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Local Scouts come to hikers' rescue

During the late afternoon hours of Friday, June 20, Boy Scout Troop 725 of Fallbrook used their skills to help a San Diego couple hiking in Julian, and as a result, became the couple’s heroes.

Tony de Garate and Mimi Kramer, both experienced hikers and members of the Sierra Club, were enduring blistering 105-degree temperatures when a dire situation evolved during their day hike to Three Sisters Falls.

The couple started their hike at 9 a.m. Nearly two-thirds of the way into their journey, de Garate noticed the heat was getting to his girlfriend. Kramer was complaining of nausea and light-headedness.

“I’m not really sure when [the heatstroke] hit me because it hit so fast,” said Kramer, “but we were well into the hike and pretty much most of the way down the steep 500-foot drop when I started getting dizzy.”

Kramer’s symptoms began to mount – fatigue, weakness and rapid pulse plagued her and her skin became hot and flushed, void of perspiration.

Although de Garate voiced his concerns and wanted to turn back, Kramer said she thought she would be okay and wanted to push forward. They were less than a half-mile away from Three Sisters Waterfalls, which features a swimming punchbowl at the base of the second waterfall. The pool would have offered the perfect resolution for Kramer, but the couple never made it.

Following a moment of rest, de Garate noticed his girlfriend’s breathing was becoming labored.

“We decided to abort the hike and go back, but after a few hundred feet, she collapsed on the hot ground,” explained de Garate. “I found a bit of brush and placed her head under its shade; Mimi was so weak she had trouble sipping water and seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness.”

In one period of consciousness, Kramer told de Garate, “It may be heatstroke.” De Garate took what his girlfriend had to say to heart, as she is a nurse.

De Garate’s survival instincts kicked in. He ditched his day pack and guided Kramer down a treacherously steep hill.

“I wrapped Mimi’s arms around my neck and led her toward the creek at the bottom of the canyon,” he said. “After a dip in the creek and several gulps of unfiltered water, I took Mimi to rest in the shade of a few large oak trees.”

The couple was still a quarter mile away from the waterfalls.

The creek helped cool Kramer’s body temperature; however, she was still battling to regain strength. “We made the decision to spend the night in the canyon without equipment or food,” said de Garate.

As the hours passed, the couple devised a plan. If Kramer was strong enough the following morning, they would hike back to the campground. “If I couldn’t make it,” said Kramer, “Tony would hike out and get the rescue helicopter to come and pick me up.”

While contemplating their situation, de Garate persistently blew a whistle he carried. He blew the whistle in three short blasts each time – the SOS signal.

“We heard the whistle and found Tony and Mimi within minutes,” said Scoutmaster Jonathan Berry of Troop 725. With Berry were assistant Russ McKissick and Boy Scouts Brien Arnold and Henry Lauriello.

Berry admitted that his troop vacillated on whether or not to attempt the hike to Three Sisters Fall that afternoon because of the extreme heat. After discovering fellow hikers in need, they were relieved they followed through with their initial plan.

“Russ did a quick check of Mimi’s condition and helped me realize she’d be okay,” said de Garate. De Garate recounted how the bright and adventurous Arnold and Lauriello shared their lunches with him and Kramer.

“Mimi was depleted of energy; she hadn’t had food all day,” said Berry. “Henry gave her an apple and Mimi told him it was the most delicious apple she ever had.”

In an effort to help the couple, Troop 725 pooled their resources and provided them with food, filtered water, a tent and a sleeping bag, ensuring the maximum comfort possible under the conditions.

In the morning, Mimi was renewed, de Garate said. Berry made breakfast and the collective group hiked their way back to civilization.

Kramer said she is eternally grateful for the selfless and skillful acts of Troop 725 as well as her boyfriend’s bravery.

“After a good night’s sleep, the next morning, I was able to hike out on my own thanks to three amazing men and two amazing boys. My heroes!” she enthused.

“I’m very proud of our troop,” said Berry. “Being prepared and helping others is what Scouting is all about.”

Vic Enchelmayer, District Director of San Diego Imperial Council Boy Scouts of America, was pleased to hear how Troop 725 came to the rescue of the couple.

“ very excited to know they were able to apply their skills and able to help somebody with what they had learned in Scouting,” said Enchelmayer. “Scouts learn skills that help save lives.”

Boy Scout Troop 725 is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, Fifth Ward.

 

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