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One should be able to walk 2 to 3 miles per hour unless the snow was really high...without snow shoes or a x-c ski.

Most people can barely manage walking at 2-3 miles per hour on pavement. In the woods, over rugged and likely hilly terrain, in snow, he would probably have been lucky to make 1 mile per hour. And keep in mind that he'd been out there for something like 6 or 7 days already, so he was already likely to be short on sleep, short on hydration, and short on nutrition. On a road or clear trail, rested, fed, and hydrated, 2-3 mph would have been more likely, but it doesn't sound like he stayed on the road for too long.

[nomorelurker]

My one experience in the woods of the great Northwest was about 15 years ago on an elk hunting trip to the lower part of the Cascades in Washington state. On this or another thread someone posted satellite images of the area. They showed I think recent logging in the area and there have been many references to logging roads. One thing I found on my trip was it's one thing to walk on a road, trail or even through woods but it's quite another to walk in an area that has been logged. There are lots of limbs etc. left on the ground so that many times you are climbing or crawling over branches or tree trunks it's much worse when covered by snow. It takes lot's of energy to go just a mile or so in those conditions I did it for a week but that was with a dry heated trailer to come back to at the end of the day and a hot supper and breakfast the next morning.

[george76]

You are correct.

At this point, few could do much.

I was thinking that many could walk 2 to 3 miles per hour on the dirt road earlier on their disaster. He might have been able to follow his own tire tracks on the somewhat level road.

I am also trying to plant the seed for any lurkers on what to consider if they have a similar event.

Also, I was asking any local FReeper if the closest town was 15 miles away or much more. Apparently there was a cell phone tower remotely available somewhat. If so, he might have been lucky to get a signal.

Going uphill after waiting 9 days in the car short on food and water would be tough.

For any lurker, please consider staying on the road and avoid the temptation of taking a short cut...unless you are a skilled mountaineer. Even many mountaineers die in the back woods.