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desert dweller 
Greetings
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Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 3:31 pm |
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Some good tips in the article. But most were (or should be) common sense to backpackers.
Getting pertinent information said to the 911 operator right away is a good idea because of the battery and signal strengths. But, I would first make sure where the 911 operator is. Some cellphone 911 calls get rerouted to other cities or even other states.
It irks me when the statement "don't hike alone" is mentioned. It's like their using the it as a disclaimer against getting in trouble. The article would have been more informative if they would give some guidelines about hiking alone. Ignoring the habits of many hikers is not helping out much.
Thanks for the link, though. It did help some.
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Seek Higher Ground
Can you feel the silence
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Lamebeaver
trail? I don't need no stinkin trail!
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Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 3:41 pm |
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Seems to me they're putting a high reliance on cell phones.
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| Post Number: 5
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eggs
That's sofa King assume
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Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 3:43 pm |
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Seemed to focus allot on cell phone use. Not a bad thing since you won't get any help if you have no service.
If you have some service then two of the major carriers, AT&T and TMO in the US, have the ability to triangulate you down to about 100 meters or so depending on cell tower coverage in the area you are in.
That technology is provided by this company
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Eggs
Home of the egg
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| Post Number: 6
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WalksWithBlackflies
Resident Eco-Freak Bootlicker
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Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 4:03 pm |
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They forgot to mention that the north star is not the brightest star in the sky.
Sorry Cisco...  ... I'm fully aware that I'm an @$$hole.
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When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
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RumiDude
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Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 4:18 pm |
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How to call 911 in the winderness.
I always carry my cell phone with me, mainly because I want to call/text the person with my hiking itinerary when I get out. I don't leave my cell phone in my truck so it comes with me. My cell phone is 4oz and I place it in a freezer bag. Since I have it anyway, it would be foolish not to understand how to properly utilize it in case of an emergency.
In a way, this is mainly tailored for Seattle folk and especially those who hike Rainier, St. Helens, and the I-90 corridor, but can be applied to many situations.
Rumi
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“This is my Indian summer ... I'm far more dangerous now, because I don't care at all.”
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oldnolder
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Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 7:40 pm |
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It seems to me (also) that it dwells a lot on cell phones and I don't like the don't go alone. When I was younger and did most of my backpacking, I did most of it alone and had no cell phone. I will be 65 tomorrow and I think maybe it is time to think about going with others, but I used to be able to hike 15-20 miles a day at a 2 mile an hour pace. I now struggle to go a mile an hour and don't think I can do 8 miles in a day. That makes it hard to find a partner. I have a cell phone but it mostly sits in my van. I think I need to learn more about what it can do and if I can text with it. I am still comfortable backpacking alone. I take my time and am safe and prepared.
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
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Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 7:48 pm |
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I think it's a nice list to be aware of, although as everyone else indicated the article could more accurately be titled "What SAR Wishes We All Knew IF You have a cell phone with reception", as the article is kinda completely centered around that. With the target audience in mind (Seattle-metro dayhikers on common peaks in cell range), it's probably a good article. Outside cell range though, it's somewhat less relevant, excepting a few points.
I never take a cell with me on extended trips in SE Alaska, for instance, because I have no need for 4-6 oz of electronic deadweight, with no cell tower in any direction for a hundred miles or more. However, the same advice could be given to someone with a SAT-phone, so with that in mind, I still think it's a decent article.
My meandering $.02, anyway,
- Mike
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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AlmostThere
I must not be there yet, I keep hiking...
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Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 8:23 pm |
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It can irk you all you like - don't hike alone is very sound advice - for the backpacker who on a whim gets up, throws junk in the pack he bought at Big Five, and heads out for the first time ever into the wilderness. Those types have no clue how to maintain hydration and stay warm - they're the ones who make mistakes like, hey, it's July, I'm going over Piute Pass in a cotton hoodie wearing these peachy keen sneakers I got at Payless Shoe Source last week. Without noticing that it's a high snow year and it's supposed to rain a couple times. With a final destination of Roads End (about 60-70 miles, give or take, with a bunch of gain, loss, gain, loss, and GAIN GAIN GAIN) they're supposed to reach in five days.
