[pct-l] SAR comments on Censored epic

[linda.hungerford]

If the GPS/SPOT is only picking up two satellites (because it hasn't had 
time to get more, or there are mountains, trees, heavy precip, or something 
else blocking or distorting the signals) it can only pinpoint its location 
down to two possible positions.   Any GPS needs contact with three 
satellites to triangulate it down to one position, and more and/or WAAS to 
get you down to less than 10 meter accuracy. So, if you turned SPOT on and 
hit the emergency button right away, or didn't have a clear view of enough 
satellites, it seems like it could possibly transmit a wrong location. 
Maybe this device might be a little bit more useful if it displayed your 
coordinates so you could check on your map that it was actually going to be 
sending the EMT's to your correct location... and maybe then you wouldn't 
even need to call 911.

linda


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Murray" <kmurray at pol.net>
To: "." <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 9:16 AM
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:
> =====================
> 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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