Fishermen spend 7 hours lost in woods near Forks

FORKS — Will Newman is the first to admit that he should have known better.

The 36-year-old Chicago man spent about seven hours Wednesday with his fishing buddy, Michael Warneck, lost in the woods while trying to find the Bogachiel River.

Newman said they were simply too excited about the day of fishing ahead of them, and perhaps a bit arrogant, to think about bringing a map or compass when they left their car alongside state Highway 110 and walked south in the general direction of the river.

“We were just being stupid, man,” he said. “If anything, I’m not going back out without a compass again.”

Newman and Warneck, also 36 and from Chicago, reached the river four hours later but decided it was too risky to try to find their car again before dark.

Instead of casting a line, they opted to start walking back and call for help.

Sgt. Brian King with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said he received the call at about 1:30 p.m. and found them tired and wet on a logging road about 40 minutes later.

“They were going in the right direction when they left their car,” he said. “But when they left the road and hit the tree line is when they got turned around.”

King said he found Warneck and Newman about a mile away from their car and used the sirens on his patrol car to help guide them in the right direction.

Newman said he was simply relieved to be found.

“We did the right thing” by calling for help, he said. “If I was younger, I would never have done that.”

Newman said they hiked about 15 miles.

“Me and my buddy walked ourselves to exhaustion,” he said.

But in all, Newman said, it added a bit of adventure to the trip, and they both plan to take another shot at fishing the Bogachiel today.

“Even with what happened today, it’s part of the fun,” he said.

________

Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Two people were displaced after a house fire in the 4700 block of West Valley Road in Chimacum on Thursday. No injuries were reported. (East Jefferson Fire Rescue)
Two displaced after Chimacum house fire

One person evacuated safely along with two pets from a… Continue reading

A Port Angeles city worker places a tree topper on the city’s Christmas tree, located at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at the intersection of Laurel and First streets. A holiday street party is scheduled to take place in downtown Port Angeles from noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 with the tree lighting scheduled for about 5 p.m. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Top of the town

A Port Angeles city worker places a tree topper on the city’s… Continue reading

Hospital board passes budget

OMC projecting a $2.9 million deficit

Lighthouse keeper Mel Carter next to the original 1879 Fresnel lens in the lamp room at the Point Wilson Lighthouse. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Donations to aid pediatrics clinic, workforce

Recipients thank donors at hospital commissioners’ meeting

Whitefeather Way intersection closed at Highway 101

Construction crews have closed the intersection of Whitefeather Way and… Continue reading

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Commissioners to consider levies, budgets

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

Highway 112 partially reopens to single-lane traffic

Maintenance crews have reopened state Highway 112 between Sekiu… Continue reading

Laken Folsom, a Winter Ice Village employee, tries to remove leaves that blew in from this week’s wind storm before they freeze into the surface of the rink on Thursday. The Winter Ice Village, operated by the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce in the 100 block of West Front Street, opens today and runs through Jan. 5. Hours are from noon to 9 p.m. daily. New this year is camera showing the current ice village conditions at www.skatecam.org. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Ice village opens in Port Angeles

Laken Folsom, a Winter Ice Village employee, tries to remove leaves that… Continue reading

Fort PDA receiver protecting assets

Principal: New revenue streams needed

Ella Biss, 4, sits next to her adoptive mother, Alexis Biss, as they wait in Clallam County Family Court on Thursday for the commencement of the ceremony that will formalize the adoption of Ella and her 9-year-old brother John. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Adoption ceremony highlights need for Peninsula foster families

State department says there’s a lack of foster homes for older children, babies

Legislature to decide fate of miscalculation

Peninsula College may have to repay $339K