Lost
Sam trailed close behind the anxious animal as it led him further into the woods. The sky was growing dark above him, a sinister feeling brewing in his stomach. He could only imagine what the animal was leading him toward.
Sam had been following the dog for hours, and he was beyond lost at this point.
But just then, he spotted something between the bushes. The situation was a lot worse than he ever could have imagined.
It Was Different
Hiking in those woods was nothing new for the young man. Sam had been hiking those trails for years at that point. But on that day, something felt different, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
The weather was moodier than usual and the trees were eerily quiet.
There was no sign of life around as Sam walked deeper into the woods.
An Emergency
He couldn’t believe that he had followed the animal so deep into the wilderness. It was clear that it was some kind of emergency. The husky was whining as it led the man off the trails and into the lush bushes.
Sam knew he was risking his life at that point, but something or someone needed his help.
He just hoped that the dog’s owner was still alive out there.
It Was Getting Late
The day was coming to an end, and Sam knew that all kinds of predators would be emerging from the woods, looking for something to eat. His forehead was coated in a thin layer of sweat. His stomach ached with anxiousness.
When he initially decided to follow the poor animal, he didn’t expect it to lead him this far.
But Sam was minutes away from making a horrific discovery.
In Too Deep
It was only growing darker by the minute, and in the distance, Sam could hear all kinds of animals howling and growling, looking for something to eat.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Sam and the dog were in danger.
But he was in too deep. If someone was out there that needed his help, he was going to help them. He had to keep going.
A Scent
Sam had never strayed from the trail before. His surroundings were all unfamiliar to him. He wondered how much further they would have to go. But just then, the animal began sniffing the ground, its tail in the air.
Finally, the dog had found a familiar scent. Sam’s blood ran cold.
He didn’t know if he was ready to see what the dog had led him to.
A Haunting Discovery
Sam stood frozen in place and watched the dog advance ahead of him. Small whines emitted from its throat as it neared a tiny clearing in the dense bushes. The animal stopped in its tracks and faced Sam before letting out a bark.
It wanted him to come closer. The man took a deep breath, his hands shaking by his sides as he slowly moved forward.
That’s when he saw something that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
The Bachelor
Born and raised in Jackson, Wyoming, Sam Portman was your average twenty-six-year-old bachelor. As a single man, he enjoyed his freedom. When he wasn’t at work, he was looking for fun things to do around town.
One of those things was hiking. Sam was an avid hiker.
But there was one hiking trail he loved more than any other, and that was the Bridger–Teton National Forest in Wyoming, not too far from where he lived.
Unwinding
Sam had always been the sporty type, and there was nothing he enjoyed more than a nice hike after a long week at work. It was the perfect time to unwind and process the previous week.
He went hiking at least once a month and that was exactly what he decided to do one, casual Saturday morning.
How could he have known how it would end?
Checking The News
That morning began like any other. Sam woke up at five a.m. and got ready. Soon, he found himself in the kitchen, making a pot of coffee. He decided to switch on his television, hoping to see some kind of weather report for the day ahead.
With a cup of coffee in hand, he took a seat in front of the screen and flipped through the news channels.
That’s when he saw something terrible.
A Missing Person
A woman’s face appeared across the screen, immediately catching Sam’s attention. “Missing person,” He read aloud as the news reporter gave the details.
The woman’s name was Bridget Williams and she and her dog had gone missing three weeks prior, while on a hike in the Bridger–Teton National Forest in Wyoming.
A shiver ran down Sam’s spine. He was about to spend his morning in that same forest.
Terrible Things
Sam felt strange about the entire situation and decided to switch the television off. He’d heard of terrible things happening to hikers in the wilderness, and he didn’t want to think about it right before he was about to go on a hike by himself.
He tried not to think about it as he slipped into his shoes and grabbed his backpack.
He assumed that the woman was long gone. How could anyone survive three weeks alone in the forest?
On His Way
Sam left his apartment as soon as seven a.m. rolled around. He wanted to start his hike before it was too hot out. The trail was only five miles long, and he expected to be home in three or four hours.
As soon as he got into his car, he reversed from his parking spot and headed out for the morning.
Little did he know that he wouldn’t be home that night.
Fresh Air
He arrived at the Bridger–Teton National Forest in no time and quickly stepped out of his car. As soon as he stepped into the fresh air, he took a deep breath, a smile spreading across his face.
It was chilly out, and he could tell that it was going to be a fun and refreshing hike.
He had just about forgotten about the sinister story he’d seen on the news, but in just a few hours, he would face a harsh reminder.
Smooth Sailing
The first half of the trail went by swimmingly. Sam was taking his time, enjoying the beautiful scenery surrounding him. Usually, he walked a lot faster, but he didn’t mind staying out for an extra hour or two when it was chilly out.
He had a lot on his mind. It had been a stressful week at the office, and he was using this time to unwind.
But he was about to stumble across something concerning.
Taking A Moment
The trail was quieter than usual. He assumed it was because of the dreary weather. Sam hadn’t seen a single other hiker since he’d shown up four hours earlier. But that was about to change.
