[pct-l] Rescue (was Re: Another missing hiker found)

Tue Oct 8 16:45:54 CDT 2013

All I can say is that I was just lucky when I didn't know what I was doing. As I learned what I was really dealing with, I have gotten more and more careful. The trails have taught me how to be long distance backpacker    No one should imagine that going out in late season isn't a risk.  Never do anything that would trigger a rescue.   That is unfair to do to brave and giving people. If you leave the border late and spend too much time on the trail you will risk not finishing.  It's so simple. Marmot

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 8, 2013, at 2:34 PM, "Charles Williams" <charlesnolie at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> I think there's also a gentler learning curve for those who start out at Mexico and head to Canada today.  They haven't had long hauls of water in So Cal only to get to a spring that's dry.  There's water caches all over the place down there now.  There's more places to send yourself boxes with all your needs that are close to the trail.  When the current hiker's needs are so easily met the challenges of the trail are likely to be easier to deal with.  GPS, cell phones, data books...none of these things existed 20 years ago and there weren't any "angels" to speak of.  
>  
> The reality is that a long distance hiker can get themselves into serious trouble without ever having been uncomfortable from their experiences before they get into challenges that leave them in need of being rescued.
>  
> It's surprising too, with the increased availability of weather reports at the call of a cell phone or a quick look at a website from so many places.  You would think that hikers would be wiser to the risks of the onset of fall, but like I expressed, some just haven't been close to being in a dangerous situation, eg.  hot and thirsty, cold and wet, etc.
>  
> QuincyRider
> 
> 
> 
> On Tuesday, October 8, 2013 1:36 PM, Terry <tsparks56 at aol.com> wrote:
> 
> Dan, I agree with you, there seems to be far to many SAR missions going on to take care of PCT hikers.  One of the reasons for this and, there is not much we as a community can do about it is, with so many more hikers using the trail every year (my first thru will be 2014) and belonging in this group myself, there will also be that many more inexperienced and under educated hikers on the trail too (doing every step possible to not be included in this group).  
> The problem with trying to raise awareness about the problem on this list is that, for the most part, the hikers who visit this list on a regular basis, as well as other informative sites, ate not usually the hikers that find themselves in trouble and in over their heads before it's to late.  
> As far as informing my wife as to my hike plan for a trip, one smart thing I do is, I add 1 day to my plan if I'm gone for over 5 days. This is so she doesn't start to worry if I'm delayed for any reason and, If I'm not, I have a free day if I choose to use it. 
> 
> Helps keep our SAR teams at home when they are not really needed. 
> 
> Terry
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Oct 8, 2013, at 12:36 PM, Dan Jacobs <youroldpaldan at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> On Oct 8, 2013 12:08 PM, "shon mcganty" <smcganty at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I'm going to keep it short and put in my 2 cents:
>>> 
>>> I think the PCT community needs to do a self evaluation in regards
>> to what responsibility they hold in making sure they do not need rescue.
>> There seams to be so many more rescue missions for PCT hikers than your
>> week-end hikers.
>> 
>> Interesting line of thought, but lets look at some details. The one I am
>> curious about is how many rescues are initiated by the hiker themselves.
>> How many rescues are initiated by panicky friends or family when the hiker
>> actually doesn't require a rescue effort?
>> 
>> Dan Jacobs
>> Vancouver  WA
>> _______________________________________________
>> Pct-L mailing list
>> Pct-L at backcountry.net
>> To unsubscribe, or change options visit:
>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>> 
>> List Archives:
>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. 
>> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubscribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. 
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubscribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. 
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.