The Most "Suspicious" Missing Hiker Case on the Internet... What REALLY Happened?

[@javiercantellops7047]

I’m Javier Cantellops one of the men that found her and Search and Reacue team leader during this incredible story. I appreciate your well put together video. A friend shared it with me. To answer one of your questions…Where she actually got lost, not where we were searching but where she actually became lost. There were no more trails or roads intersecting. She f’d up incredibly badly in the worst spot possible. If you ever have any questions feel free to reach out 🤙

[@marievaleur7877]

Thank you Javier!

[@Kimmaline]

Javier, you're f'ing awesome.

[@ButterfliesAreNinjas]

Great job! You all saved her life ❤

[@jonbruce536]

@kekibannmi6054 correct.

[@KyleHatesHiking]

So cool, glad you liked the video! Hope I pronounced your name right 😬 Thank you for all the work you and the other searchers did

[@javiercantellops7047]

My last comment as a search and rescue volunteer. What if she did take drugs? So what? Many of our search and rescue situations are due to mental illness, drugs, alcohol. That does not matter to any of us. We are there to find the person and reuniting with their family. WHY they went missing, HOW they went missing. means nothing to searchers. We are there to search find and reunite. Period

[@VanessaScrillions]

You are a good human ❤

[@davidbiagi2932]

Well said and y’all did an awesome job! All of these people want to cry and complain about “how and why” when none of that matters. If she wanted to smoke some weed or take a psychedelic and enjoy nature for a couple hours, who are they to try and degrade her? I highly doubt she did anything like that, MAYBE smoked some weed which anyone who has smoked knows it wouldn’t be a reason you got lost in the woods. And the idiots crying about how it’s dumb not to take her phone which it was stated over and over that she liked being one with nature and didn’t want to have any type of electronics around her while she was hiking. It seems pretty reasonable to me assuming she planned a short hike. If more people would be like her and could stay away from their phones for more than 5 mins, the world would be a much better place. In the end she was just someone who wanted to enjoy nature and some peacefulness for a couple hours, made a mistake and got lost and almost lost her life. Thanks to some great rescue efforts and not giving up, she was found relatively safe and that’s what everyone should be talking about, not the “why or how” she got lost or trying to degrade her and bash her choices.

[@flenzy]

Thanks for focusing on the big picture.

[@bearcubdaycare]

As a former search and rescue volunteer, I always hoped that people wouldn't delay a call for aid out of embarrassment.

Thanks for your services!

[@javiercantellops7047]

Amanda was a close friend of mine. Out of all the searchers in the picture I was the only one that knew her. I had certified her in scuba diving and taken her on several other hiking/rappelling adventures. Why did I take pictures??? Why do you think . We were insanely ecstatic at finding her. Literally the single greatest moment in my life. We had been beyond depressed around day 10. Day 14 about to give up. We were pushing for one last weekend before would call the search off. … If you know me I do tend to take lots of pics so out loud I exclaimed oh we’re taking a f@&king picture 😆 and I immedietly sent it to her father and base camp. Then thought about it for a split second and said f&$k it and posted it. So many people had been negative, not believing what we were doing was worth while. People coming up to me telling me we were wasting our time. That she was already dead. …It was an absolute celebration of life and one of the greatest couple of pics I’ve ever taken. This story literally changed my life path and changed the course of my life forever. The aftermath of losers talking shit never bothered me really. As we lived this story, we saved her life, and we never gave up. Everyone else are couch quarterbacks having zero clue. Thanks for the comments I’m turning off notifications for this now🤙 you all take care

[@mariahconklin4150]

Glad you all found your friend what a sweet story. I’d probably get lost out there I’m pretty bad with directions so is my boyfriend haha

[@jjr1728]

You are NOT Nordic. You never will be Nordic.

The value of your work is beyond measure. Thank you for what you do.

[@FlipNasty1]

No she wasn't

[@MoneyStrategiesSOULutions]

🌈🐬🙏

I got lost it happens. West Virginia, I was walking my dogs, intended a 10 minute walk, and paid more attention to my cute little dogs than the trail. WV trails wind in and out, sometimes poorly marked, like hiking noodles. 4 hours later I was using my phone to get out to anywhere safe, and found myself at a familiar landmark. But it was the wrong direction! I was unknowingly hiking deeper into the woods, not out, as I thought. Once I stumbled onto this well-known landmark, I took the straight path to the road which I knew very well. I ended up 3 miles away from my car but I just stayed on the highway after that. I was pretty tired. I had been on this trail so many times. It was near dusk when I started my “10 minute walk.”

[@Carmensrt]

Damn. I'm glad your incident ended well.

And you wasn’t lost for 17 days.

Wow....what a story! Glad you're ok. Just an ordinary person taking a common walk with your dogs on a familiar trail! I used to live in the Rocky Mountains as a kid. It was VERY common for people who got lost up there to try and hike out. Invariably, they would wind up walking in a giant circle and just end up where they started. It's extremely discouraging. I don't know how a person could hike in a circle. My parents instructed us kids that if we ever got lost in the mountains, to find a stream and follow it. The stream always went down the mountain and would lead to civilization eventually.

[@andreameigs1261]

That's nuts. I got the idea to start telling my dog "go home" on our way back to the car and saying, "good home!" when we get back and giving her awesome treats like beef jerky once we get back to the car. At least I'm pretty sure my beagle heeler would figure it out. I'm not sure about my schnauzer/terrier mix, but he is super food motivated, so he might figure it out. He's probably smarter than I give him credit for. Anyway, eventually the dog will know what it means, and it will just think it is always leading you back, so if you get lost and you can put all your trust in your dog, it will get you back. I also just thought that you could even make a game of it while at home...go down the driveway, and tell the dog, "go home." lead it to the car, and reward it when it gets to the car. When it gets that down, then go a few houses. Later, blindfold yourself and have someone turn you around a bunch of times to disorient yourself, hand you the leash, and tell the dog to go home. That will train you to trust the dog too, which is really the harder part when you get lost in real life. It's like how pilots train to trust their instruments so they don't fly into the ground. Anyway, I got this idea after seeing an episode of "I should have died" or whatever. Lady got lost with her dog in the grand canyon. One day she yelled at the dog for spilling the water, and it took off. The dog made it back to civilization just fine. The lady almost died, but some native trackers happened to see tracks in a rarely travelled area, so they followed them and found her. They didn't even know anyone was missing.

I’m glad you and your dogs were ok ❤

[@davidpierce3217]

I was hiking in the backcountry once and met a group of 4 who were out there with no map. They asked me where they were so I pulled out my map and showed them. The lead guy in the party said no, that wasn't where they were. I was really taken aback -- he didn't even have a map -- so I pointed out some landmarks around us and showed him where they were on the map, confirming that indeed we were where I said. He said he didn't believe it. It was surreal lol I wished them luck and went on my way. Some people just shouldn't be out hiking, they are not prepared in any way

Some people have a really bad sense of direction! And some are just too ornery! It takes time and effort to learn to read a landscape, to read maps properly! They ought to be more classes led by the rangers that teach preparedness and other practical stuff! As well as in schools!

[@tima.478]

"Yep, you take care buddy." I would have told him the same...

Some some people are just plain stupid

maybe that guy is relying on his spiritual powers. lol

[@bobmiller7502]

@boiledliddo like some kind of gedi?

[@javiercantellops7047]

She was found almost 8 miles away from her car as the crow flies. But much further walking. The area that she actually got lost in was further away than the area we initially began to search. The reason we flew the helicopter so far was because honestly me and the hunter decided to go and push much further away because I believed that she was on the move and moving out Farther than we thought. The best way to cover that super rugged terrain before our hike was to get a layout form the sky. With the wishful thought we would get a miracle, and spot he. Our miracle happened. It’s a great story. If you ever want to do an interview with me I would love to chat about it. We were about three days from giving up. It was about to be our last weekend. We were planning for one final weekend push. Life changing day

[@Lockjawcatahoulapit]

How much did she pay you? 🤡

Thank you!

[@angelssoul5596]

I hope all of you rescuers and Amanda survived the fires. There is no question she survived something terrible and you guys saved her life. Horrible mind set of the nay sayers. Stay positive.

All in all, she needs to make better choices in the future. Thank goodness for all of the search and rescue people. Thank you for your kind service to others.

[@riversmcmullan5282]

You guys are true hero’s!!!!!God bless you all!

[@merrywalsh2809]

I actually live on Maui with the Makawao Forest reserve bordering my land and I have hiked a bit, but only in well designated areas. I can see how she could get lost, sleep on a tree (there are many giant fallen trees, and that would get you off the ground and away from more bugs), fall down a slippery gulch, etc. Look at her legs. She suffered out there. She starved out there. That was no prank. Maui attracts spiritual folks, artists, all kinds of dreamers. She is one of those who uses her heart way more than her head. It’s a type here lol.

