Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Sammy Linebaugh reportingA Sunday hike turns into an unplanned, overnight adventure for a Utah father and son.
Both are safe today, discovered by search and rescue crews in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
A happy resolution here, but a very cold night spent by the two hikers: Bill Schaeffer and his ten year old son Jefferson.
They set out for the Pfeifferhorn about 7am yesterday morning. By late afternoon they were on their way down, but got off track once they lost daylight. Bill Schaeffer says he and his son were prepared for the possibility they might have to stay over night, with fire kits, jackets and extra water. Because Bill had been lost before and had to spend the night out in the elements, father and son made the decision to stay put.
Just before 6am, well before sunrise, a Utah Highway Patrol helicopter spotted them roughly half a mile from White Pine lake at a campfire.
A ground crew was already on the way up the mountain, and reached them about 20 minutes later. Ten year old Jefferson was brought out on an ATV, tired and cold, but otherwise ok. Bill Schaeffer walked down the trail himself.
It was Bill Schaeffer’s wife who called 9-1-1 about 3am when the two hadn't returned. He says he definitely has some explaining to do, when he gets home.
