm sure they would appreciate some help.

[camut]

Th current plan is for the two mule packers to go into the accident site via Boulder Pass today, unless they receive word that the gear has already been retreived and taken below the rocks on the Chiwawa side.

[Larry]

I'll possibly be too late, but my plans involve the DaKoBed Range via Little Giant Pass on September 8th. I'll certainly stay tuned here, and will be glad to carry some stuff over Little Giant.

[grannyhiker]

So glad to hear of volunteers out there! I knew some of you would come through! Again, for Janisce, my most heartfelt sympathies. I grew up with horses and was always broken-hearted when one of them passed on. They are wonderful companions and a lot like little children (albeit little kids don't weigh over half a ton, which, for the rest of you, is something to consider when you're around horses). My daughter, a horse veterinarian, was really upset to hear about this accident. She has heard enough about the Little Giant Trail to be upset at the idea of including it even as part of the hiker detour. Has anyone reported this accident to the PCTA? They really should pay more attention to publicizing the stock detour and describing the Little Giant Trail on their website! (LG is not for every hiker, either, especially not for those used to the easy grades of "Interstate 2000.") As I mentioned earlier, the URL for the USFS maps of the detour is on their site, but hidden in 2008 trail condition reports.

[William J. Erickson]

10/4 copy: I will stick to my original plans to ride/pack/photograph in the Entiat out of Cottonwood TH...My condolences Janice...Brighter Days will come again...Last fall two hikers helped me load a comatose horse into my trailer for transport to Countryside Vet clinic in Wenatchee...I am indebted to them...The young filly also met a tragic fate...Thanks to all...