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Out of the Woods

Andrea Delbanco

The four days he spent lost in the mountains of North Carolina must have felt like a lifetime to Michael Auberry. The 12-year-old Boy Scout walked away from his troop's campsite, lost his bearings and ended up stranded in bitterly cold temperatures. It was terrifying for Michael, his family and his fellow Scouts. Search teams combed the mountains. Heat-sensing helicopters scanned the scene.

A two-year-old search dog named Gandalf helped track Michael. On the fourth day that Michael was missing, Gandalf caught the Scout's scent, which led rescuers to Michael, about a mile from his campsite. "He was a little disoriented, but he was great," says Misha Marshall, Gandalf's trainer.

The Lost Boy

Michael received wilderness training as a Boy Scout. "They do a great job in the Scouts of educating the kids of what to beware of," Michael's dad, Kent Auberry, said while Michael was still missing.

Michael realized within 15 minutes that leaving the camp had been a serious mistake. But by then, he was totally lost. He says that he survived by drinking from the river, seeking shelter under rocks and sleeping on tree branches (see "Tips for Staying Safe").

Despite the happy ending, many still wondered: Why did Michael leave the campsite? "He was homesick," says his father. "He thought maybe he'd walk as far as the road and hitchhike home."

Before he left on the camping trip, Michael had told his dad that he didn't want to go on the overnight. His troop mates say he skipped some of the Scout activities.

Michael's father is thrilled that his son is safe. But in case four days lost in the wilderness didn't fully convince Michael of the dangers of going it alone, his dad plans to have a talk with him. "We're going to have our lectures about hitchhiking again," he says.

Next: Tips for Staying Safe