[pct-l] To SPOT or not to SPOT

[Rod Belshee]

Here's way to think about the need for an rescue device, such as a SPOT.

There are levels of safety protection, each providing a backstop if the one 
above it fails.

LEVEL 1 - prevention.  Know enough to avoid trouble.  E.g. skills in reading 
weather, in assessing stream crossings, ... or skills in knowing where to 
pitch a tent impervious to wind or running water during a storm, ... or 
navigation skills in snow, ... or ...

LEVEL 2 - keep it from getting worse.  Know how to handle the situation 
independently.  E.g. ability to self recognize and treat early hypothermia 
or dehydration, knowing what pain to hike through and which to not, treating 
blisters, keeping inner clothes and sleeping bag dry through days of 
rainstorms, ...

LEVEL 3 - fix a bad situation.  Know how to handle serious stuff 
independently.  E.g. serious hypothermia or dehydration, or hiking out on a 
sprained ankle, or broken collarbone or rib, ...

LEVEL 4 - friends fix a bad situation.  Other hikers (or possibly angels) 
handle the situation.

LEVEL 5 - call SAR for help.  Search and Rescue.


RISK Profile for the PCT
   -  On the PCT there are very few situations that can't be handled at 
LEVEL 1 or LEVEL 2.  The absolute most effective thing to do to keep 
yourself safe is to increase your knowledge and skills.
   -  I've helped out on several LEVEL 4 situations on the PCT including 
heat stroke, severe altitude sickness, and many cases of wet and 
hypothermic.  I've also seen plenty of near-misses, such as folks hiking 
onto long barren ridges when thunderstorms approached and having lightning 
hit all around them, or unplanned swims at dodgy stream crossings.  All of 
those trace back to failures of safety protection at LEVEL 1 or LEVEL 2.
   -  Very rarely, incidents can still happen that jump straight to LEVEL 5 
(e.g. a slip and serious fall off a steep edge, or a cardiac event).

Should you carry a rescue device?
   - You might if you want to provide a sense of comfort for loved ones
   - You might if you want to provide a sense of comfort for those very rare 
incidents that jump straight to LEVEL 5

What if you are not confident in your LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2 skills?  Should 
you carry a rescue device?
   -  A rescue device could provide a false sense of confidence leading you 
into unsafe situations.
   -  As folks who have served on SAR will tell you, sometimes SAR incidents 
are rescues, sometimes they are recoveries.  Recoveries are devastating for 
everyone involved.  SAR cannot really make up for mistakes at LEVEL 1 and 
LEVEL 2.
   - SAR is not without hazards, risks and costs for the SAR team.  SAR 
folks have privately shared their infuriation at being put in the position 
of taking risks and the emotional trauma of bailing out folks with 
inadequate LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2 skills.
   - You'd increasing your security much more by supplanting your LEVEL 1 
and LEVEL 2 skills than carrying a rescue device.  That may come from hiking 
with experienced hikers while you learn, or training hikes, or 
classes/workshops, or whatever.  There are lots of options, including some 
on-the-job training by pairing up with skilled hikers.

So, should you carry a rescue device?  It all depends.... but considering 
the levels of safety protection might help you to think it through.

Steady, Sr.