[pct-l] SPOT messenger vs McMurdo PLB

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

Those of us who disagreed with the statement that people would be  
foolish not to bring a spot are not saying the opposite is true, that  
you are foolish if you do bring one. There's just a sense that a  
subtle mandate appears with every new gadget that even has the  
appearance of offering some sort of emergency, lifesaving capability.

It's funny how the opposite mandates never occur. Someone has a SPOT  
and they still get hurt or killed we don't tell people they'd be  
fools to bring one. We instead invent even more gadgets.

It should be a choice.
Diane/Piper
On Mar 28, 2011, at 4:04 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

>
> It may sound hypocritical but I agree with everyone.  In response to
> Hillary, I guess my response is that I am not as hardcore (I would  
> accept a
> life saving heli) but, really the only reason why I will have it is  
> because
> my mom said, "I will be much less stressed for the next 5 months if  
> you let
> me buy you this expensive toy" given the circumstance my response  
> was a
> semi-reluctant yes.  Although I am also funding the trip by my own  
> work and
> savings, there is something to be said for helping people who got  
> me to
> where I am feel as good about it as I do.  I guess because I am  
> 99.99% sure
> I will not even touch the thing, if I do end up getting it, I'll  
> call it my
> sentimental item for the trip, maybe put an 'I <3 mom' sticker on  
> it for
> good measure.
>
> -toby