Having just posted about a walk on the Appalachian Trail 25 minutes from our house Nice hike on the Appalachian Trail , here's a reminder that you can get in trouble even on what you think is a straightforward walk in the woods.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, Hagner left home at 7 a.m. with hopes of hooking up with a group of hikers. But at about 9:30 a.m., having missed them, Rozler and Hagner decided to go up by themselves from Icehouse Canyon, at about 5,000 feet, to the tip of 6,900-foot Sugarloaf Peak.
Hagner had climbed up to Sugarloaf at least 50 times. He felt confident enough to skip the marked paths and climb off-trail. It was a clear, beautiful morning.
A couple of hours passed and a thin layer of fog rolled in. Turning back crossed Hagner's mind. He ignored the thought.
Around noon, the fog grew thicker. Their path became vague.
Hagner became upset with himself. He shouldn't have started the hike so late, he thought. He should've stuck to the trail; should've turned back at the first wisp of fog.
Rozler gave voice to her own doubts.
"I thought you knew Sugarloaf," she asked her friend.
"Don't you?"
Hagner was no longer sure.
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