RumiDude
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Marmota olympus
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Post by RumiDude on Apr 30, 2017 16:49:52 GMT -8
I live in Washington state and for the vast majority of all the trails I hike, there is no cell phone reception even at the trailhead. I know in certain places there is reception but so sporadic I would never depend on it. I take my phone but turn it off. I use it to call/text my spouse or contact person when I reach service on my way home.
I do not have a SPOT, PLB, or InReach. For one the expense. Secondly I have scaled back my adventures due to other issues. I just don't feel the need for any of that.
Rumi
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toejam
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Hiking to raise awareness
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Post by toejam on Apr 30, 2017 19:40:03 GMT -8
If you don't mind me asking, where is here? Los Padres National Forest central coast of California. Goes from sea level to over 8000', something like 10 different wilderness areas. A few peaks you can get a signal, but most are too remote.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Apr 30, 2017 20:20:28 GMT -8
I take reasonable precautions. I'm careful on the trail, I carry a PLB, at least an extra day worth of food, and in dry country an extra day worth of water. Even so, there are a multitude of ways a mishap could end my life long before anyone could get to me. That's just how it is.
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Post by Coolkat on May 1, 2017 5:35:27 GMT -8
On the other hand, if it saves your life it suddenly becomes very inexpensive. I can't argue with that. It's just I rarely go off trail. However, from time to time I do go to spots that are not frequented very often.
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whistlepunk
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I was an award winning honor student once. I have no idea what happened...
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Post by whistlepunk on May 1, 2017 7:45:05 GMT -8
Portable cell signal boosters do exist. Extra weight and bulk make them impractical for backpacking.
Much of the Western U.S. in hot dry mid summer you could just build a large smoky fire. You will have aircraft over your head in minutes.
I carry a signal mirror and practice using it periodically.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2017 9:21:42 GMT -8
I guess one thing I am interested in hearing in this thread is a cell with power almost the 11th E these days? Or maybe more generally Communications the 11th to include sat devices. I would say "no". To my mind, the "ten essentials" should be the list of items that should be carried on every day hike or backpack; anywhere in the country. In many areas where I hike and backpack (mostly west Texas and New Mexico), a cell phone is about as useful as a paperweight (although lighter). I also don't carry an PLB or satellite messaging system. Part of that is just force of habit; I've been backpacking casually since the mid-80's and have just never felt the need for one. When I'm with a group of others, I've occasionally carried a small FRS radio (if they also have them), more for convenience than anything else. I'm also a long-time radio amateur, and have very occasionally carried a small morse setup (below), but "just for fun" (I dabble in the Summits on the Air activity).
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on May 1, 2017 14:17:11 GMT -8
Don't get wrapped around the number 10. Just because we normally have 10 fingers and 10 toes doesn't make it magic. If 8 or 9 or 42 work for you, so be it.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on May 1, 2017 15:15:53 GMT -8
I guess one thing I am interested in hearing in this thread is a cell with power almost the 11th E these days? Or maybe more generally Communications the 11th to include sat devices. I would say "no". I agree. I think that it's a personal decision about carrying those things, and as noted, the cell phone is useless in many of the more remote places, at least in the West (I doubt there is reception in that many parts of the Sierra, for example, though I've never carried a phone in there to test. I know that there isn't always service in the Owens Valley, so that makes it less likely). If I were to go back to hiking solo at this point in my life, I might consider a SPOT or similar, both for the sake of my family and because as I age it seems like I'm more vulnerable (OTOH: I'm also less likely to do something stupid). And maybe as we age, I'd start to think of carrying one even when out with my husband, though a good CPR/wilderness 1st aide class might be more to the point.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on May 1, 2017 16:51:38 GMT -8
Forget the CPR. You can't keep it going long enough to get help, not in the BC. Hold his hand. Kiss him goodbye. Cry your eyes out. Wilderness 1st Aid is much more helpful.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on May 1, 2017 17:00:25 GMT -8
Forget the CPR. You can't keep it going long enough to get help, not in the BC. Hold his hand. Kiss him goodbye. Cry your eyes out. Wilderness 1st Aid is much more helpful. Well, there is the hope that someone will resume breathing on his own. Not likely in the case of a massive coronary, but maybe in some circs. But I recognize your wisdom here.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on May 1, 2017 19:38:30 GMT -8
a good CPR/wilderness 1st aide class might be more to the point. I just read of bunch of user submitted rescue cases on the SPOT website. Weather permitting a lot of the rescues come in like 2 to 5 hours after SOS activation. Maybe the cases are culled to help sell their product. So if your emergency is illness or injury you or someone in your group is going to have to be the help for a while. 1st aid training would be a big plus. People in injury/illness situations with a SPOT usually activate it right away. Some do try to get themselves out then realize that isn't going to work then activate.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on May 1, 2017 20:33:29 GMT -8
a good CPR/wilderness 1st aide class might be more to the point. I just read of bunch of user submitted rescue cases on the SPOT website. Weather permitting a lot of the rescues come in like 2 to 5 hours after SOS activation. Maybe the cases are culled to help sell their product. Those numbers could also be affected by the kind of people who end up needing rescue. I'd like to see a distribution of activations as a function of distance from a trailhead. I bet a huge chunk of them are less than day from a trailhead.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on May 2, 2017 4:40:37 GMT -8
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on May 5, 2017 9:28:11 GMT -8
Watching Surviorman E0702 and E0703. He's in the Transylvanian Alps and tried to send a message with sat phone and it didn't go through for over 24 hours. He said he also triggered his "satellite messenger" but couldn't know if that went through. I guessing a PLB.
He has a little speech on how even though he a big primitive skills guy he likes tech - when it works.
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Post by Coolkat on May 5, 2017 9:33:12 GMT -8
Of all the survival shows to be on tv his show was my favorite.
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