Deseret News | Reader comments: Scout missing in Uinta Mountains

Reader comments
Scout missing in Uinta Mountains

SR | 10:17 p.m. July 16, 2008

Why does this keep happening in Utah? It is so completely tragic that this happens over & over & over in Utah. The Boy Scouts & the LDS Boy Scout troops in Utah need to be VERY worried when they go up into the mountains with these kids. Even if the child wandered off on their own, the adult leaders MUST know where tehy are at all times regardless. I hope this one turns out positive.

friend2all | 10:20 p.m. July 16, 2008

My thoughts and paryers are with this young man and his family. Miracles happen! We have had a very fortunate season of found hikers. I pray for hope and comfort for all those affected, especially this young man.

Concerned | 10:41 p.m. July 16, 2008

I agree, the scouting program needs to step back and evaulate the program and make some big changes. They are not above accidents and mishaps just because they are scouts! The leaders need to be better trained and a larger ratio per child. Our prayers are with these scouts and resue workers and his family.

Comments continue below

Tragic | 11:23 p.m. July 16, 2008

In this day and age, every troop should have a GPS device/beacon on every scout. One life is worth the hundreds of thousands it would cost.

scouter | 11:21 p.m. July 16, 2008

I would suggest everyone STOP trying to put the blame on scout leaders. From your comments it is apparent you really do NOT know about the training or leadership of scouting, let alone the circumstances of this event.

There are far more accidents and other problems with family outings and individuals hiking than with scouts. There are unfortunately some instances involving scouts.

To think that a scout leader must know where every scout is at all times is absurd. Do you know where your children are at all times? If you are honest, you would have to answer NO.

There are multiple safeguards in scouting to prevent issues like this, but sometimes, despite the leaders best efforts, scouts run off, or slip through the safety net.

Let's hope this scout has paid close attention to the skills training and he will be ok.

Be Prepared ... | 11:30 p.m. July 16, 2008

Hopefully, the Scout was prepared enough that he has drinking water, some food, and enough common sense to stay put and let himself be found. If he's resourceful enough, he'll build a fire that will possibly signal the searchers tonight. Those hiking in such remote terrain would probably all have whistles, signal mirrors, a reflective blanket, etc. So hopefully he'll use his preparedness and Scouting skills to keep himself alive until being found. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers, and hope for his safe rescue tomorrow.

ilandra | 11:51 p.m. July 16, 2008

People have been in the scouts for many years and for many years they have had scouts go missing. This not only happens in Utah but Idaho and Nevada, California, Wyoming. Every place that has boy scouts they get lost. It happens.
I am not saying that it is right or that there is noone at fault here. What I am saying is that these kids just because they are in the boy scouts think that they are well prepared for the camping and wilderness and so they wander off. They get lost and then everyone says Why weren't the leaders watchin them? Why weren't they being accountable.
Here is the plain and simple facts. There are hundreds of kids on these trips and it is hard to keep track of all of them.
You don't hear of girl scouts because I think I have rarely heard of a girl scout camping trip.

GIRL Scout Camper | 12:15 a.m. July 17, 2008

As a GIRL scout camper I was taught by my leader--The same as from my parents to ALWAYS use the buddy system. Where I come from we have NEVER lost a camper !!! But I guess since its part of the LDS out here its acceptable to lose children !!!! Unfortunately the REAL BOy Scouts has lost its meaning and the church is trying to take it over also !!!! Hopefully the boy is found safe and soon..so not only does his family have to suffer but that of the leaders .

Rob | 1:11 a.m. July 17, 2008

Just pray for this young man. Don't fight over it. If you can go and help search then do that, but do something positive.

wow | 2:22 a.m. July 17, 2008

What a dumb and ignorant comment girl scout camper. Wow!

John C. | 4:29 a.m. July 17, 2008

To girl scout camper. As stated above you don't know the traing these leaders go through as a former scout master I never lost a boy. But we are moving into a time when parents teach very little at home and expect everyone else to teach their children. Also don't make statments like the LDS is trying to take over the Boy Scout program that just shows ingnorince on your part. It's a good practice to know all the facts before making comments.

He has been found!! | 6:04 a.m. July 17, 2008

I just got a call from one of the boy's leaders, and he has been found! Thank you for all those thoughts and prayers on his behalf.

Re: Girl Scout Camper | 6:06 a.m. July 17, 2008

"Where I come from we have NEVER lost a camper !!! But I guess since its part of the LDS out here its acceptable to lose children !!!! Unfortunately the REAL BOy Scouts has lost its meaning and the church is trying to take it over also !!!!"

I didn't catch any details like what you are stating. You're assuming most of this. I say that because I see nothing that says any specifics about the case. Also the only thing that the LDS ward scout troops do different than most is that we have Duty to God award, which is no different than other religions who have specific awards that the boyscan earn. So, as far as the LDS church taking over scouting, seems like your dangling off a small limb with nothing to sustantiate it with. The LDS church endorses the scouting program as a good tool for reinforcing good values and ideals. Do you really think the scoutmaster of this lost boy got any sleep last night at all? I kinda doubt it. Instead of jabbing the church over this why not say a prayer or if you can go assist in the search?