[@tinateens6]

I lived on Maui when this happened and unless people know how Maui wilderness is, they don’t really get it. I agree with you and I have no doubts that she got turned around. I feel she’s lucky to not have gotten eaten by a boar. Amandas rescue was the only missing hiker case that I remember while I was out there have a happy ending. I was really hoping that Khiara Henry would’ve been found, so sad.😞

[@janicesmith2475]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. It wasn’t suspicious in any way. God, I’m 63 and a dreamer, and I wouldn’t think twice about napping on a log in a beautiful forest. Well, except I have severe arachnophobia. 🕷️ 😳

[@merrywalsh2809]

@@janicesmith2475 Haha, you and me both, sis.

[@katrinacarter2019]

She lost a bit of weight plus sores on her mouth wouldn't happen if she was hanging out in a cabin

[@lorettagilmore8830]

Well said

[@neurospicypisces]

This story gave me an idea. In these kinds of search and rescue events where helicopters are used multiple times, it might be helpful for them to drop a bright coloured supply package with a loud noise maker and GPS device. It would draw the attention of the lost person when they hear the helicopter, see it parachuting down, have a noise maker to help locate the landing spot, and if they go to it then they would have a location for the missing person. Could even have a messaging device. Include water and food in the package so they can get immediate sustenance. The GPS device used means that if a care package is never found then it can still be retrieved at a later date (leave no trace)

[@annrhodes3544]

Good thinking!

That's a brilliant idea. I've heard lots of stories like this where the people could see the helicopters but they were not seen. Imagine how many of those stories are never heard because the people aren't found. Your idea could be a literal life saver. I'm not sure who you should contact with it but you should look into getting it out there to the "right" people.

[@mopreppinmolivin]

Excellent idea! Brilliant!

[@kylie_h1978]

Definitely a good idea, though it would require a bit of thought on placement strategies and the recovering of any unused drops.

[@gghstlr]

Definitely a good idea for the Coast Guard and ALL rescues. The best thing to do would be to contact your local congressperson to get them to write a bill or make a suggestion on your state Senate floor

[@BigMamaCat]

Many years ago, I was part of a healthcare team that treated a woman who'd suffered exposure for just 3 days. She also made a lot of comments about spirituality and was convinced she'd been conversing with Lady Diana at one stage. Dehydration, starvation and electrolyte imbalances can affect people's perception and personality for some time. I don't think anyone should be disrespecting Amanda.

Mental disorder from birth. Some say no common sense

[@oldandangry44]

People tend to suck online. They are all experts on anything they decide to comment on. She got lost for 17 days and was lucky to survive! I think she deserves to go on with her life without the shaming.

[@ChadFarthouse-h8r]

She is a gofundme scam artist

[@christerstabis3187]

@@ChadFarthouse-h8r To make such claims you have got proof, I guess ? If so it would be essential to the story for all to know about them. Just facts, no guessing (in either way in this story).

[@ChadFarthouse-h8r]

@@christerstabis3187 and you can also use common sense.

[@ChadFarthouse-h8r]

@@christerstabis3187 well one clue is there was a gofundme account set up for her. #2 people who go missing in the woods for 17 days are never found alive. 3 #3 her demeanor . She isn't acting or looking like someone who had been in the wilderness for 17 days.

[@christerstabis3187]

@@ChadFarthouse-h8r Okey. What I see from this video (and comments from the rescuer) I can not tell exactly what the truth is. I wouldn't blame anyone without being absolutely sure of it. Sure it is a remarkable story. But she looked much thinner on the pictures when they found her then the before picture. She ate some plants and moths so she got some energy from that. I am not sure how much she needed to eat for survival for 17 days so I can not make any conclusions by that. She fall and got some injuries from that. That would be easy to check for a medical staff and confirm if it was true or not. Even if have gone a long time the relatives of missing people use to want to find the missing person, even if they may be dead. So continuing a search for someone after a long time is not strange. So, to conclude, I can not say neither that you are true about that or wrong.

[@tiffanym4202]

I think her ordeal was legit. She came out of the woods emaciated, lips blistered and with significant injuries. I'm glad she made it out alive.

[@thedaisiesgrow]

And I think if this were a dude, the “analysis” (speculation) would be completely different.

[@firefly88887]

I’d love to know what yoga pants she wore, can’t get mine to stay taught for 3 hours never mind 17 days ?

@thedaisiesgrow Agree, 'he' would have been laughed at from the beginning with no remorse for getting lost and being a wimp. Anyone who saw her swollen and infected ankles either undrstands she wasn't there voluntarily or they are an idiot.

[@LoveK1]

@alaric_men would have been the ones calling him a wimp so go take that attitude somewhere else.

[@jenniferglenn14]

@@firefly88887Buy better yoga pants lol

[@alquezada5910]

To her credit, I can definitely say that many other people would not have survived lost out in the bush for 17 days. Her spiritual demeanor and positivity may have actually contributed to her survival. You can research that people with positive attitudes do better in these extreme situations. Maybe those making fun or questioning her demeanor can learn something from her. Glad she made it through.

[@MoneyStrategiesSOULutions]

Good point

[@MandalayMoore33]

I think true grit and a steely determination to make it out alive are the "no BS- spiritual new [c]age" yardstikck snd are the equivalent to just being 'positive'. Her lack of being grounded was what most likely led to her disorientation in the fist place. THAT also came into play in "trusting" her shitty intuition - it led her deeper and farther away from safety.

Dude this is Maui, as long as you go downhill you are home within 3 hours max and maybe 6 hours if your a senior citizen. This woman was in hiding for a few days then fell and injured herself.

[@ghostcat2467]

​@chrise9969Yeah something not passing the sniff test here

[@geometerfpv2804]

​@chrise9969 Judging by your comment I think you would be surprised how little common sense many people have. People have been found dead a mere 30 ft from their trail. Just because it should have been easy to get out doesn't mean she was lying, she could just be a terrible navigator. Judging by the fact that she was "following her inner voice", this doesn't surprise me.

[@yemrot1]

Another case of people wanting to believe a complicated lie rather than the simple truth. The woman got lost.

[@christine1921murphy]

There are portals....Watch "MAN OF LIGHT"

Real life sometimes actually is" stranger than fiction" .

[@sunnyscott4876]

Occam's razor ...the simplest explanation is usually the truth.

[@christine1921murphy]

@sunnyscott4876 NO IT AIN'T TRUTH in our world is always COVERED UP

[@christine1921murphy]

@sunnyscott4876 HEY. BUD, welcome to our reality, where TRUTH is always covered up

[@robinguertin574]

Three things; 1. Leave your plans with someone. 2. Be prepared for the worst. 3.The minute you know you're lost, stay put. It will make the rescue faster. I'm glad she was found alive.

[@808matson]

4 have a clue on how to navigate your surroundings. She could get lost in a parking lot

Or just walk downhill until you hit the highway.

[@808matson]

@brentnevius2849 now that is logical, don’t get me confused

[@Scotter4536]

@brentnevius2849 THIS! The entire island is surrounded by a highway close to the coast and all of the streams flow to the coast. Even if you were in the deepest part of the forest, you'd still only be about 10 miles from the coast.

[@Ellie-rx3jt]

​​@@Scotter4536 One of the guys who rescued her said that the terrain in that area is very uneven, so "just go downhill" is impossible. If she was following the water downstream that was probably as close as she was going to get. Plus a riverbank without vegetation is great for being spotted by a helicopter.

[@sondraarrache1908]

I have been lost in the woods. Fortunately, I made it out in the same day. I made all the mistakes she made and was just more fortunate. I am glad she was found.

I got lost in a Forrest that I pretty much grew up in. I would always go off of the main trails. One day I got disoriented and freaking lost. It was hot and I didn't have any water. Yeah it's scary. I eventually stumbled upon a familiar trail, and I was way further away from where I needed to be. Even after the relief of finding the trail, I thought that I might not make it back to the trailhead. Obviously, I made it. But yeah...no fun.

[@Shine13373]

I doubt this was anything more than her just being dumb and heading into the wilderness unprepared. She's lucky to have been found.

[@ae2948]

Exactly. She did the same thing a hundred times before and nothing bad happened. This time she got injured and lost.

[@wompppwompwomppp]

​@@ae2948confirmation bias is a killer

[@ae2948]

@@wompppwompwomppp No one ever thinks it will happen to them. And most of them will be right.

[@jejewa2763]

So they see an empty car but close the gate regardless ...what a bunch of idiots...bf just go to bed...another idiot...must be the food

​@jejewa2763youd have to think he was somewhat accustomed to her not coming home, doing her own thing,as he stated. So it likely wasnt uncommon ,or he would have reported her missing right then? Its also a bit telling of how she operated that he had no idea where she had been that day,hiking, or otherwise,he simply dint know. Not judging thier relationship,or closeness ,just pointing out she seemed extremely set on * doing her own thing* and specifically not being in touch. 🤷‍♂️

[@joshthemediocre7824]

I think the photos of her being found is one of the best parts of this story, it really captures a great moment. You can almost imagine being there.

