California Sisters Aged 5 And 8 Survive Being Lost In The Wilderness For 44 Hours Thanks In Part To 4-H Survival Training
If you've had a chance to watch Murder Mountain on Netflix, you'll recognize the name Humboldt County as being a particularly dangerous part of the American West. The docuseries focuses on the marijuana black market and the many dangers it presents the community of Humboldt County, California. One of the integral parts to Humboldt County is its dangerous terrain. People constantly go missing in the area, and residents tucked away in the wilderness tend to self-govern adding an extra layer of danger.
Recently, two young girls went missing in Humboldt County, but thanks to survival training, their ending was a happy one.
The Carrico sisters, five-year-old Caroline and eight-year-old Leia, were last seen outside their home in Benbow, CA at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1st.
The sisters were following a deer trail when they lost their way.
The young girls were lost for a terrifying 44 hours in an environment described by Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal as,
"...rugged territory, this is extreme environment."
According to the sheriff,
"[The girls] were trained through 4-H for outdoor survival, we believe that played a part."
These survival techniques included them dropping granola bar wrappers which gave a trail for rescuers to follow.
Even more impressively, once the girls realized they were lost, "they huddled together under a bush" and drank water from Huckleberry leaves.
They were found approximately 1.4 miles south of their home and had no injuries past being dehydrated and cold.
People all over are celebrating the sisters' miraculous rescue.
@CBSNews They are so cute, so able. I’m guessing that they will leave a mark. Such a feel good story. My heart smiles!— Pete Cala (@Pete Cala) 1551765756
@CBSNews Oh, I am so grateful & relieved the two girls were found safe & sound‼️❤️❤️🤗💓😃💙💚🧡💛💜❤️🐾❤️🌈🌈📣📣📣📣 HAPPY TIMES‼️😃👍🤗— Holly Averyt (@Holly Averyt) 1551766376
@USATODAY I live in Humboldt County and this community came together like never before to find these girls. Big tha… https://t.co/TReIsLsUR5— JasonoftheDead 🧟🎬 (@JasonoftheDead 🧟🎬) 1551672827
@ABC Wonderful news!!!!!— Jen (@Jen) 1551642278
Many are also singing the praises of 4-H and the tools they equipped the Carrico sisters with.
Wow! It just goes to show you that a little survival training for your kids can make all the difference.… https://t.co/djQkJrXGm0— Dr. John Roza (@Dr. John Roza) 1551697269
@USATODAY 👏for 4-H— Matthew (@Matthew) 1551673300
@4H Thank You So Much for your program that helped them survive. 🙏❤️— Wonder Woman 🙏✝️🛡🇺🇸❤️🕊💙☮️ (@Wonder Woman 🙏✝️🛡🇺🇸❤️🕊💙☮️) 1551740454
The heroes behind their rescue are Delbert Chumley and Abram Hill from the Piercy Volunteer Fire Department.