Richard | 6:34 a.m. July 17, 2008

GIRL Scout Camper:

Funny, the article said nothing about it being an LDS troop... Perhaps it is you trying to hijack this thread to kick out at the LDS church.

Perhaps they should have chained the boys together or camped in the leaders back yard to remove all possibility of a boy getting lost.

Not all scout leaders are perfect and they are volunteers. For those who want to complain, I challenge you to volunteer with a local troop and put let YOUR actions do the talking. Perhaps your wisdom will help someone not get into this situation in the future and I welcome that. If you're not willing to do that, please withhold your judgment unless you know ALL the facts.

Reason | 6:42 a.m. July 17, 2008

The buddy system doesn't necessarily keep scouts from getting lost. It ensures there is someone who can help help you if you get hurt.

Case in point from earlier this month in South Africa:

Four teenage Boy Scouts have been rescued in blustery winds and driving rain 30 hours after setting off on what should have been an eight-hour hike to a scout hut on Table Mountain's Back Table.

Twenty volunteers were called out to help find the boys, one aged 15 and the other three, 16, from the 1st Monte Vista Scout group.

The boys were drenched, having weathered rain and hail, by the time they reached safety, returning on foot to the parking area near the Suikerbossie restaurant above Llan- dudno at about 2pm on Thursday.

They are the second group of scouts to get lost on Table Mountain recently. Three weeks ago, 18 Scouts, most of them teenagers, had to be rescued after spending 13 hours on a ledge in the cold.

Girl Scout parent | 6:46 a.m. July 17, 2008

Hey girl Scout Camper. You need to get your facts together before bringing up the LDS Church and the Boy Scouts. I have a daughter that has participated in girl scouts and a boy who has participated in BOY SCOUTS and they are not near the same. Girl Scouts type of camping is to go to a ranch a do arts and crafts. The Boy Scouts do wilderness survival and other activities. As for the Church taking over the program it is not correct. The Church uses the program to help the young men to mature and become responsible young men. The program is to help the young men learn to be responsible learders and citizens.

Concerned | 6:53 a.m. July 17, 2008

It is sad to see that people make judgments before they know all the facts. This story only reported that a boy is missing, and that more information would be made available this morning. Despite this lack of information it seems that people are placing blame, and accusing people and organizations. The Boy Scouts are a very fine organization, as are the many volunteers who give of their time so boys can have a great experience.

Boy Scout leader | 7:04 a.m. July 17, 2008

C'mon girl scout camper. What a pathetic and insensitive comment. There are 1000's of scouts at camps every week and one gets lost and the whole BOYS Scout program is condemed. You know it is not acceptable to anyone to lose children!!! You're so pathetic. You are an idiot.

Volunteers? | 7:07 a.m. July 17, 2008

How can you guys say that "volunteers" give of their time so that the boys can have a great experience? I am a Boy Scout leader in an LDS troop and I certainly didn't "volunteer". I accepted a calling, which I have been told by GA's that we should never "decline". That is why LDS troops have a higher accident/incident rate than non-LDS troops within BSA. i happen to love BSA and have gone through all the training to run a safe program but I probably wouldn't be a leader had I not been extended the "calling" by my bishop. I don't have any Scout age kids, so I don't have a vested interest, to be quite honest

Art | 7:20 a.m. July 17, 2008

I was a Scoutmaster before I became LDS and then again after I was baptised. There is no difference in the training of adults or of youth.

The Buddy Syetem is taught and stressed. I have lost boys too. Boys like to explore on their own, much more than girls. Boys are naturally adventurous and tend to get into difficult situations.

My scouts and I once had to rescue a five-year-old boy on a father-and-sons weekend. He wasn't really lost but got on the far side of a creek and then got too scared to attempt coming back.
(He was the Stake Presidents son!)

It is even a right-of-passage in some foreign cultures to SEND male youth out alone to survive an ordeal of many nights. Some don't survive.

Let us pray this fourteen-year-old comes out using his Scout training. And, that the leaders and youth use their Scout training in rescue procedures.

The LDS Church uses and supports the Boy Scouts of America to make better adults and a stronger USA. It rightly deserves our spiritual and financial support.

Much thanks to the author of this fine DN article.

Re: Volunteers? | 8:54 a.m. July 17, 2008

Wait a minute...no one took away your ability to say "no". If you say "yes" and don't get paid, you're a volunteer. Too bad.

Hollywood | 10:13 a.m. July 17, 2008

Sounds like "Volunteers" is harboring some resentment. I commend you for accepting your callings, but if a position ever creates resentment, then you should visit with your bishop and opt out (or not accept in the first place).

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