Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2016 13:12:55 GMT -8
Did anyone else see this news story? I'm not trying to detract from the survival tale of this woman lost in the woods up on the Kaibab Plateau, but this family made some very serious fundamental mistakes to get into the trouble they were in. I'm glad they all made it out more or less OK.
1. It sounds like they completely relied on their GPS in their rental car to get them from Las Vegas to "the Grand Canyon". Were they intentionally trying to get to the North Rim even though it as closed for the season, or is that just where the GPS database routed them when they entered "Grand Canyon"? If they intended to go to the South Rim, a little awareness of the expected route would've maybe given them an idea the GPS was sending them on the wrong route.
2. If they were intentionally trying to go to the North Rim, even the most cursory advance research would show that it was closed for the season because of the heavy snowfall on the Kaibab plateau. And, even the most cursory advance research would show that there are essentially two different parks (North Rim and South Rim) in the main tourism area of the Grand Canyon.
3. They turned off paved roads onto dirt roads. Never a good idea unless you know the area.
Please, folks, if you want to visit National Parks (please do - they are treasures that belong to all of us), go to NPS.gov and check out the "plan your visit" section for your park, just a little bit, before you head out! And, get a paper map from your rental car company to supplement the GPS! Have a basic understanding of where you want to go, so that you can check the GPS routing against what you expect based on common sense! |
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,888 
|
Post by zeke on Dec 27, 2016 13:23:11 GMT -8
link There have been many instances of "user error" over the years, most of them discussed on these very boards. All of your points are valid. I marveled when I read that the family found cell reception after the Mom left. I was happy more extensive injuries were not suffered. Yes, there were things they could have done, but they didn't. I fear this will only lead more people to rely on their cell phones for rescue. There are many places where this would've just been a family frozen to death. They were indeed very fortunate.
|
|
|
|
Post by autumnmist on Dec 27, 2016 13:28:05 GMT -8
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2016 14:17:31 GMT -8
When I lived in L.A. I put together a bug-out bag that I had put into each car. The idea was that in L.A. after a disaster people may need to survive for 3 days before help arrived. It was assumed that the roads would be impassable and going on foot was the only way to get from point A to point B. It has been years since I've lived in L.A. and I had let the practice fall by the way side. I am returning to having a bug-out bag at the ready for my wife and I. This story is another reason to have a bug-out bag in the car trunk.
|
|
balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
Posts: 4,539
|
Post by balzaccom on Dec 27, 2016 16:01:53 GMT -8
Although it should be pointed out that almost every SAR expert on the planet suggests you stay with you car, rather than leave it behind and strike off on your own to get rescued...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2016 16:20:37 GMT -8
The spare tire, when lit on fire, will burn for many hours with s black 'rescue-me' smoke.
|
|
Deborah
Trail Wise!
Yes, that's me.
Posts: 1,115 
|
Post by Deborah on Dec 27, 2016 17:04:07 GMT -8
proper equipment and knowledge of the area The "proper equipment" was nothing more than checking the website before they left home. And not be foolish enough to believe that an "alternate route" that a GPS recommends, when the main roads are closed, is a good idea. Essentially the "equipment" that was missing was simple planning. Of course I am glad that they survived, but they never should have been there in the first place. |
|
|
|
Post by Lamebeaver on Dec 27, 2016 17:40:35 GMT -8
Plenty of lessons to be learned, but the main thing is that they survived. This one has "made for TV movie" written all over it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2016 17:55:59 GMT -8
proper equipment and knowledge of the area The "proper equipment" was nothing more than checking the website before they left home. And not be foolish enough to believe that an "alternate route" that a GPS recommends, when the main roads are closed, is a good idea. Essentially the "equipment" that was missing was simple planning. Of course I am glad that they survived, but they never should have been there in the first place. Oi! very good point. They failed to use the proper equipment. Their brain. |
|
Deborah
Trail Wise!
Yes, that's me.
Posts: 1,115
|
Post by Deborah on Dec 27, 2016 18:01:09 GMT -8
Oi! very good point. They failed to use the proper equipment. Their brain. Exactly. |
|
Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,960
|
Post by Westy on Dec 27, 2016 21:06:41 GMT -8
The Kaibab Forest on the North Rim is a labyrinth of unpaved gravel roads. The roads are in a variety of maintenance and condition. The distances are long, windy and often affected by tree fall. These people are very lucky to be rescued. The parents exercised extremely poor judgement. They should be nominated for a Darwin Award rather than rewarded with headlines and survival bravado.
Would not be surprised if it's the "governments fault" and a lawsuit is filed even though the main entrance gate was locked.
|
|
Hungry Jack
Trail Wise!
Living and dying in 3/4 time...
Posts: 3,809
|
Post by Hungry Jack on Dec 27, 2016 21:09:40 GMT -8
Not to sound harsh, but "clueless" would be the way I describe these parents. Glad they survived.
|
|
swmtnbackpacker
Trail Wise!
Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
Posts: 4,886
|
Post by swmtnbackpacker on Dec 28, 2016 10:28:41 GMT -8
The GPS worked fine as it only was supposed to provide routes, but it didn't give them info they needed (even Ye 'Olde Weather page from a nearby newspaper).
Lulled by all the desert scenery too, not realizing there's hot deserts (Phoenix west to Los Angeles), and cold deserts (all the other higher altitude arid lands).
|
|
RumiDude
Trail Wise!
Marmota olympus
Posts: 2,361
|
Post by RumiDude on Dec 28, 2016 13:10:08 GMT -8
People often stop asking good questions in situations like this. As soon as they saw snow they should started questioning their route. As soon as the snow began to be three or four inches they should have turned back. But they were sooooo close they stopped asking questions that the answers were inconvenient to their plans. So even failing to check the GCNP website and all, they still should not have got into the mess they did.
Rumi
|
|
mk
Trail Wise!
North Texas
Posts: 1,217
|
Post by mk on Dec 29, 2016 12:55:05 GMT -8
Call me cynical, but I have a hard time believing someone would willingly drink urine when they're tromping through 3 feet of snow. I'm glad they all survived, but I hope that next time they do a little research before their next adventure.
|
|