[@constancedenchy9801]

I got lost in Five Valkey Nevada. I climbed up really high and saw two hikers! I yelled to them "I lost my way off the trail! "...they helped me get back to the trail. I didnt have my cell. Was a huge lesson

[@lynnfaulkner2706]

As someone who went through the same experience as Amanda, although, thankfully, for only a fraction of the time she was lost, her account is wholly believable to me. I too was an experienced hiker, and went off on a "short hike" leaving all of my gear behind at the campsite. At some point i realized i was on animal tracks, not the trail. Trying to retrace my steps proved the old adage about walking around in a circle. I too consider my dark night of the soul as the most profoundly spiritual of my life, and it continues to inform me many decades later. When someone has come close to death, it is very likely to change a person's life forever - and nearly always in a positive way.

[@jenniferg6818]

so are you saying when you were lost was DNS?

I’m not sure my conversations with death were a positive experience for me. Perhaps in a survival situation it’s different than in a medical situation. My conversations left me deeply traumatized, and haven’t led to me appreciating my life any more- I already really valued it.

[@LOL_Whut]

She’s like almost every resident of Vermont or Asheville, NC…Hippie tree-hugger, bear cuddler, cosmic life coach, always on a journey of self reflection, etc. If you know someone like this, her statements make perfect sense. She just got lost and got very lucky she made it out alive. Kudos to her rescuers and all those on the search teams. There will always be people (especially online) that look for the worst in people and try to make everything more complicated than it really is. Hope she’s doing well and has learned to carry a map and compass at least.

[@joanndaprile9076]

Best comment!

[@sarahlewisphoenix4951]

As someone who lives around/in Asheville, NC I completely understood her comments too. lol

If you watch professional survivalist Les Stroud (Survivorman) he regularly says the average person will die in a 7-10 days without food.

[@davidbiagi2932]

What does that have to do with anything? It’s pretty well known that that’s roughly the amount of time a human can go with NO FOOD (or water), but she had a constant water source and she ate enough plants and bugs/moths to do enough to help her survive longer. Let’s not forget we literally have vegans that eat nothing but plants and have no problem surviving.

Excuse me, most Vermonters aren't hippies, but are quite practical 😤

[@louhortonsculpture]

Her following her heart down animal trials to get lost reminds me of fairy lore, they entice you to get lost in the woods. Makes sense that some people would describe their experiences in such a way that would lead to such myths.

[@ZoTrAcK]

I don't see any controversy to this story. Just random internet commenters who speculate and judge. And I don't find those photos where they find her and showing joy silly at all... imo they're genuine and epic!

[@SilentThundersnow]

It showed exactly how I would feel if I found someone after 17 days. It showed their humanity and joy. It was beautiful

Kyle likes to do that.

[@aazhie]

Calling it a spiritual experience, when S&R teams regularly die trying to save lost hikers, is pretty ignorant and makes her look a bit rude. I do think getting lost and trying to save yourself can be something that develops character, but the reality is that searchers spend a lot of time risking life and limb to bring some very thoughtless people home. I always appreciate seeing more mindfulness from a person who is claiming to be super spiritual and enlightened that they messed up and their rescuers could have died trying to save them. I suppose, to some (myself included), the statement she made makes it sound like "I didn't do anything wrong, it was a spiritual experience" and that rubs me wrong. In the same way that some people think "God works in mysterious ways" is supposed to make up for children dying horrible deaths. Would it be great if we could say everything has meaning? Sure! I usually like to lean into that myself, but there is a lot of senseless loss and unfortunate things and sometimes the beat way to handle it is admit you messed up, or that you're sorry. You can even call it a spiritual experience, but also say "I really got lost by making several bad decisions and I have been humbled" which just seems to be a bit more accurate, and makes it sound like she isn't trying to save herself from being embarrassed by her many incorrect choices.

[@CrackheadHuntersDopeDealer]

People need to learn the definition of the word "judge."

[@jamiejohnson7199]

Same!!!

Dippy hippies always get a bad rep in the court of public opinion, but her story seems credible. Just shows how easy it is to get badly lost.

Definitely!! I can’t imagine doing THAT on purpose

[@808matson]

Your on an island, walk down hill

[@noyopacific]

It sounds like her "spiritual journey" may have been about finding ways to justify and deny her terrible judgment. Who thinks if this happened to someone who wasn't an attractive, young, white woman the story would have gotten so much attention? I hope she discovered that her intuition and spirits are not to be relied on.

[@janefreeman995]

​@808matson at about the same time and place a local guy got lost and didn't make it.

[@jablanbukvovski]

it's also hard to get lost badly on maui

[@usbackcountry]

On the contrary I think its great that she has such a great positive attitude that she looked back at her days/nights lost in the wilderness as a good and nurturing experience. It just shows that she is a very psychologically healthy individual. And after all, and thankfully, she was not harmed by any agressive animals or evil minded humans.

[@andreagreen1133]

I actually paused the video to look at the picture because it genuinely made me smile. They were so happy and I would’ve been too. it was pure joy they felt at that moment❤

[@Lopyj]

I do not think that her remarks were somehow not aproriate. What's so bad about "spiritual bootcamp"? She just explained how she felt in all those days she got lost. I do not see here any offense. She seems to be a bit of an "esoterical" person - I know these people, usually very nice, sometimes a bit dreamy... and obviously she did not "panic" too much, but was trusting in nature and herself. Maybe this is why she survived in the end.

[@Lucy-mf5gk]

More closed minded people judged her

[@marievaleur7877]

I agree

[@aazhie]

She survived because she was in the tropics without too many deadly animals and plants. Hawaii is relatively safe compared to places with lots more venemous critters. The boars can be scary, but they aren't Jaguars!

[@TheCriminalViolin]

@@aazhie The tropics usually are the most deadly places in the world, namely because of the heat, humidity and the dangerous, venomous animals, like snakes, and the various bugs and arachnids. Also because of the first two, they're also home to some of the world's more deadly bug born diseases. There's also a lot more toxic plants and fruits in the tropics than anywhere else on earth. A lot more edible ones, but that literally means a lot more toxic ones. Also the plants often have a lot more offensive defenses than elsewhere.

It's mostly the expense. I live in a state that eats hikers for breakfast. These people are actually warned and we try to educate, but being intentionally stupid because you want to be "dreamy" is being a bad person. Honestly, my heart is hardened because we waste so much money, money we desperately need to feed and house people, on these incredibly selfish people who live in their own world. I am done with patience or empathy. People want to be special so they reject logic and real science...ok but why do other people have to literally pay because she thought unplugging was more important than the actual needs of Maui residents? Why am I seen as "mean" when she was the one cruelly wasting money? Unprepared is evil in the real wilderness.

[@cariwaldick4898]

She doesn't sound like someone trying to fake drama for GoFundMe money--that's kind of insane if you think about it. It's sad that we live in a world where so many people are willing to take advantage of others' good nature, and it makes people immediately suspicious. She just sounds like a free spirit who felt at home in the woods.

[@carolynm9638]

Totally agree. It’s hard to understand why people are so quick to persecute others for no discernible reason.

[@littlebear274]

I feel like a lot of people think being cynical is smart because they're not getting fooled like everyone else, when really automatically disbelieving things or believing the worst of people is no smarter than automatically believing everything you're told. To be smart you have to actually learn and use critical thinking skills. Unfortunately that's a lot harder than just deciding everyone's a terrible person.

[@Chicken-dq9zg]

I think she made poor decisions, and she realized the tough spot she was in,so she decided to consider her disaster a spiritual bootcamp. She seems like a very nice person.

[@lisajohnson6296]

I don’t understand why people wouldn’t believe this, it happens quite frequently, even to avid hikers in areas they’re familiar with. There are tons of stories like this one. It’s very easy to get lost. Taking a nap on a tree is not unusual for nature lovers either.

[@muddydog6605]

Thank you! I found that a really weird thing to question. Guess not everyone that walks in nature is connected to it.

[@bensolocrying]

I love the photos so much, you can feel the joy not only radiating off of her from being found, but the joy on the rescuers faces finding her alive after so long 😭 made me cry

I can see her legs in the rescue pictures. She looks hours away from septic shock. Very amazing rescue and survival story! I’m sure it WAS spiritual boot camp for her!

[@kateapple1]

Are you a nurse or a doctor? 😂 🙄

[@kateapple1]

I’m sorry I call BS 😅 what pictures? there’s one after she was found (with her in Jeans) sitting on the ground where exactly did you see sepsis

[@loyalfish2761]

@@kateapple1 Try Google. Multiple pictures of her rescue let you clearly see her legs and, although I'm no nurse, they looked really messed up.

[@suswalk2880]

Septic shock, eh? Yeah I don't think you know.

