If the last few months have taught hikers who visit Graham County for exploration anything, it is that one wrong turn can throw you off the trail.
Two separate incidents in the last week have solidified that belief.
Tennessee resident Tim Olson, 32, had left Beech Gap on the Cherohala Skyway near the North Carolina – Tennessee state line for an intended hike across Stratton Bald and down into the Slickrock area.
It is unclear when he began his hike, but shortly after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, he called by cell phone to report that he was lost.
The Graham County and Stecoah Rescue Squad – along with the U.S. Forest Service – began a search of the area. Tory Lynnes of the forest service checked area trails; Frank Cline scoured the Wolf Laurel trailhead area; and Jeff and Nick Millsaps searched the Cold Branch area. Graham County 911 dispatchers kept the searchers updated as to the area Olson’s phone calls seemed to be coming from.
Jeff and Nick Millsaps located Olson in the Cold Branch area of Big Santeetlah around 1:45 p.m. Olson was able to walk out to the vehicles, although very tired from his ordeal. When Olson had reached Stratton Bald, he apparently turned down a wooded road, instead of continuing on the trail, although there were signs posted in the area indicating the direction he should have gone.
When he did this, he lost his sense of direction and became lost.
Graham County 911 dispatchers received a report of two lost hikers in Joyce Kilmer Forest around 7:10 p.m. Saturday.
Arthur Abbott, 61 and Joan Abbott, 59 – both of Murphy – had left the Joyce Kilmer parking lot around 5 p.m. to hike the Memorial Loop Trail, but became lost.
Lynnes –found the couple near Fire Camp Branch which is also known as Adam Camp Branch on the Naked Ground Trail and got them back to their vehicle at 9:30 p.m.