Sam decided to stop for just a second. He was getting thirsty.
Removing his large water bottle from his backpack, he took a moment to rehydrate as he sat on a large rock, just off the trail. That’s when he heard it.
He Heard Something
He frowned as he heard a rustle in the bushes before him. At first, he assumed it was wind, or a small animal, but then, there was another sound. It sounded like an animal whining just a few feet away from him.
Sam sat frozen in surprise, waiting for the animal to reveal itself.
But then, he spotted two brown eyes staring back at him.
The Husky
Sam had been around dogs all his life. Immediately, he could tell that it wasn’t a stray. The husky seemed terrified as it slowly walked toward him. It was whining, its eyes sad as it stared up at him.
“Hey, boy,” Sam said, gently petting the dog, “Where is your owner?” He cooed. But that’s when the dog turned around and took a few steps deeper into the forest.
It stopped and turned to look back at Sam. He wanted Sam to follow him.
Following Him
Sam instantly thought of the woman he had seen on the news that morning. What if this was her dog? What if he was trying to take Sam to where she was? He knew he had to do something.
He followed the dog, hoping he’d be able to reunite him with his owner.
But soon, he’d realize that the dog was leading him towards a much bigger discovery.
Danger
Sam knew it was a dangerous situation. The dog was leading him away from the trail and deeper into the woods. He was familiar with the trail, but he had never strayed from it.
With every step he took, he was hoping that the owner would be just a few feet away.
But after half an hour of following the dog into the lush wilderness, Sam knew that he was already lost.
It Was Getting Dark
Hours passed as Sam followed the animal through the forest. He had no idea how it was possible, but it was already getting dark out. He had no idea where he was.
It was only growing darker by the minute, and in the distance, Sam could hear all kinds of animals howling and growling, looking for something to eat.
Sam and the dog were in danger. But he was in too deep now. Even if he wanted to turn around and go back home, he wouldn’t know how to. He was lost.
Miles Away
The dog, still whining and trembling, had led Sam miles from the trail. His only option was to keep following the petrified animal. Finally, after hours of aimlessly wandering the woods, the dog slowed down and began sniffing at the ground.
He had found a familiar scent. Sam’s blood ran cold. He didn’t know if he was ready to see what the dog had led him to. What if it was the woman?
What state would she be in after three weeks in the wilderness?
A Clearing
Sam stood frozen in place and watched the dog advance ahead of him. Small whines emitted from its throat as it walked closer to a tiny clearing in the dense bushes. The dog stopped in its tracks and faced Sam, letting out a bark.
Sam took a deep breath, his hands shaking by his sides as he slowly moved forward.
The dog had finally reached its destination, and Sam was mortified to learn the truth. Then, he saw it.
The Pile
In the clearing, between the bushes, Sam’s eyes landed on a small pile on the ground.
His heart dropped as he slowly stepped closer. The dog walked toward it, whining as he pawed at the lump.
Sam’s breath caught in his throat when he spotted the shoes and the gloved hands. The small pile was a person.
Bridget
He knew that he had to bite the bullet and move closer. After taking a deep breath, he quickly walked toward them, but when he saw the woman’s face, tears welled up behind his eyes.
It was Bridget Williams, the woman he had seen on the news that morning. Sam sank to his knees and placed a hand on her shoulder.
He had to check if she was still alive. “Hello, can you hear me?” He asked in a broken voice.
A Response
The woman’s eyes shot open, causing Sam to jump back. She was alive! As soon as the woman awoke, she began trembling from the cold. Sam rushed to remove his jacket and placed it around the woman as she sat up.
He reached for his water bottle and handed it over. “Thank you, thank you so much,” She cried, drinking from the bottle.
“I ran out two days ago,” She said, pointing at an empty bottle beside her.
One Problem
Sam was relieved that the woman was still alive, but there was one glaring problem. They were lost, and neither of them knew how to get back to the trail. Sam knew that he had to get them some help immediately.
He wasted no time as he called the Bridger–Teton National Forest and reported the issue.
He was lucky enough to find some signal, and help was on its way.
On Their Way
A search team was dispatched, following the rough coordinates Sam had provided. As they waited to be found, Bridget told Sam all about the last few weeks.
She had gotten lost after her dog ran after a squirrel and followed him into the woods and was unable to find her way back to the trail.
Having left her cell phone at home, she had no way of contacting family or friends.
She Survived
She had been living off of berries and the large bottle of water in her backpack. She only had a tiny bit of water each day, and remained in the shadows, desperate to prevent dehydration. Sam had found her just in time and it was all thanks to Freddie, her husky.
She thanked him again and again, and he couldn’t help but embrace her in a tight hug.
Despite the danger involved, he was beyond glad that he decided to follow the dog into the forest.
Safe And Sound
It took a few hours, but eventually, Bridget and Sam were found and saved from the harsh forest. No one could believe that Bridget had managed to survive for so long on her own. She couldn’t believe it either.
Sam was deemed a hero, but all he cared about was the fact that she was okay.
He and Freddie had saved her life, and she was able to return home to her family and friends.