[@ngonz89]

@@kateapple1there’s one where she has significant edema on her lower legs and she has sores too. At 16:38

[@borleyboo5613]

A couple of years ago, me, a friend and friend’s young daughter went for a walk and a picnic in a wood just outside Norwich, England. It’s not a large wood compared to woods anywhere in America. But we got lost. It was frustrating and a little alarming. We kept going around in circles for a good hour, but eventually, we found our way out thanks to my friends eight year old daughter who remembered some landmark or other. So it’s so easy to get lost or become disoriented even in small areas. And it is quite scary. Thankfully, this young woman was found. But I can well understand how she became lost.

[@GeeEee75]

Ha ha, I remember my neice when she was a kid having a way better sense of direction than either me or her mother.😂

[@KidarWolf]

I've been lucky to never get lost out in the wilderness, but as someone who also lives not too far from Norwich, I hope the experience taught you the importance of making sure you have a map with you and know how to navigate using landmarks and your map - living as near to Thetford Forest as you do, please, if you go there, take a map and compass with you. Thetford is massive, and large expanses of it are very densely forested, interspersed with large military areas that are unsafe to navigate through (I've been out in some of them on training exercises), and to be brutally honest, Thetford Forest due to being mostly dense pine is not particularly friendly to your survival, particularly if the weather takes a bad turn - it is absolutely miserable in Thetford in the rain, and exposure and hypothermia are big risks to your survival. Always carry rain gear with you around Thetford Forest, even if it's just a lightweight folding slicker - it could make the difference between life and death if you do get caught out in the rain there.

[@fullonsociopath]

Everybody knows a woo woo person like this. Doesn't mean she was looking to gain something from the situation. She just comes off, kind of, spacey. And really, she may have just been trying to put such an ordeal into the best possible light. Silver linings, and all that. How are you supposed to conduct interviews after two weeks and more in the wild?

[@easygoer1234]

That's what I think also. I think she's just flakey and a little out there. For every bad decision there's usually a bad consequence.

[@URsooomad8613]

Nah, don't speak for everyone. We don't all know somebody who fakes disappearances.

[@billlansdell7225]

With all this talk of her feelings and spiritual nonsense, there is no mystery here. She's an idiot. She's the type that eaten by bears or beheaded by extremists, because their feelings tell them they are safe as long as they project love.

[@annafields6584]

I think she was just trying to put a positive spin on the ordeal with her ‘spiritual boot camp’ comment. People read too much into everything.

@sooomad8613 did she fake her exposure and broken leg too? or are you suggesting she broke her own leg to add to the story, you're as mad as your name suggests

[@DreamingCatStudio]

I lived on Maui for 2 years on a property that backed up into a National forest. It wasn’t just “like a jungle” it WAS a jungle. There are gorges, valleys, rock out-croppings, huge amounts of vines covering everything, fallen trees, streams, and often times so much overhead foliage you don’t see much sky. Totally possible to become boxed into impassable areas. You’re climbing over and through jungle. There are no paths. Try to hike through that when you’ve lost your direction and then come back and comment.

[@WatcherOfHorror]

Hahahaha you've never been in actual bush buddy. The square kilometers don't change. How someone could get lost for 2 weeks in a reserve that size is embarrassing

[@LesterSmooth]

@@WatcherOfHorror And all she had to do was head South and down hill where there literally is no jungle and many roads and towns. She chose to go the way she went. And what a coincidence she is found right above twins falls, the most crowded spot before Hana. And she doesnt even look that bad for 17 DAYS alone with NOTHING. I guess she fought off boars and ate guavas too. Oh yeah, she also survived a flash flood by staying in the flooded river(?) People are so gullible.

@LesterSmoothlol another "I know exactly everything" type comment XD.

[@LesterSmooth]

@DatPeteBoi What do you know about the case smart guy? Comments like this belong at the kids table while the actual adults talk.

[@johncalliope197]

Pretty sure that first clip was some broccoli.

[@letsgetmetaphysical4662]

😂hahah 🥦!

[@KyleHatesHiking]

😂

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

😂😂😂

[@nutty77]

nom nom

[@pickford3152]

Thought the same thing.😂 way to green n broccolish

[@DisasterAstor]

I think, perhaps, something that might have been appropriate to point out is that the media also made a lot of choices during that time and some of those choices reported on the story in a very predatory way. The aftermath happened in an ecosystem that wasn’t controlled by Amanda but that people wanted her to account for nonetheless.

So well articulated.

[@romy4593]

I run a hiking group on Facebook for my late twin, she was an avid hiker. Number one, never hike alone! There is no reason to and if you get hurt or fall?? You have someone who can help you and vice versa. Taking a phone/satellite phone, water and even dehydrated fruits/nuts....always have food and water! There may be someone you come across you can help if not yourself! My sister began carrying extra water which she gave out before!! She saw a young man struggling to make it back and he had no water..he was very grateful she had some for him. I also recommend a good multi tool and a pocketknife.... Look at the actor who died on Mt Baldy! He was very experienced but brought nothing on his hike and didn't dress warmly in cold weather...they found his body months later...Rest in Peace Julian Sands.

Anyone who says that you can't fall asleep on a log has not been on a hike in the rainforest! those fallen trees look comfy as a couch even during a short hike, all covered in moss looking like a rich guys avant-garde bench.

[@kennyobrien]

Exactly. Half the fun of hiking is finding a nice place for a nap.

[@kennyobrien]

OMG, backpacking up the Quinault's north fork to Wolf Bar Camp is where we would go nap on a giant bed of moss right next to the river! @lilithstribe

"New Age" person goes hiking. It could have gone badly. She might have died. A volunteer might have gotten hurt or died. It's a miracle that, living off of plants she knew nothing about, and drinking stream water, she didn't actually kill herself. Happy ending with many heroes to thank. That said, we are each responsible for our own safety. The entire island of Maui is 727.2 square miles. I live in Canada, just outside of Algonquin Park - which is 2955 square miles. We lose remarkably few people in the Park, and find those who go missing fairly quickly - because most hikers here take the wilderness very seriously. Stay safe out there!

[@raymondbrown940]

I'm 62 and I've been hiking my whole life. Back when there weren't cell phones, I would frequently hike the Rockies alone, staying out for 2-3 days at a time. But, today, while there may be some short trails I would take without a cell phone, I really don't go anywhere without it. A lighter, a pocket knife, a cell phone, and some water. Those are the basics for survival. If you want to throw in some 550 cord, a compass, a reflective blanket, and make sure you're dressed to handle any weather, all the better. But, hiking without that stuff isn't crazy. It's just a bad idea. The most important thing is to always let someone know where you're going and when you expect to return. I think her story is legit and I'm really glad she was found safe and sound.

[@ArshAZ83]

No gun for self-defence? A gun is more important than a cell phone.

[@raymondbrown940]

@@ArshAZ83 Yep. You're absolutely right. I've got a 'special set of skills". So, in most situations with most people, I'm perfectly safe. But, there's never a guarantee. So, maybe I should add a gun to that inventory, especially since I'm certainly not in my prime anymore.

This young lady is just a throwback to the hippie generation!! She overstepped her knowledge of hiking and the wilderness. I really think she is blessed! Look at the joy in the faces of her rescuers!! I believe!

[@bobbihoffman8452]

They were all smiling because it was so awesome that they found her.

[@diminudivadollhaus2097]

When I was a little girl, I was hiking on my Grandfather's farm. I was completely turned around and was headed in the wrong direction, but decided to tell my dog to go home. She turned and led me the opposite direction, After hiking up hill and through a field, I finally saw my grandfather's house. My dog knew where we were, thank goodness.

One thing I’ve learned from watching all these missing hiker videos is, ALWAYS carry a lighter to make a signal fire ! I don’t think the pictures are “ silly”!! After 17 days?! C’mon man!! She looks like she went through hell !!

[@KyleHatesHiking]

fair enough!

[@dorothyjerde8604]

A lighter to make a signal fire. Really? You're going to light a fire in the middle of a forest with no water to contain it? Sure hope you don't ever get lost in a forest!! Think a bit more will you? Please

[@strathack33]

@dorthyjerde, Why don’t you watch the video genius ! The woman was near an unlimited supply of water nearly the whole time. A lighter for a signal fire and warmth (yeah, I know it was Maui), would have GREATLY benefitted her. “Think a bit more will you?”

[@davidbiagi2932]

I mean, that’s exactly how this one couple got out of a for sure death sentence when they got trapped after jumping down a small ledge that had no way back up thinking the trail would just continue down but it instead went straight into a couple hundred foot cliff (where a hiker a year before had made the same mistake and lost his life for it) and only because they happened to find a few matches he had left behind and decided to start a big ass fire that burnt down a shitload if forest was the only reason they were able to be found. The rescue team said had it not been for that they never would have even looked in the area they were in because it was so far off of their last known location. So yes, in a life and death situation, I’d 100% start a big ass fire. I’m either going to get saved because of it or die. You would do the exact same thing as well in that situation and don’t say you wouldn’t.

