In the late afternoon of Aug. 9, Wolfe County Search & Rescue responded to a 911 call for a husband and wife who were lost near the Lost Branch Trail off Osborne Bend.
After contacting the couple, WCSART sent them a locator link to determine their exact position. The team initially attempted to guide them out by phone, but based on their location and the complexity of the user‑made trails in that area, the decision was made to dispatch a field team.
Team members met at the Osborne Bend Trailhead and hiked to the couple’s location. After reaching them, rescuers escorted the pair safely back to the trailhead, emerging at 11 p.m.
We want to thank the volunteer team members who came out on a hot Sunday afternoon to help bring this couple out safely.
A reminder for all hikers: Before heading into the Gorge, download offline maps through apps such as Gaia or AllTrails, or carry a paper map. This area has many user‑created paths that are not official Forest Service trails, and it’s easy to get turned around without reliable navigation. The couple did the right thing getting up high to obtain cell service and calling for help rather than trying to trying to self-rescue and potentially getting into more difficulties later at night.
