[pct-l] Plan your own SAR

[matt at mattmaxon.com (matt maxon)]

Shutterbug & List
I plan my on SAR by giving my wife maps of my planned route, bailout
points/roues and alternate hikes if the main route isn't available. This
includes dates and times to expect to hear from me.

I also have my cell phone and my GMRS radio tuned to Channel 10 with spare
batteries, signal whistle, mirror, and headlamp that will flash. In my
everyday day pack I also keep an emergency bivy sack w/firestating
materials, water treatment chemicals, and basic first aid kit.

The most important thing I have is good sense, and not to do something you
can't get yourself out of. After reading and having tragic stories related
to me and my personal experiences, it ain't Disney Land out there, if you
get into trouble chances are you'll have to get yourself out of trouble, the
signaling devices are a last resort for me, the S*it would really have to
have "hit the fan" to use them.

This is my perspective and others are willing to take more chances, if you
are be willing to accept the consequences and understand these consequences
don't end with you, but with your family, friends, and the people who will
come looking for you.

Have at it and take care!
Trail90
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shutterbug steiner" <shutterbugg313@yahoo.com>
To: "pct" <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 5:39 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Plan your own SAR


> As a SAR volunteer I commend you for a well thought out plan that places
the responsibility where it should be placed ---- with the hiker.   It also
gives SAR tools that we need to help find you as well as communicates a
proper urgency.  I also like that the support people back home will also
have less anxiety.
>
> Shutterbugg
>
> Rod Belshee <rbelshee@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Andrew's and Donna's messages about SAR dispatch are right on. I think I
> found a way to make this easier on my hike for all parties concerned.
>
> Here's how I chose to plan for emergency response. At each rendevoux, I
gave
> my wife (Spirit) my expected arrival date at the next rendevoux, and in
> addition a different "call SAR at this date and time" which was usually 24
> hours, sometimes 48 hours later.
>
> It only mattered once on my PCT thru-hike. In Glacier Peak, I was held
back
> by weather and my four day estimate went out to five. Then I was held at
the
> Nepeequa River waiting for high water to receed for half a day. Then I was
> turned back from High Pass by a white out, costing me another day. Net
> result, I could continually project when my arrival date would be, and
when
> my wife would dispatch SAR, which in this case was the end of day six.
When
> it was clear that I could not reach the rendevouz in time (but didn't need
> any help, since I had rationed food), I searched for a way to get a
message
> out to my wife. Checking with various hunters, I heard about a tree
clearing
> operation not far off the trail, and headed towards them. I found a
ranger,
> and send word to both the forest service and my wife to NOT send help. In
> fact, it turns out that my wife was notifiying the ranger station at
exactly
> the same moment that my message was forwarded to them, so she also got to
> hear I was okay.
>
> Ironically, there was another hiker in the same section also delayed the
> same amount. His mom had called in to report him delayed. But he didn't
have
> as specific of a timetable set up, so given the bad weather the ranger
> station had decided to wait to see if he walked in on his own, which he
did.
> Still this had resulted in some activity --all the local hotels and
> restaurants in Stehekin recognized him by name when he arrived!
>
> The moral is this. A hiker can take complete responsibility for
determining
> when SAR is called, but establishing very specific date and time deadlines
> in advance. Then the folks back home have no emotional dilema of whether
to
> call or not. Likewise, this is far more convincing to SAR dispatchers ("he
> has hiked over 2000 miles and never missed a scheduled check-in, and is
now
> 48 hours past due"). By keeping the responsibility with the hiker, the
> hiker can also turn off any unnecessary response (as I had to), even if it
> means detouring out. This prevents the waste of SAR resources, any
increase
> in reluctance for them to respond to the next call from a hiker, and any
> embarrasment from a hiker over an unneeded rescue.
>
> And, yep, Spirit is still making those lucious peanut butter cookies.
>
> Steady Sr.
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