@davidbiagi2932 I would lol

[@CatherineRhoadsNC144]

I've spent a lot of time in the woods, and it is unbelievably easy to get turned around. And with a busted leg? Much respect to her for keeping her cool and never giving up. Grew up without tech and survived!

[@sldrgrl20downzerotogo11]

Its really quite easy to fall asleep on a tree. I was in a military school while stationed in NY and on this particularly cold and very snowy day we were being tested in land navigation and had to find four of five points. I found four in no time. But, my smarty pants butt had so much time left that i wanted that fifth point. Its at that point that i f'ckd up...I should have just returned and turned in my points, as my compass froze shortly thereafter and the needle would not move. I wandered around in those woods for hours. I finally reached sheer exhaustion and sat down (in the snow) and rested against a tree, subsequently falling asleep. When i woke up there were some sort of animal tracks around me. I jumped the hell up scared as hell and continued trekking. At this point it was getting nightfall, but luckily my compass unfroze. I shot a back azimuth and finally got back to the the location where my Company had been dropped off. And guess what they were all packed up and gone! I had no cell phone, as it was 1995 and i was also in school, so I started walking down the road, in the dark, in Upstate NY with an M16 and magazine with no rounds in it 🤬. The story goes on, but I'll stop here. I just wanted to let you know that its very possible that she did fall asleep on a tree. Just because it never happed to you and it sounds crazy does not mean that it cant happen.

[@Lkpriest]

I've hiked that trail a few times. It is easy to get turned around and lose track of the trail of you are not paying attention and follow an animal path. Flash floods and my wild boar are no joke and I'm just thankful she is back safe. That area has no roads really, it's like the road goes up and that's it. Sending aloha to rescuers and those who donated resources to bring her home safe.

[@erichobbs4042]

Leaving your phone, keys, wallet behind and not bringing any food or at least water feels pretty reckless. As this case shows, it's easy to get turned around in dense forests and if you wind up wandering around in circles, it doesn't matter if it's only two miles to the nearest road.

[@villagelightsmith4375]

If it's 50 feet, but vertical, you are in a very remote situation.

Like she did it on purpose . Who leaves the important stuff behind when a forest is not the nr 1 safest place in the world ...

[@joywebster2678]

Dreamy hippies and serious hikers need to carry PLBs on "walks" to hikes. Therexare ones without Pais subscriptions that seng your location to satellites.

Reckless = evil selfishness in the wilderness. I have no sympathy, my tax dollars get wasted extravagantly every year due to these fools. We need to be meaner, actually, people are not learning. Better to keep people alive than to coddle them over their very, very stupid and selfish decisions. We all benefit by treating unprepared disaster seekers as they deserve - with judgment and scorn. They did a bad thing, ignored loads of info, and should be held accountable. And charged the rescue costs. Not so cutesy when you have to pay for it, is it?

[@davidbiagi2932]

Pretty sure she did leave her cell and water on purpose though…. She didn’t want any electronic devices while she was out in nature and she planned on a short hike/run so she didn’t expect to need her water and didn’t want to have to try running while carrying a water bottle, nobody runs and holds a water bottle. Some people aren’t big on electronics like cell phones, especially when they are out in nature, that’s just the type of person they are. If you are planning on a long hike then ofcourse, take proper equipment, but for a short hike there is no reason to need your cell phone. Thats just another thing she would have to carry as well in her hand and having to carry two things while trying to enjoy nature would just be annoying on a short hike.

[@passiveaggressiveflamingo6851]

Yeesh dude, little rough on her. She’s one of the few who survived without lifelong trauma and instead tried to be positive. You were even rough about the pictures calling them silly. I’m glad you turned it around after reading Javier’s quote bc she may be floofy but holy beans she survived what many wouldn’t. She never gave up. She ate MOTHS which is so freaking hard core tbh. That tiny woman is something else.

[@millie9236]

KHH is repeating questions the public has, he isn't sharing his opinions. He isn't being rough on her.

[@passiveaggressiveflamingo6851]

@@millie9236 Ya, well, differences of opinions, I guess, bc clearly I think he was.

[@mestimac]

He definitely was. He gave weight to opinions that, frankly, are so stupid that they never should have been repeated. It's weird that a hippie would lay on a tree or that rescuers would be ecstatic after they found a live person instead of a dead body? Okay, then. I think it's weird that so many people are so dumb.

[@Saturn57]

Agreed. He was being very snarky with the narration.

[@noondayfair]

People deal with trauma in all different ways. Some people try to look at the bright side of what they've been through, which she seemed to be doing. Why do some insist on dragging others through the mud whenever they don't react the way they expect during interviews? Also, she's a yoga instructor, a job virtually synonymous with mindfulness, positivity and peace, so when she called it a "spiritual bootcamp," it shouldn't have been that shocking.

[@kimberlypuravida5690]

Exactly what I thought, these crazy conspiracy people obvious and NO time with yogies. We have a lot in CR and everything is a spiritual something or other. 😂

[@URsooomad8613]

Yoga Instructor isn't a real job, she was just an attention seeking ditz that cost taxpayers likely hundreds of thousands of dollars. She has mental health issues and needs help.

[@mattwilhelm8860]

I would offer that, if you were lost in the woods for 17 days and facing the possibility you may die out there, you’d consider it a spiritual boot camp as well. She made mistakes…cut her a break.

[@SavingSoulsMinistries]

i was hiking in the woods behind my house and there is only like 5 different trails the longest of which only go 4 miles straight through a wooded section until civilization on the other side. I was watching my neighbors dog when i first moved in and told them i would take the dog on the hiking trail.. i never traveled deep into the woods and i didnt intend on doing so that day. but i took a trail i never took and ended up over an hour away from my destination and there was no cell service. the trails split in a few locations and they connect to other trails which i had no idea about. i knew if i kept walking forward it was only a matter of time until i came out the other side somewhere.. but i turned around after half an hour and somehow got more lost than intended! luckily my phone was full battery and i walked until i had a signal.. i cant imagine being deep in truly expansive wilderness.. much less without a cell phone or anyting

Yeah. She’s clearly not a highly logical, more of a spiritual person. Doesn’t mean she wasn’t genuinely lost and in need of help.

[@Nocturnalux]

I wouldn’t, it’s just woo woo.

I lived in Colorado for 35 years and was always hiking in the mountains both on and off trails, I never had a cell phone, no service there and never got lost in the mountains, i did carry a compass and always carried supplies for over night and extra food and water, I really liked being alone and depending on just me.

[@mtadams2009]

I don’t find her story that weird at all. I hiked for decades without a cell phone or in reach and I completely understand why she does not like them. I too sometimes take small naps in the forest. I never thought it was that strange of thing. What is strange is the way most people live, with their head down and clued to their phone or doing crazy shit because they have an in reach. I am glad this had a happy ending. It goes without saying she rolls to a different drum and I am sure that makes her a very interesting and fun person to be around.

[@newmexicosky6938]

For safety sake, simply turn your phone or GPS device off. But take it with you.

Agree, I grew up tramping before cell phones or GPS was invented so understand , but in this day and age if you have a small safety device available why would you not just carry it , you can just turn it off to avoid distractions. Also off topic, if I had a girlfriend that sometimes didn't bother to come home and didn't at least text to say she was safe I'd be looking for a better girlfriend.

Yes, I didn't find anything "strange" in the whole ordeal. If someone is used to doing meditation is not uncommon to sit or lay down on nature and maybe fall sleep. Glad she was rescued. Her guiding spirits weren't that off.

[@lissu7462]

​@Mariateresa-mu3yrHer "guiding spirits " tried to kill her but God had mercy on her . I believe she prayed .

[@ryanmccolloch4734]

I'm sure tons of people took naps in the forest throughout history, not weird, just could be dangerous

[@realeyesrealizereallies6828]

That lady was on deaths door, of course she made several horrible mistakes that I'm sure she is aware of, and almost dying is a spiritual bootcamp...People on line are silly, thousands and thousands and thousands of people die lost in jungles and forests...There is no "weirdness", a knucklehead(ignorant) women got lost in the forest..We are all knucklehead's(ignorant) when it comes to one aspect of life or another..Some people are just addicted to drama, and causing drama..Life has enough drama, we don't need extra doses..

[@RandyBaumery-s4i]

True enough. Yet, there are other case which defy all rational explanation.

[@sdemosi]

There is nothing "suspicious" about this. The woman comes across as dopey. Suggesting otherwise just feels like clickbait.

[@RandyBaumery-s4i]

@@sdemosi yeah in THIS case, she seems as though she should never hike alone.

[@indybob770]

Dumb people due dumb things. She need to be held accountable for her actions. PAY $$$$ for the rescue.

