[pct-l] Tethers to the other world...

[Lisa Peru]

Ned, thanks so much for that list of info that the SAR people will want. If (hopefully never!) I hit that 911 button, it's great to know what info to send, assuming I've managed to protect my phone as well as the SPOT. 

Since I'm posting, I'll chime in on "tethers." I don't enjoy them and sometimes resent the demands of family. But they support my adventures, so I buck up and try to keep them involved. This year, I'm hoping that weekly calls from town will be deemed sufficient instead of semi-nightly SPOT messages. I hear the CDT is a wee bit more remote than the PCT was, so cell signal will be rare. :) 

It's been interesting to hear everyone's differing situations and resultant attitudes towards modernized hiking. Maybe someday I'll collect my vintage gear and go for an old-school trip with wool, canvas, my SVEA and big leather stompers. No cell phone of course! Anyone else interested?

-Peru

On Oct 16, 2012, at 1:30 AM, "Ned Tibbits" <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:

> Of course, we are all discussing the situation of when only one wants to go. 
> The best for both parties is when both go! The opportunities for shared 
> enjoyment of wilderness is priceless and brings both together tighter than 
> before....
> 
> A satellite phone in the backcountry is only used to call out. We use ours 
> every night to "check in" and tell everyone on the other end how much fun 
> we're having and that all is well. They can hear our excitement in our 
> voices and that puts a smile on their faces!
> 
> When things go badly, we can make an emergency call to the local Sheriff and 
> have a two-way discussion of our location, routes to us, our emergency 
> described in detail, what rescue gear they will need to reach us, and what 
> gear we need them to bring in. This makes the rescue quicker and more 
> efficient. This is good for everyone involved.
> 
> If you're out there for solitude and can't stand the thought of talking to 
> anyone, then by all means go and enjoy the quiet. Just be ultra careful and 
> come out on time because you don't have any other recourse when things go 
> bad. Now, they may not, but they certainly can and have in the past. If SAR 
> has to come to your rescue with the coordinated efforts of 30 or 40 people, 
> most of whom you'll never meet, don't be surprised if they read you the riot 
> act in no uncertain terms because you made the choices you did.
> 
> Even savvy mountain men get caught off-guard...
> 
> 
> 
> Ned Tibbits, Director
> Mountain Education
> www.mountaineducation.org