This material Copyright 1997 Nando.net

Disoriented hiker follows music in his head to find rescuers

Copyright 1997 The Associated Press

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (June 16, 1997 07:38  a.m.  EDT) -- 

After wandering through Olympic National Park for nine days, it was the
sound of imaginary flutes and bagpipes that led a lost hiker to his
rescuers. 

   "I thought there was a music festival in the woods," said Chris
Wearstler, hours after he was found. "I was on my way to the festival." 

   Wearstler, 21, of Port Angeles walked into a camp full of rescuers
Sunday morning suffering from dehydration and exhaustion. He had lost 25
pounds. 

   "According to him he was attracted to Elkhorn Ranger Station by the
sound of bagpipes and flutes," said Curt Sauer, the park's chief ranger.
"We don't have any up there, so he was apparently beginning to
hallucinate." 

   Wearstler was supposed to return June 6 from a four-day backpacking
trip, his first solo overnight hike. He told rangers he got disoriented on
the third or fourth day and set up camp to wait for help. 

   But last Friday, he got lost when he went looking for water. 

   He wandered around for two days, too weak to respond loudly enough to
the calls and whistles of searchers. He also heard the helicopters, Sauer
said, but apparently did not move into an area where they could see
him. 

   More than 100 people and 10 dog teams began searching June 7. Sauer
estimated the cost of the search at $50,000. 

   "If I would have had food, it would have been a really cool
experience," he said.