“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.” – Ernest Hemingway
For one family, a father and son outing in California’s Tahoe National Forest took a deadly turn.
Ari G. and his son Jack took their new Jeep on an off-roading adventure.
Father and son stopped in an area of the national forest known as Poker Flat.
The pair were trying to get their bearings when they noticed a man on a blue ATV pull up behind them.
Ari decided to ask the stranger for directions… and that’s where things turned deadly.
According to Jack, they turned around to ask directions and the stranger pulled out a gun and started shooting at them.
Ari threw the Jeep in drive and sped off, but he didn’t drive far before grabbing his chest and dying.
Jack jumped out of the Jeep and ran into the woods.
He was only wearing a T-shirt and shorts, but continued moving in the woods to get away from the shooter.
He tried to call the police, but couldn’t get cell reception.
He told local media his goal was to get away and find a place with cell phone reception.
The teen made his way to an area where he was able to call 911.
He told them his dad had been shot and that he was hiding in the forest.
Jack spent a long 30 hours hiding in the woods until authorities were able to locate him.
The sheriff’s office said Jack had traveled a considerable distance. But, he was in good physical condition.
Authorities said the gunman had also shot two other people in the forest that day.
He was caught after wildlife officers saw him driving an ATV at a high speed through the forest.
One of the wildlife officers blocked off the ATV, causing it to crash.
Officers opened fire and deployed a K-9 after the suspect represented a threat.
There is no question that the teen was able to evade the shooter by moving quickly through the woods.
While he didn’t have any training, he was able to stay safe.
And there is no question that in certain situations knowing how to cover your tracks while evading someone is a great skill to have.
So, here are a few things you need to know if you find yourself trying to lose someone who’s tracking you.
Terrain:
The terrain you bug out in can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
Some terrain is easier for tracking compared to others.
For instance, areas like steep slopes and heavy vegetation can give away your path.
If you have the choice of going over a steep mountain or around through a valley, the valley may be a better option.
The reason is when you ascend a steep slope you will dig your feet in more to climb, compared to flat terrain.
Plus, you are more likely to fall, which will lead to more signs of your presence.
Another factor to consider is the weather and how it affects the terrain.
For example, when it rains your footprints may be visible.
But, if you travel over a rocky area compared to a muddy trail the rocks will do a better job of hiding your tracks.
Avoid Noise and Light:
One of the keys to avoiding detection is to not create unnecessary noise and light.
You should be as silent as possible. The only sound should be your movement.
If someone is following you and they can hear your emergency radio, they will obviously find you.
Remember that sounds appear to be four times closer than they are.
Even something as small as the zipper on your jacket can give away your location.
These days many folks have flashlights with thousands of lumens.
These are great when you need to see, but they are terrible when trying to hide.
A flashlight that is 1000 lumens can be seen from about 200 meters away.
When you’re trying to evade someone, the use of flashlights should be avoided at all costs.
If you must use one, do so sparingly.
Cover your steps:
Your footprints say a lot about what you are carrying.
If you are lugging 50 lbs. on your back you will have deeper footprint indentations.
This can alert anyone following you that you’re carrying a lot of something.
Another thing you can do is walk in a river or stream.
It is more difficult to track someone in water since they leave less evidence.
Also, you can wear socks over your shoes or even remove the sole of your shoes.
Lastly, you can attempt to cover your tracks with leaves or by brushing the ground after you walk past, but if you’re dealing with a real pro, this won’t stop them.
Finally, one of the best things you can do is to learn how to become a tracker.
Because the best trackers can also become the best at covering their tracks.