[@RandyBaumery-s4i]

@@indybob770 do

[@tomfoolery333]

Last time I was on Maui about 10 years ago I went for a hike in the Makawao Forest Reserve. I got dropped off for the day by my wife who went to see her sister in town. I had been in Kihei so I did not bring a rain jacket. All I had was a water bottle and cell phone to take some pictures, my shoes and shorts and a t-shirt and a mental picture of the map I looked at before I went. Planned to do a loop on a marked, well traveled trail and be out in three or four hours. It started raining and getting colder (I had been at the beach but Makawao is around 3,000 feet in elevation, so much colder). I was getting wet and cold. I took off my t-shirt and started jogging to stay warm. That went on for an hour or so. It rained on and off all day. I never got too cold, but it was definitely a concern. I ended up getting to the parking lot and meeting my wife at the appointed time. I was definitely glad to be no worse for the wear and enjoyed that forest immensely. I tend to hike without a cell phone or a map a lot. This video has me re-thinking that. I always think it won't happen to me, even though I know better. Hiking in the Rocky Mountains a lot, I have had a couple of hairy situations. Time to invest in a emergency beacon and be more serious about making sure I have a map of the area when I head out. Be safe everyone. Most people die of hypothermia at 50 degrees F, mostly because they are not prepared, the weather changes and they get wet and things spiral out of control very quickly. I am glad this woman was able to stay alive and they found her. Amazing to keep herself alive for 17 days with those injuries and lost in that place. Hawaiian jungles are no picnic. Very intense places.

[@bucky716]

"..controversial in discussions online.." is an indication to stop there. The story remains similar to others, we often hike/wander in the woods to unplug and get away. Still carry something just in case! Nothing wrong with powering off a phone or satellite device and putting it in a pocket.

[@michellegoodwin7760]

I think there's nothing wrong with wanting to make a traumatic event into something beautiful, spiritual, and profound. I've done this with many hardships in my life. There can be so much healing and growth in suffering. We don't need to shame her. This was part of her journey and she lived. Also there was a time before cell phones not too long ago and I think life was probably simpler and more joyful then. I understand wanting to leave it behind. We shouldn't dim our existence with technology by living in fear.

[@TheRisky9]

For her, it's probably a coping mechanism. I mean, what else do people want her to do? Be traumatized and broken and needing months of therapy? I'm glad to see she didn't completely lose herself in this ordeal.

[@MoneyStrategiesSOULutions]

True

[@scoobydadog246]

It was totally appropriate. People are fools. Especially the guy making the video.. I could hardly stand it.. but suffered to learn of the ending. It was NOT a spiritual experience. First and last time I'll watch this channel.

[@ms-jl6dl]

She did great and is stronger than most men. God bless her.

[@creekfinds]

How much would it suck if you did nothing shady and were being accused relentlessly of being shady. How much more would it suck if you just wanted to resume your life in peace but had jacklegs coming at you from every side thinking they know anything about the situation.

[@patriciasampson5268]

I think she genuinely got lost. Going on this video she seems to be a very spiritual person and this is what I think she was trying to convey after she was rescued. People are always looking for the bad, or trying to poke holes in things. She survived and was rescued thank God, she could have died and it was her “ spirit “ that got her through.

[@Suzanne1999]

I remember this story. I think she genuinely got lost for real but was incredibly irresponsible.

[@GoVoteDemocracy]

I can’t imagine going through what she went through. Sometimes going through a traumatic situation changes you spiritually.

[@Travelling_with_my_dog]

she looks very emaciated; can't believe she'd look that way if she'd hid out at someone's house

[@KyleHatesHiking]

agreed

[@jablanbukvovski]

emaciated as opposed to what?

[@jacksquat4140]

Christian Bale lost an incredible amount of weight for a movie. People do this for a living and it's often deliberate. If she was after money, this is a small price to pay.

[@tara_ble1705]

We can look at the case of Sherri Papini and question a lot of things. She was allegedly “kidnapped”, lost massive weight and was even branded, then blindfolded and set out on the side of the highway. I mean, who tH does something like that?!? Then we find out it was her planning her escape from her marriage, but then changed her mind. I mainly brought up this case because since the truth has came out about the nut case I named above, now anyone whose story seems “a little off”, is called a liar or it’s said they perpetrated a hoax. However, I am not disagreeing with you. I truly believe this lady wanted to get outside and take a little hike/jog and made a series of terrible mistakes. I’m just glad she was able to survive.

[@FabricofTime]

@@jacksquat4140 he did that with the help of professionals so that he didn't permanently harm himself, and it's STILL not a very safe thing to do. And he didn't do it over twelve days; he did it over four months, which is a very different proposition.

[@WayneTheSeine]

Amazing story of survival and I think she should get a huge amount of credit for that, regardless of the foolish choices she made.

Honestly, I'd like to see her at least fined. This intentional stupidity isn't cute when other people have to pay money because she chose to be reckless and outrageously dumb (you bring your phone or deserve what you get). I am not a mean person overall, but my compassion is gone after living in Montana. These morons abuse our wilderness & endanger rescuers & burn money like crazy. I'm done caring about people who shit on logic and the pro science people who save them. They are the worst humans.

[@davidbiagi2932]

Sooo, you’re saying it should be illegal to NOT carry your cell phone with you? Does this also go for when you’re driving and get lost? What if I left it at home on accident? Should I still be charged? I’d say someone going through 17 days of hell is fine enough for “punishment” for not taking their cell phone. But for you to say someone should HAVE TO take their cell phone when they just want to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature without any of today’s technology is fucking ridiculous. Also, nobody was forced to pay anything to help, they CHOSE to do that. The search and rescue teams also literally have that job for a reason, BECAUSE THEY FUCKING LOVE THAT TYPE OF SHIT! Not saying they love people getting lost and potentially not making it out alive, but they love being part of the team that goes out and has to try and find these missing people. Just like some love the military and fighting for their country. You should be fined for saying such a ridiculous comment 🤣🤦‍♂️

[@WayneTheSeine]

@@davidbiagi2932 No, it shouldn't be "illegal" David. But foolish actions have serious consequences that cost tax payers millions of dollars. Why should a tax payer have to pay for your foolishness? Furthermore, more states are starting to charge the foolish for their rescue, California, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Utah, for instance. Hikers who are unprepared in New Hampshire risk being stuck with the bill, along with facing criminal charges. You are apparently a man, I assume, so I do understand the proclivity of not stopping and asking for directions if you get lost "while driving." I am guilty of the same....it is a meme. However, in the event you drive around for four days, trying to find your way, and are on the verge of dying of thirst, I am sure you will eventually swallow your pride and stop at a convenience store, Lowe's, Home Depot or maybe a Goodwill store and ask for directions. As for wanting to leave your phone so you can enjoy the peace and quite of the outdoors without your phone ringing, Google how to turn Off and On your phone. Some only require the push of one button but others you might have to hold down two buttons and do a swipe, quite complicated, I know. To say that rescuers simply love rescuing keep in mind that the average out-of-pocket expense for them is $1,600. I doubt they get their jollies with that. The bottomline is, act responsibly and know that your actions have consequences for you and for others. If you want to frolic in the mountains untethered by technology and oblivious or uncaring of the financial cost to others at least have the common courtesy and decency to buy SAR Insurance.....it only cost $3.00 a year. Peace out.

[@danielhamilton6958]

⁠@@WayneTheSeine How many trillions of taxpayer dollars are spent on the military, social security, or corporate subsidies? I’m alright with a few million being spent on rescuing people lost in the woods. Even if some of them were dumb/irresponsible, which not all are, it’s really gotta be a tiny portion of total government spending. I agree that people need to be more responsible- I just think it’s hard to define how at fault someone is if they got lost in the woods. It could happen to practically anyone, even those who do know what they are doing and come prepared go missing sometimes too. Imagine just barely surviving the worst ordeal of your life- and then getting slapped with a fat bill on top of that. Of course people should be more responsible, but people seldom see something like this happening to them until it does. Especially if you are in an area that you are familiar with, you are more likely to let your guard down.

[@WayneTheSeine]

@@danielhamilton6958 Yea, I have no problem with her not being fined but if she were I would fully understand. It is not just about govt. money. Volunteers spend an average of $1,600 out-of-pocket to help and assist, not to mention the danger that rescues place on everyone involved. This particular case is pretty aggregious considering all facts. She was not a child or a foolish teen....she consciously threw fate to the wind as if it added to the adventure.

[@maralovelite]

I love the pictures they took when they found her. Absolutely necessary and amazing. I’m sure her family and the rest of the rescuers and authorities were ecstatic to see them!

[@jasonarthurs3885]

TBH, although the rescue photos look frivolous and even slightly silly, they're important moments where one human, isolated from all others for a prolonged period, finally has contact and salvation. With touch we impart so much information; it's an innate response to hold or embrace another human in trauma.