* actual details may vary. Most taken from a real incident.
You duffers who go all the time, repeatedly, over the past couple of decades - you're not so likely to be hypothermic and off your nut, because you've had a bunch of experience in maintaining your general fitness on the trail. But you're aware of the risks and managing them, I'd guess, if you're here to post about it.
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All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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High_Sierra_Fan
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Posted on: Oct. 24 2012, 8:31 pm |
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(AlmostThere @ Oct. 24 2012, 5:23 pm)
QUOTE It can irk you all you like - don't hike alone is very sound advice - for the backpacker who on a whim gets up, throws junk in the pack he bought at Big Five, and heads out for the first time ever into the wilderness. Those types have no clue how to maintain hydration and stay warm - they're the ones who make mistakes like, hey, it's July, I'm going over Piute Pass in a cotton hoodie wearing these peachy keen sneakers I got at Payless Shoe Source last week. Without noticing that it's a high snow year and it's supposed to rain a couple times. With a final destination of Roads End (about 60-70 miles, give or take, with a bunch of gain, loss, gain, loss, and GAIN GAIN GAIN) they're supposed to reach in five days.
* actual details may vary. Most taken from a real incident.
You duffers who go all the time, repeatedly, over the past couple of decades - you're not so likely to be hypothermic and off your nut, because you've had a bunch of experience in maintaining your general fitness on the trail. But you're aware of the risks and managing them, I'd guess, if you're here to post about it.
Probably what prompted the generation of this eh?
"Supplemental Solo Camping and Climbing Form" Baxter State Park
http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/pdf....rm_.pdf
ETA and yes for the expected average area visitor how to correctly use their ubiquitous phone under those new circumstances makes a lot of sense. Day hike or weekend their phone will be on their person so giving them tips that experience has shown ups the odds? Of course.
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| Post Number: 12
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AlmostThere
I must not be there yet, I keep hiking...
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Posted on: Oct. 25 2012, 10:38 am |
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http://highsierratopix.com/communi....73ebbc7
Be careful out there, no matter how much experience you have.
Let SEKI know if you've seen Larry, k?
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All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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hbfa
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Posted on: Oct. 25 2012, 11:01 am |
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Most of the places I hike don't even have cell service even at the trailhead, let alone on the trail.
The phone does make a good alarm clock though.
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nogods
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Posted on: Oct. 26 2012, 3:43 pm |
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"Don’t hike alone."
BS.
Hiking with someone who isn't as well prepared or takes excessive risks or has poor judgment or panics at the first incident of adversity or can run faster than you when a bear is charging is not going to make you safer.
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ImmortalBen
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Posted on: Oct. 26 2012, 11:12 pm |
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People can barely operate a motor vehicle with any competency, and you have to pass a couple of tests to get your license.
I try to keep this in mind when I see certain things on the trail or read about what happens out there.
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Don't protect yourself to death.
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Montanalonewolf
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Posted on: Oct. 27 2012, 8:04 am |
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I'll never recommend or suggest that anyone else ever do this but I'm an extremist and go out without telling anyone where I'm going or when I'll be back. I don't believe in rescue for myself nor do I want SAR or anyone else out looking for me. Being 100% on my own and no one knowing where I am is a very large part of going out solo.
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Ignorance is curable with education. Stupidity is refusing to be educated.
Those who don't read have no advantage over those who can't.
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double cabin
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Posted on: Oct. 27 2012, 10:27 am |
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I hike alone too, but understand the risk as all of you do too. I also carry my cell phone, as our friendly Whistle Pig points out its lightweight in comparisson to the benefit it can provide. It's a lifeline our parents simply never had.
