Homesick Boy Scout rescued after 3 night lost in mountains

Child found hungry, dehydrated a half-mile from troop's campsite

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

McGRADY - Michael Auberry just wanted to see his family and friends Saturday afternoon when he wandered away from his Boy Scout troop's campsite in Western North Carolina's rugged mountains.

"He was homesick," said Kent Auberry, Michael's father. "He started walking and thought he'd hitchhike home."

Michael, a 12-year-old Boy Scout from Greensboro, spent three nights lost in the rocky and steep mountains in Doughton Park before being found Tuesday morning. Rescuers, including a search dog named Gandalf, found Michael shortly before 11 a.m. walking along a rushing creek about a half-mile from where he disappeared.

Michael was dehydrated and hungry for store-bought Grandma's cookies and chicken fingers, but he was in good spirits as he recovered Tuesday evening at Wilkes Regional Medical Center in North Wilkesboro, his father said.

Temperatures dipped into the 20s at night. Michael was wearing jeans, a base layer, a fleece, a winter coat, gloves and a baseball cap.

He drank water from a stream, and told his parents he prayed he wouldn't get sick from it.

The Auberrys and authorities were still trying to piece together Michael's story Tuesday evening. When Michael was found, he was still wearing the clothing he had on when he disappeared, except for his hat and glasses.

"We've asked the park service to go find his glasses," Auberry joked.

Michael won't get in trouble for wandering away from the group, but "we'll have to cover hitchhiking with Michael later," Auberry said.

Auberry didn't know how long his son would remain in the hospital.

"Michael said he's most concerned (about) making up his schoolwork," Auberry said. "He's worried about make-up work in Miss Self's class. So if Miss Self could give him a break, he would be grateful."

Tuesday's search included between 80 and 100 rescuers from surrounding counties, said Dave Bauer of the National Park Service, who was in charge of the search.

A search-and-rescue dog team from South Carolina found Michael about 75 to 100 yards off a trail, Bauer said.

The rescue team spotted Michael across a creek, and they called out to him. Michael didn't respond at first.

Eventually, he realized they were trying to take him home. "At that point, he perked up a bit," Bauer said. "He said he wanted a helicopter ride out of there."

The team helped Michael across the creek, gave him a granola bar, crackers and water and then carried him out on a stretcher because he was weak. He suffered scratches and bruises but was otherwise in good health, Bauer said.

Auberry said his son probably knew authorities were looking for him, but he was unsure how much time had passed as he wandered through the woods looking for his troop. "What he tells us is he was on the move," Auberry said. "He slept in tree branches. He curled up under rocks."

Gandalf, the dog that found Michael, is a 2-year-old Shiloh shepherd named after the wizard in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Gandalf's trainer, Misha Marshall, of Chesnee, S.C., and her team had been looking for Michael for about two hours when Gandalf found him in an area of 30-degree to 40-degree rocky slopes, she said.

Gandalf was working off the leash, running ahead of Marshall and another searcher, Erin Horn of Spartanburg. Gandalf caught a scent of Michael, probably from a piece of clothing, Marshall said.

"He popped his head up in a direction - that's what they do," she said. "He popped his head up three times when he caught the scent."

The team of three rescuers followed Gandalf and spotted Michael. "You're totally overwhelmed," Marshall said. "You don't believe it's the person you're looking for because you want it to be him so badly."

Auberry said Michael and his family are grateful for the support and thank everyone involved in the search. "He wants to thank Gandalf especially - although he knows Gandalf ate his peanut butter crackers," Auberry said.

National Park Service spokesperson Tina White was near Michael's family when word came that he had been found alive. "I saw lots of tears," she said. "I saw lots of hugs and smiles."


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