[@edeasley144]

I'm struggling to get in the headspace of the folks criticizing her. Don't get me wrong, having supplies and her phone would probably have been very helpful, but some people go out to nature specifically to unplug. A near death experience probably does count as a spiritual boot camp. It's exactly the kind of experience that makes a person consider the world around them and their place in it. Adult humans rarely genuinely change, and a near death experience is one of the few experiences that routinely makes people change. It really seems like people are just looking for a reason to be upset and folks with a laissez-faire approach to life make a convenient outlet for that urge.

[@sarahbell8886]

I'm not criticizing her for getting lost , it happens. You can want to unplug and still bring a phone for safety, especially if you're out in nature. You could trip over a tree root or even your own shoe string and not be able to make it back to safety. You can be a free spirit and still be safe . Especially in an area with cliffs , frequent flash flooding , wild animals, etc . It's not as safe of an area as people think .

[@newmexicosky6938]

You can always turn the phone off! But still take it with you.

[@sandpiperr]

You can unplug without being foolish. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad she's alright, I don't think this was a hoax, and I wouldn't have wanted anything worse to happen to her. But I do think it's fair to point out that, in this day and age, this situation was completely avoidable with just some better decision making. If you want to unplug, just turn the phone off. Or, if you're so addicted to your phone that you can't have it on you without being on it, buy an emergency beacon. You won't be tempted to check Instagram, but, if the worst should happen and you find yourself lost and it's getting dark, you can activate it and people can find you without spending days and thousands of dollars on a search effort. Not to mention the stress on your loved ones.

[@FatRescueSwimmer04]

@@newmexicosky6938 shit or a Map + Compass at the very least. It's not that big of a place, walking in the same direction regardless of which one would of brought her to a road or people one of the two lol.

[@melikemusic753]

Exactly!

[@user-of7mg5fc1y]

I could get lost walking to the corner store. So I feel for her. But then, again, I also would not attempt to go somewhere alone without street signs, even if I had GPS! I would’ve been happy as well Amanda, smile girl you were found!

[@yvetteroberts3147]

Give this poor woman a break. Easy for other people who were safe and warm to blab, blab, why, why, why.

I make a lot of bad decisions in life, so I am not going to knock anyone else. Every single one of us may need help from others at some point, and that help should be given, regardless of the bad decisions we have made. We are all worth that.

[@idw9159]

well done javier and the rescuers.. thanks for your dedicated service to complete strangers like amanda who just needed help

[@angelahing8572]

I don't get the criticism and hate. She is obviously emaciated and unkempt in those photos. Also, hundreds of people get lost in wilderness areas and perish, it happens all the time. There is nothing unusual about her story, except how incredibly lucky she is. I used to spend a lot of time in the forests, and I often bushbashed. The amount of dumb things I did, I can't believe nothing bad ever happened. I never had more than my phone and a compression bandage in case of snake bite. It was only after deciding to explore a hidden ravine where I had a fall on the way down and injured my wrist and ankle and then had trouble getting back out that I became more cautious. I loved every one of my adventures in the bush. That ravine was worth it.

Hiring the helicopter wasn't cheap. Kyle may earn money with this sensationalistic video, but I don't think she starved herself for financial gain. People get lost all the time.

[@villagelightsmith4375]

How much more of a drop would it have taken to leave your bones there?

[@gwengwen4535]

I just think she’s kind of naive yet also has a positive outlook. She’s just poetic and hippie dippie. Glad she’s ok😅

[@herbieburbie]

She should be on "i shouldn't be alive" I love that show. I'm sure by now they have plenty of content to do a reboot. I've seen many scenarios on those shows where people get lost just a few miles in the woods or jungle and go around in circles expecially in the jungle. They also get hallucinations from dehydration, stavation and wild plants.

I bring my phone with me even when I take the rubbish out... just in case the big spider "Rosa" I named her does me an Aragog. xD

[@nutty77]

see, I never take my phone with me, which is perhaps a bit short sighted of me. I don't even take it upstairs to bed

[@jeffk464]

Cell phones generally don't work in the woods. You need one of those GPS devices with the SOS feature anyways. I think maybe the new iphone has satellite emergency SOS built in.

[@FatRescueSwimmer04]

Ngl got some tears out of me on this one, there is nothing more rewarding in this life than saving another human from certain Death... so I feel for those guys who spotted her from the Helicopter bet that was a great day! Sadly on the flip-side when you don't find someone in time (or ever) especially when your a Professional it hurts knowing you failed them. Can't save them all though 😞

[@CrackheadHuntersDopeDealer]

Stop it!

Search & rescue folks do feel pain when they can't save people, but they live in a very real life or death natural world, and they do often see people whose own decisions landed them in trouble, and it is the natural order of things. It's sad but not devastating in many cases. There's not unlimited "saves" in the wilderness and too many people enter who should not be there. Be prepared or be dead is not an exaggeration. And compassion fatigue can set in when people seem to eagerly ignore info and do stupid, stupid things, expecting someone else will fix it. And the morons waste our money like they personally hate us all

[@libertyblueskyes2564]

Its easy to become disoriented when you haven't been trained to note directions, patterns of landscape and water. So many people go into the woods with no preparation or knowledge. Personally I'm not offended at her calling her ordeal 'a spiritual boot camp'. All she had on her side was her strong sense of spirit and in the end it saved her.

[@johncalliope197]

Lost my leg below the knee a year a go next week. Had my prosthetic about four months now. Hoping to do the MD section of the AT this coming summer.

[@jackgardner2514]

Get after it!

[@KyleHatesHiking]

best of luck!!

[@jeffk464]

I've been hiking with a fused ankle. Just got to keep getting out and about as long as possible.

I wish you the best

[@tatata1543]

Good luck, go for it!

[@PaulSchortemeyer]

"You can't just drink water to stay hydrated." My god, what has happened to the world!

[@tatata1543]

It’s madness, I can’t process it anymore.

[@mudmug1]

Left her phone, wallet, and LMNT in her car?! What was she thinking?

[@karinschild9020]

It is very easy to get lost in the wilderness; you don't need to be drunk or high to do it. I know what she means about her experience being a spiritual boot camp; in those weeks of fear and suffering she would have gone through an intense emotional journey, out of which she clearly found the inner strength to prevail.

This is the first of me hearing about her. She sounds like a city dweller, living her dream life, with no sense of how dangerous being outdoors in nature can be. She got lucky and survived and hopefully learnt her lesson.

[@diannawalker758]

I seriously doubt that a person who called her ordeal "spiritual bootcamp" would know the logical, linear choices she would need to make to get "unlost". There are processes and methods you can follow to find your way out of a situation like this. Plus, she was injured. I'd be willing to bet there was was some serious crying that happened after she fell. Worst thing she did, after deciding not to have her phone along, was not staying put.

[@homegrowncozycrochet]

I’ve heard other stories of found hikers that were fishy, but to doubt this one is so silly. She sounds (respectfully) a lil kooky, but not like a fraud. The internet likes to question confident women within an inch of their lives. You had it right, she’s been through enough.

I'm not sure why people would doubt what happened. She lost so much weight, her lips were in terrible condition as well as her nose.....you said she had broken a bone and had other injuries.....she is clearly new age/spiritualist which accounts for her statements....people doubt what they don't understand I guess. I live in the country so take it from me, it is very easy to fall asleep on the ground, under a tree, on a fallen tree when you get tired from walking/hiking etc......

[@bronsiee]

After all the missing hiker stories I've heard on your channel, this one definitely seems within the realm of possibility. Anything is possible out in the wilderness.

[@Gansettetons1024]

A lot of us are stuck in a daily routine due to bad decisions and possibly far more lost than she ever was? I donno, that was my “take home.” Good on her for trying her best to live a balanced life and she seems the type to learn from her mistakes…Great job to the team who found her.

[@leannsfearcocktail9420]

Sometimes people simply just get lost, but the media and public feel the need to sensationalize it and turn it into something that it’s not. She probably thought she was going to die out there and I’m sure it was a very spiritual moment. I think that’s why she made the comment about it being a spiritual Boot Camp. I personally don’t think it should be analyzed in a negative way. Sometimes people read too much into things.

[@sniferlip]

It is an ISLAND! At most the park is 8 miles wide! Yeah! I'm judging her

[@leannsfearcocktail9420]

@@sniferlip it was just a comment… Don’t get so excited :)

[@billbombshiggy9254]

She absolutely wasn't hiding out. Look at her. Her skin is very sun beat, and she lost weight. If she looked the exact same as she did the day she went missing, then yeah, I could see the hiding out theory

[@808matson]

Sun under all those trees, am I missing something?

[@billbombshiggy9254]

@@808matson the entire place isn't a huge blanket of trees so clearly, yes you are. You've obvs never been to the area before.

[@billbombshiggy9254]

@@808matson also the sun and uv rays peek through trees.

[@808matson]

@@billbombshiggy9254 so you are the following me and not the government, good to know.

