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Post by dayhiker on Dec 15, 2016 17:52:37 GMT -8
"The SARSAT system has saved thousands of lives since 1982 and the relatively new PLBs have saved hundreds of lives since 2003. This test shows that there are certain areas, specifically deep canyons and probably dense forests in mountainous areas where the SARSAT system may have difficulty receiving and determining the location of PLB distress signals. If you were alone and seriously injured in a remote slot canyon, rescuers will have a hard time locating you in a two or three mile circle, because if your PLB can not see the sky, SAR will not see you from the air." www.backcountrychronicles.com/plb-slot-canyon-test/So even if you can turn it on say after a fall, it might not work well enough. |
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Post by Lamebeaver on Dec 16, 2016 4:48:14 GMT -8
Technology will never replace common sense. It's important to know your limitations, and proceed with caution in terrain that could hinder rescue.
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Post by dayhiker on Dec 16, 2016 8:03:31 GMT -8
How true, even with a good fix rescue might come too late in case of a serious injury. Are you saying there is no reason to carry a PLB if you use common sense?
My point is that PLB is not quite as robust as often thought , but probably still better than SPOT etc., though I haven't kept up on improvements in spot.
We had two folks die this summer in falls in the Columbia Gorge , one was found because their cell phone was on, he had just been using it. The other weeks after the rescue was called off. Not sure if a PLB would have helped in the later case since it was heavy forest and steep terrain mentioned in the article.
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walkswithblackflies
Trail Wise!
Resident terrorist-supporting eco-freak bootlicker
Posts: 6,934 
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Dec 16, 2016 13:38:17 GMT -8
Here's a thought experiment. If I get injured in a dense forest and can't extract myself, would I want to have my PLB or not?
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swiftdream
Trail Wise!
the Great Southwest Unbound
Posts: 552
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Post by swiftdream on Dec 16, 2016 15:31:40 GMT -8
"This test shows that there are certain areas, specifically deep canyons and probably dense forests in mountainous areas where the SARSAT system may have difficulty receiving and determining the location of PLB distress signals. If you were alone and seriously injured in a remote slot canyon, rescuers will have a hard time locating you in a two or three mile circle, because if your PLB can not see the sky, SAR will not see you from the air." Not surprising. Anyone who has been in those kinds of terrains will find and have found for decades that satellite signals will be very spotty and sometimes none. We probably go into those kinds of terrain more than any other and I think they have they have more potential for injury than any other place we go. Canyon country seems to be the highest risk for injury and lack of a good sat picture. But you still might be able to get a sat lock in some places if you can crawl to a clear area if possible or sometimes you may have to wait for a better sat picture where you are if possible. Hard to say on that if the injury is severe. |
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