Thanks for the thread man. It always amazes me how many Mensa rejects out there take to the trails.
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We have nothing to fear but an industry of fear...and man skirts.
http://www.facebook.com/media/albums/?id=129511480442251
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City Man
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Posted on: Oct. 27 2012, 2:03 pm |
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Gosh, I hike alone all the time, if I waited for my friends to want to go hiking I would only get out a few times a year, not an acceptable option to me. As has been said, use your brain and all will be good.
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It never hurts to do good – Eek the Cat
The quest for adventure is a never ending pursuit, an all consuming way to live life, it is a deep feeling that will never go away, embrace that feeling and have fun with your adventures.
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Montanalonewolf
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Posted on: Oct. 27 2012, 11:40 pm |
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QUOTE I expect there's ways around that, have you come up with some?
I know most of the SAR people and all of the comms folks around here and they know me. They won't mobilize just because my truck's been at a TH for an extended time.
As for work, no one would much care if I didn't show up. Even if they did they wouldn't call anyone about it.
QUOTE How are you going to avoid violating LNT principles if something happens?
If I die out there I wouldn't give a large rodent's mule about LNT.
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Ignorance is curable with education. Stupidity is refusing to be educated.
Those who don't read have no advantage over those who can't.
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ImmortalBen
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Posted on: Oct. 28 2012, 12:41 am |
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(Montanalonewolf @ Oct. 27 2012, 11:40 pm)
QUOTE QUOTE I expect there's ways around that, have you come up with some? I know most of the SAR people and all of the comms folks around here and they know me. They won't mobilize just because my truck's been at a TH for an extended time. As for work, no one would much care if I didn't show up. Even if they did they wouldn't call anyone about it. QUOTE How are you going to avoid violating LNT principles if something happens? If I die out there I wouldn't give a large rodent's mule about LNT.
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Don't protect yourself to death.
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RumiDude
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Posted on: Oct. 28 2012, 3:18 pm |
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I don't think of backpaking as some ritual or right of passage which I have to do alone and nobody can help me if I get into trouble.
Anyway, back to the article ... The real thrust of the aerticle is to make us aware. As I mentioned, I don't leave things like a phone in my car and so I take it with me. If I did have an emergency, then it might come in handy. Knowing how I might use it to get help is valuable information and thus the article's initial emphasis on the cell phone issue. The rest of the article should make us all think about steps we can take to be safer and help us get out of potential difficulties. I was already aware of most of these things BUT I still need to remind myself of them on occassion.
Be safe out there ...
Rumi
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“This is my Indian summer ... I'm far more dangerous now, because I don't care at all.”
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nogods
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Posted on: Oct. 28 2012, 7:59 pm |
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(Montanalonewolf @ Oct. 27 2012, 11:40 pm)
QUOTE QUOTE I expect there's ways around that, have you come up with some? I know most of the SAR people and all of the comms folks around here and they know me. They won't mobilize just because my truck's been at a TH for an extended time. As for work, no one would much care if I didn't show up. Even if they did they wouldn't call anyone about it. QUOTE How are you going to avoid violating LNT principles if something happens? If I die out there I wouldn't give a large rodent's mule about LNT.
that's pretty self center - how about the rest of us who'll have to step over your rotting carcass?
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buddero
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Posted on: Oct. 28 2012, 8:08 pm |
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More than half my backpacking is solo. I'm in my 60s, so there is increased risk for some sort of serious health event. I had such an event a few years ago at home, going from vague abdominal discomfort to incapacitating pain/ER in about an hour - followed by surgery, vent, and 11 days in the hospital. I would have been totally screwed and probably dead if it had happened on the trail EXCEPT that I always carry a SPOT (and on my last trip, a SAT phone), since I usually hike where there's no cell reception.
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Reach out your hand, if your cup be empty
If your cup is full, may it be again
Journal and links to refugees, backpacking, travel in Asia, photos, honky-tonk angels, other beautiful things...
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
