Dramatic Tale Of Survival And Rescue On Wine County Hiking

Who knows? He doesn't look like a rock climber. For some reason his story does seem sketchy to me.

I picked up on the helmet thing too and immediately thought of mountain biking but it didn't match the story line. Anyway, I'm glad it turned out OK. Two thoughts, one, he's lucky he had cell phone service, two always, always let someone know where your'e going. On my hikes, I can't always manage the cell phone thing (these types of stories get me thinking about getting a PLB again); as for the second, I'm pretty religious about that whenever I head outdoors.

I recently got a Garmin InReach Mini for a solo hike in the Catskills. I was wilderness camping off trail and where there was no cell service. It was definitely nice to be able to send my wife my camp locations via sat. But one thing I was toying with is how much to keep the unit with me. I was clipping it my belt once I was in camp. I was thinking it was overkill until on a the final night I went out to take a pee in the very early morning and with the really deep leaves I didn't see a hole and stepped into it. Nothing bad happened but I was thinking had it gone differently I could have been in trouble in light cloths just 50 yards from the Mini. Being I am getting older if some kind of health emergency keeled me over I would have a chance of getting help in time if it was on my person.

johntpenca , I'm not questioning you but wondering why his story seems "sketchy". Do you think he might be exaggerating part of it?

My reaction was kind of similar to ErnieW's.    The age issue and being alone becomes more of a concern as I age.   I even take my call phone with me when I take put the trash and recycling out!   

At 85, my father once fell on one of his walks around our favorite park.   He didn't have his cell phone with him, but fortunately a couple found him and helped get him back to his car.  

Original report was a 12 hour ordeal and now it is down to 9. Why would you be wearing a helmet if you were flying a drone. Filming himself or others climbing?