That is a very isolated Wilderness area.  It has some rugged terrain.   It is also an area with dense cougar and black bear populations.

One really should not hike such remote places by yourself.  Especially if you are elderly.  It is much safer to hike in a group of people when visiting Wilderness areas.  That way if a person gets injured, others can help him, and also go to get help.   Maybe even bring some kind of weapon with you. 

Here is a link below to a real good in-depth, follow-up story that the Oregonian newspaper did about this subject after U of O mathematics professor Daming Xu disappeared while Wilderness hiking in 2007, and Eugene hiker James Dutton disappeared in 2012.   Shockingly, the Oregonian noted that between 1997 and 2013, 189 men, and 51 women have disappeared in Oregon Wilderness areas, never to be seen again.  That is 240 people lost in just 17 years!!

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/06/lost_in_oregon_hiker_who_vanis.html


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