[pct-l] SAR comments on Censored epic

[Donna Saufley]

They speak of the resources wasted.  As the former spouse of a firefighter, we know that every time our "resources" are called out, their lives are sometimes put in danger too. Rescue attempts have cost the lives of those who answer the call. It is unconscionable to put the lives of rescue personnel/volunteers at risk without a genuine need.

For hikers to be out unprepared in the first place is a problem we're seeing a lot of every year. IMHO, it is simply unacceptable that hikers are unable to weather a storm in the wilderness, especially when June snow is NOT an abnormality in the Sierras (nor are daily thunderstorms).  If you're not prepared, you are an accident waiting to happen and should not be out there.  

On a personal level, I've been dealing with sheriff's SAR and hysterical parents all season because of these #(*&^% Spot devices. In every case it has been device signal unavailability or malfunction. There's a whole lot of needless worry and resources wasted, and so far (thank goodness) not once has there been a genuine need.  Quite frankly I think this level of connectivity is a bad thing and I wish they would go away, though I know that's unlikely.

L-Rod


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Ken Murray
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 9:16 AM
To: .
Subject: [pct-l] SAR comments on Censored epic

On the Whitney Portal Store website, there is a thread about the epic, and there are several comments from George Durkee, the Senior Wilderness Ranger in SEKI (stationed at Charlotte lake this year), Bob Rockwell of China Lake Mountain Search and Rescue, and Doug Thompson, owner of the Whitney Portal Store:
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George Durkee 
This SPOT alert was also checked out by NPS Sequoia Kings. A very weird case. The initial locations given by the SPOT people were WAY off -- over on the east side of the Crest north of Independence (I think). I've just got a very loose story but it's close to what the woman tells. The later 911 SPOT transmission was mapped correctly. Inyo SAR was checking out the sage trying to find this person in the rain and dark with, of course, no luck. They called Sequoia Kings wondering if we had any ideas.

Totally unknown if the fault was with SPOT or what the Satellite received. I hope Inyo Sheriff & SPOT are following up on this. Inyo called several times to make sure the location was correct and SPOT insisted it was. The first location alerts all agreed and were all wrong.

The problem with hitting the emergency 911 button is how do various agencies respond when a later "ok" button is hit. The consensus now is to view it as a 911 hangup -- a response is still necessary, though maybe not as quick.

Quote:I hit 911 to let them know that there’s a hiker on the mountain and she’s in trouble. I did NOT hit 911 to get “rescued.”

Hmmmm. What did she think was going to happen? I mean, she calls it a 911 button (though after hearing this story, I called it the "Mommy" button). When you hit "911" on a SPOT, someone's going to make a rescue attempt. Of course, I'm glad she's OK, but sure wish she (and most other PCT hikers) were more prepared for storms like this. PCT hikers are good when the weather's good, but this storm wasn't all that unusual. How hard is it to carry a light tent? I also hope others note that one lesson is to stop and set up camp while you're still warm & functional... . 
g. 
========================
 Bob R 
  Two pieces of info following up on what George Durkee reported. 
This morning I talked to Doug Thompson at the store. He said that after the subject got a ride to Lone Pine from Horseshoe Meadow, she checked into the Hostel. Did not notify Inyo authorities. So SAR was still looking, the helos were still flying. Then a deputy was walking on the sidewalk near the Hostel and encountered a woman talking on her cell phone. He overheard enough to ask, "Are you (the subject)?" Of course, she was. And only then was the SAR called off. To underscore what George said, hitting 911 turns on the rescue system. Hitting OK later doesn't turn if off. The search continues until until a real person tells them it is no longer needed. From what George says, this issue is being worked.

Later, on the trail, I talked to a ranger who was involved in the search. He said the SPOT relayed the location as somewhere in the Hogback Creek drainage. That's the next canyon north of Whitney Portal. He said they were driving the roads, flashing lights, and had helicopter overflights--all in an area miles north of where the subject was. Eventually SPOT got it right, with no harm done (except for the needless expenditure of resources, looking in the wrong places). I wonder how many other instances of false locations have occurred. This one could have been critical.

Technology is wonderful when it works as it is supposed to. But technology sometimes fails, and operators sometime misuse. 
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