[pct-l] Emergency helicopter signalling

[Donna "L-Rod" Saufley]

Something to add:

I learned from a local gear store guy called "Gizmo" who came and did a presentation at a school assembly when I was in middle school way back in '71 that if you're lost in the wilderness and believe that air crews will ultimately come looking for you, DO NOT try to follow a stream or river to what you think will be civilization.  Along bodies of water is where the trees grow, blocking you from rescuer view.  Also, there is likely to be cliffs and drop-offs along any stream body in the mountains.  Streams and rivers don't necessarily take you to civilization, and can take you farther into the wilderness.  Bear Grylls is always doing this the wrong way and it drives me crazy because it's the absolute worst advice for the average Joe who is not an expert survivalist or climber.  It's a different story if you're out there and have reason to believe that no one is going to be looking for you and you have to get yourself out.

The thing to do is get to an EXPOSED PLACE, AS HIGH UP AS IS SAFE, and signal from there. Don't move around to different locations.  Back in '71 he recommended signaling with Mylar space blankets (which were very new in those days!) which are very light, reflective, and can be life saving in cold situations. Inexpensive, too.

I often wonder if this bit of information might have saved John Donovan.

L-Rod

p.s.  Gizmo handed out a diagram showing what should go into a backpack, sparking my very first awareness and interest in backpacking.  He made a lifelong impression on me.


-----Original Message-----
>From: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
>Sent: Mar 4, 2009 10:42 PM
>To: PCT MailingList <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>Subject: [pct-l] Emergency helicopter signalling
>
>I discovered a two year old description from a former helicopter crew chief regarding how best to signal a helicopter. Good info for the class of '09.
>
>
>
> "Yea, one was a Z-Rest and there was a full length and a 3/4  self 
>inflating Thermorest.  All are bright colored relative to the natural 
>forest colors.  Now having been an Army Helicopter Crew Chief for many 
>years I know how hard it can be to find something from the air, even 
>with 3 pair of eyes focused directly on the target.  Headlamp strobes 
>are useless, even at night unless its really dark, you are in a 
>clearing, and the air crew are wearing night vision goggles.  Strobes 
>have a very limited visibility range from the ground to the air, even at 
>sea.  Hold the mattress or pad in front of you hanging down to the 
>ground.  Raise it up chest high and level with the ground so that the 
>bright colored side of the pad is making a 90 degree arc from facing the 
>horizon to facing the sky while you are facing the aircraft.  Don't go 
>above your head.  That extra 3 feet will not do anything for you, and 
>you won't be able to see through it.  Side to side motion is too small 
>to be seen, even with day glow orange.  One complete up and down motion 
>should take 2 seconds.  This creates an orange regular strobe effect to 
>the aircrew and is much more easily recognized than either stationary or 
>6 foot movement.  Adrenalin will make it hard to do this small slow 
>motion but it is the best.  You'll want to jump, holler, wave your hands 
>etc.  All useless except for personal emotional release.  So do it 
>anyway if it makes you feel better.  When they do see you, you will know 
>it, either by 'wagging the tail' 'rocking the wings' or a landing 
>light.  Ours wagged the tail.  The same motion along with a whistle 
>attracted the hiking crews attention from 1/2 mile."   C
>
>
> 
> Mtnned
> 
> 
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