[@davidbiagi2932]

wtf are you talking about the government for? It’s fucking Hawaii. Just because you’re in a forest doesn’t mean there isn’t still lots of open areas or any sun that comes through. Wow, I didn’t know someone could be so dumb.

[@Michellee970]

She is a walking miracle. God bless those men for all time for saving Amanda's life.

[@JASONLOTT30290]

I would honestly be suspicious of her if she had said everything the public wanted to hear & thought that they should have heard. She told her situational truth and account of a confusing time in her life that is quite literally the end for the largest majority of the lost people out there, some of which not even their remains have ever been found to silently explain their disappearance. How anyone that’s never truly experienced being lost believes they can know the truth of what that looks like or how it should sound when expressed is only fooling themselves into believing it could never happen to them. Do let them all be aware that the unfound remains of those still missing are generally the most experienced, most well trained & most well prepared, those who shocked all that they ever even went missing.

Based on the pictures with the helicopter crew, she looked like someone who spent time lost in the forest.

[@KyleHatesHiking]

agreed!

That's exactly what I was thinking. You can't fake that emaciated, over-exposed look except on a movie set!

Thank you. Every single person involved in this happy ending. Thank you. You did good.

Her pants in the photo are totally clean after 17 days in the forest... I can't explain it.

[@larutadelacosturaespana3117]

Yes, I thought the same thing. Even the rescuers have dirtier pants than she does.

[@amrielbang]

This is the first video ive seen covering this story that didnt straubht up call her a liar. Most of the time i see them say they think somethink along the lines of either drugs or that she went there, left, then came back to be found. I never really was sure what to think cause i never had enough info with what the others gave me. You gave better info and after your video and Javiers comments and some other comments i think she genuinely got lost and the little details, like if she did do drugs, or whether fell asleep on the log, etc , dont really matter. Neither do her little comments as silly as they may seem(i have a lot of friends in the spiritual community and they just spiritual stuff like that at weird times and it sounds out of pocket but they dont mean it like that.) None of those details take away from her having sxperienced something scary and life threatening out there. Im glad she made it. And i really hope if she goes hiking again she does take her cell phone. Even if she keeps it turned off in her bag and just turns it on periodically for gps.

[@collinsfriend1]

One thing people sometimes don't realize.. is that while hiking there could be a fork and they are on one of the tines and miss entirely the other one running parallel to them, but trees and brush conceal the point of bifurcation. Then when they turn around and go back they are faced suddenly with a left and right trail to take... Which one were they on to start with? This happened to us and happily it was in the pigmy forest on the Mendocino Coast. So it was easy to get out but a LESSON- look back. Often. Never assume there's no forks.

[@projektmanlwc9936]

It's known that people who get lost tend to walk in circles, hence her not crossing roads. I've seen game trails as wide as sidewalks with no real end point, it's easy to follow them for a bit. You think you're on a "trail", but when you turn around the vegetation looks different, it's easy to lose it. You can see the physical difference in her body, she was def out there the whole time. Crazy story, she's lucky...I don't see any BS there tho. Bet she won't decide not to take gear anymore. I live and hike and hunt in the Rockies, I've seen some REALLY dumb shit, but mostly just from ignorance, which can be fixed.

[@WhitneyDahlin]

I really think people underestimate just how far away people who get lost can be from their last known point. The average person walks 3 miles an hour. So let's say on treacherous terrain you're walking half of that, 1.5 miles an hour. Most people don't stay put the second they feel like they're lost. They continue walking because they're in denial. And let's say 6 hours to realize you're gone. And then it takes another 6 hours to get together a rescue team. The person is 18 miles away and getting farther away every second. Most searches never go out more than 15 mi and that usually takes DAYS or WEEKS to cover that much area if that area is ever covered at all. That's because they have to grid search it and they have to have hundreds and hundreds of people. Because she could be in any direction. Not to mention the fact that she was on a trail and she could have left the trail at literally any point. So that's an even larger area to search.. I really think if she hadn't like broken her leg and been forced to stay put she never would have been found. She just would have kept wandering around in the forest until she died. I feel like that's what happens to the vast majority of people who go missing in the national forest. They just walk until they die. It's not bigfoot, it's not aliens, it's not a serial killer, it's a tragic accident. A lot of people genuinely don't want to admit that they're lost or emotionally can't handle that and so they just keep going. It's a lot harder to stay still in an emergency situation because sitting down doing nothing feels like the wrong thing to do. Especially if you're an adult who has spent years taking care of yourself. It's hard to just sit down and do nothing for potentially days until you're found. So if anyone is ever in this situation please stay where you are.

[@WhitneyDahlin]

Also she refused to carry electronics because she's one of those conspiracy theorists who believe electromagnetic waves from radio towers and cell phones give you cancer LMAO that's why she left her gear behind not because she just wanted to unplug. But because she wanted to go on a EMF "detox" 🙄 I wonder how much money and resources she stole from someone who could have really used it because she was afraid radio waves would make her infertile.

You have more compassion left than I do. I'm done with these wasteful, intentionally stupid morons. At least I live on the prairie side of the Rockies, the dreamers avoid flatlands 😂😂😂 only aesthetic wilderness for the terminally stupid!

[@808matson]

@@WhitneyDahlin at what point did she break her leg? Still managed to cover 17 miles . By your calculations that would have been on 2-3 day. My opinion she was on a spiritual journey and has no sense of direction. Walk down hill. Your on a island, not difficult. I understand that she was in a “jungle “ but the biggest land mark is the ocean the other is the volcano she is trekking on. She at a minimum should know where the sun rises and sets. Walk an hour following the sun till it sets. Would of self rescued in 2 days

[@808matson]

Carry a whistle.

[@brycewalburn3926]

Not that I'm saying you're suggesting otherwise, but I think those rescue photos are perfectly reasonable and explainable. The adrenaline and dopamine would be coursing through everyone's bodies. I'm sure they were preparing themselves to eventually come across a mutilated or decaying body. To find her alive and in reasonably good condition would have been a trip. I probably would have been smiling and laughing if I were one of those searchers just out of an overflow of emotion.

[@mestimac]

It seemed he was suggesting otherwise. Maybe he was trying to be balanced, but there was no real argument that was made by the speculating idiots on the internet. It really brought home how clueless a lot of people are about doing anything but sitting in front of a computer screen in an apartment.

[@maelstrom2313]

​@@mestimac People have become very cynical because of the deluge of fake content and scams online. I've seen channels that splice sensational reels from random clips to present completely fabricated news stories. Lots of drama skits are being passed off as real events. Not to mention several creators have faked elaborate misfortunes or tragedies to boost their social media careers. People are overwhelmed and just don't know what to believe anymore.

[@susystewart5139]

I appreciate how respectful you always are, Kyle in your videos. Very classy.

So I'm just going to put this out. In my defense I was about 13 when this event took place. My mother my sister and I decided to get on something called the Billy goat trail down in Great falls. I assumed it was just a short trail in the park having no idea that it went on for many miles. I was heavily medicated we had limited water and quickly found ourselves on the side of a cliff going up a little ledge. There was no end in sight of this trail and thank God eventually we found a park ranger cuz we were lost. I was overheated and kind of ill due to being dehydrated with one of the medications I was on. Thank God that this trail wasn't too far off of a main path and we easily got back to civilization AKA our car with water and restrooms facilities at the park. What was supposed to be a day visit went sideways really quick. You don't think much of it looking back but then realized how bad that could have been. Great falls has a pretty decent water flow. When I say we were on a ledge I could see why they call it the Billy goat trail.

[@ambergraves798]

Wow! That sounds so scary! I'm so glad that y'all were OK in the end. From one Amber to another ❤

@ambergraves798 ❤️

[@dlbstl]

Whenever I go walking by myself I always feel like it's a spiritual journey. Since she is a really spiritual person how is that not something that she would totally do? It's too bad she kept wandering and didn't stand in one place and wait to get rescued. But I think she was genuine. Best of luck to her and the SARS folks in the future.

[@chrisramsey6725]

Every hike I do (at least one a week) is a spiritual journey. The outdoors are my temple

Chris Berquist is a brilliant guy, the team that he worked and continues to work with is amazing. I met him on a different search and rescue situation on the Big Island

[@magsman448]

Happened to me and my then gf. We went for a Sunday walk on part of the well known, busy trans penine trail, nice sunny afternoon a good few groups of people around, just a quick walk no more than a hour. Reached the ridge top in no time of what could be described as foothills, half hour in not even walked far, lovely sunny day instantly turned into a low visibility wall of fog and drizzle. No problem, turn around and hot foot it to the local pub, and with that the trail we were walking turned into a maze of identical well trodden sheep tracks heading in all directions. Instant confusion and panic. Who'd a thought such a short straight forward walk could lead to such an overwhelming sense of dread! We found the way back without any hiccups, fortunately. But it just goes to show how quickly things can go from good to bad with no expectation. Take care everyone...