He Hit SOS on His Garmin InReach (in the bitterroot range)

Why did he "think" he needed rescuing?.

Returning to his car had to have been his plan, why didn't he just do that? I understand from his description (I skipped around in the video) that he couldn’t immediately work out an off trail route from his lower elevation location up to the closest approach to the road; but why not just do his original plan OR backtrack to his car.

Also I didn’t catch; how many days in to his planned 7 day trip (he mentioned he was packing for that long) was he when he hit the button?

At the moment? I’d have just backtracked. As I’d have as an option in the back of my pocket for a speculated route that didn’t pan out. Honestly I’ve done that. Got very dumped on one Thanksgiving break in Kings Canyon NP. Rae Lakes Loop. We were up Bubbs Creek trail and woke up to about 18” of fresh snow>>> zero trail and some heights (Glen Pass) to come, we just turned around and picked our way back more or less following the drainage and map detail to keep sort of on track. Loops just sometimes don’t work out: it’s a risk. 2 men died doing a loop out if Hetch Hetchy one year, they’d gine clockwise so the came to Wapama Falls on their last day, a couple of flat trsil hours from the trailhead: BUT the spring melting had the falls raging over the walkway and handrails. I could sympathize, turning back would have meant days… but instead their bodies were recovered that fall.



My overall philosophy when all I had was a PLB was even were I still walking IF I had been so delayed a SAR callout was inevitable I’d trigger my beacon to prevent the mission from undergoing an unnecessary random search. Now with an Inreach communicator (66i) it’s an easier judgement; I’d just message I was delayed and why. Thus avoiding any mission at all. More time out there? #notahardship

“which he believed entitled him to instant helicopter rescue,”

Yeah, now that’s a big YIKES. There was a Grand Canyon incident years back where a similarly minded party essentially thought their rented device was a room service calling device, which they did, multiple times. Asking for water iirc.

And, when done professionally as I’ve seen YOSAR do, a “lessons learned” critical analysis of an incident that resulted in a callout is a terrific public education tool I fully support.

Take a look at this... Idaho County Sheriff Office's report.

I don't want to down play is concern (fear) of his situation but it seems to me that he wasn't really prepared for the conditions he was going into.I wouldn't have done that because I have never winter hiked nor have I done much true mountain hiking. I think having a grasp of your true abilities without being overconfident plays a huge role here. Which is more or less exactly what Sleeping Bag Man! has said.

I'm not seeing how this Facebook post is unprofessional.

It’s a factual police report - public record - that includes the citizen’s name and city of residence. “Doxxing” implies the publication of personally identifying information with intent to harm. I don’t see how this could be construed as cyber-bullying or “doxxing”.

((( rubs eyes )))

What am I missing?

ETA: it appears to be SOP for this sheriff's office to post SAR reports that include names, photos, and home cities of rescuees.  Example: Previous Rescue Report

Good lord…why am I trying to be fair? Solo winter camping without any plan, knowledge, or tools to build a fire? And then whining about the sheriffs? To quote an esteemed forum member, YIKES.

Now I want to hear what Lamebeaver has to say. Can he please be granted a temporary exemption to the TR rules? Pretty please? Hehe

Coulda hiked out if he had O.R.A.N.G.E. shoes.