[pct-l] PLBs, SPOT, and SATs

[Janet Grossman]

I'm really un-technological, finally got a cell phone a couple years ago 
but almost never turn it on. However,  I started out alone at Echo 
Summit on 7/28, planning to get to Oregon this trip, and fell on the 
snow about 3 miles north of Barker Pass on 7/29, so at about mile 35 out 
of the planned 640. I knew my shoulder blade was rather badly hurt after 
sliding about 15 feet to the end of the snow and then falling off the 
edge into a snow-melt creek. I was clear that I didn't need an air evac, 
which was good since I couldn't get a cell phone connection down in the 
canyon. I ended up camping in a dry area across from the creek, glad I 
had my long pants and sleeves and headnet already on since I couldn't 
use my shoulder well enough to set up my tent. The next morning I 
climbed back up and over to Barker Pass and got a ride into Truckee to 
an Urgent Care. Although the x-rays there didn't show a fracture, I 
realized I was in way too much pain to consider hiking anymore, so made 
my way home to AZ. The orthopedic guy I saw here thinks my shoulder 
blade is fractured even though his x-rays also don't show it, so we're 
waiting for my insurance to approve the CT scan he wants to do to see 
what's going on. What I know is that every time I do much with my arm, I 
feel moving and crunching in my shoulder blade, as well as excruciating 
pain. Anyway, all this has made me think that perhaps even I will break 
down and invest in a SPOT for my attempt at the same hike next year, as 
of course my situation could have been very much worse.
Janet