Letter: Hikers should prepare for adversity on trails

First, I am glad that Amanda Eller was found safe and sound, and that her family was spared a tragedy (“Found alive!” Star-Advertiser, May 25).

However, Eller checked off just about everything that could be done to ensure she became lost, injured and stranded.

Eller told no one where she was hiking; went hiking by herself into an area with which she was insufficiently familiar to accurately navigate; and brought no equipment to take the “search” out of search and rescue — no cell phone or other signaling equipment. Eller had no food, water or other basic life-support gear, or even (what sounds like to me) adequate footwear.

Our first responders and the well- intentioned volunteers were placed at risk to search for this lost hiker in rugged, remote terrain.

I would hope that these lessons learned are captured by all would-be explorers.

Tom Bellit

Kailua

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