Is Your Backcountry Safety Net A PLB or Cell Phone?

[Fred Goodwin, CMA]

Is Your Backcountry Safety Net A Personal Locator Beacon or Cell
Phone?

<http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2008/05/your-backcountry-safety-
cord-personal-locator-beacon-or-cell-phone>
http://tinyurl.com/5473y4

Posted May 19th, 2008
by Kurt Repanshek

Do you skimp on backcountry preparations, figuring you've got your
trusty personal locator beacon or cell phone to summon help at a
moment's notice? It's tempting, no? Why prepare yourself equipment-
wise and possibly skill-wise when help is just a button push away?

Curious about the SAR [search and rescue] professional's opinion on
these gizmos, I turned to Butch Farabee, who during his 34-year
National Park Service career participated in more than 1,000 SARs in
such parks as Yosemite, Death Valley, and Grand Canyon, for his
thoughts.

He'd didn't mince words.

"Most SAR people will tell you that this kind of technology is great
from their perspective and when it is used appropriately and there is
a connection, i.e. the cell phone gets the distress call into 911 or
that the cell phone can be traced through the various cell phone
towers and related sites, etc. That is the good news," says Mr.
Farabee. "The bad news is that all too many people are now believing
that all they need to take into 'the field' is their cell phone.
Forget the rain gear or matches or whistle or tarp or mirror or
checking the local weather forecast or letting someone know when to
expect them back and where they were going, etc."

[excerpted]

[Jim]

Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety net is the preparations
I've made beforehand.

Post by Fred Goodwin, CMA
Is Your Backcountry Safety Net A Personal Locator Beacon or Cell
Phone?

[Robert Haar]

Post by Jim
Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety net is the preparations
I've made beforehand.

And the best preparation has to do with you you put between your ears, not
in your pack. Next is having companions who also know what they are doing.

[Wayne]

Post by Robert Haar

Post by Jim
Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety net is the preparations
I've made beforehand.

And the best preparation has to do with you you put between your ears, not
in your pack. Next is having companions who also know what they are doing.

Besides that....if you can get cellfone service...you didn't go far enough
down the trail....

[y_p_w]

Post by Wayne

Post by Robert Haar

Post by Jim
Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety net is the preparations
I've made beforehand.

And the best preparation has to do with you you put between your ears, not
in your pack. Next is having companions who also know what they are doing.

Besides that....if you can get cellfone service...you didn't go far enough
down the trail....

I used my phone to call in a bear sighting in the Yosemite
backcountry. I didn't see a line of sight to Yosemite Valley (where
the towers are) but heard some kid talking on his phone. And no I
wasn't talking on the phone in my tent. I had my phone off to
conserve the battery. I did call someone briefly from Half Dome and
Clouds Rest though.

[Wayne]

Post by y_p_w

Post by Wayne

Post by Robert Haar

Post by Jim
Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety net is the preparations
I've made beforehand.

And the best preparation has to do with you you put between your ears, not
in your pack. Next is having companions who also know what they are doing.

Besides that....if you can get cellfone service...you didn't go far enough
down the trail....

I used my phone to call in a bear sighting in the Yosemite
backcountry. I didn't see a line of sight to Yosemite Valley (where
the towers are) but heard some kid talking on his phone. And no I
wasn't talking on the phone in my tent. I had my phone off to
conserve the battery. I did call someone briefly from Half Dome and
Clouds Rest though.

.....call in a bear sighting in the backcountry? Oh well, everyone to his
own thing.
("Hey dude...guess where I am....on top of Halfdome!...")

[y_p_w]

Post by Wayne

Post by y_p_w

Post by Wayne

Post by Robert Haar

Post by Jim
Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety net is the preparations
I've made beforehand.

And the best preparation has to do with you you put between your ears, not
in your pack. Next is having companions who also know what they are doing.

Besides that....if you can get cellfone service...you didn't go far enough
down the trail....

I used my phone to call in a bear sighting in the Yosemite
backcountry. I didn't see a line of sight to Yosemite Valley (where
the towers are) but heard some kid talking on his phone. And no I
wasn't talking on the phone in my tent. I had my phone off to
conserve the battery. I did call someone briefly from Half Dome and
Clouds Rest though.

.....call in a bear sighting in the backcountry? Oh well, everyone to his
own thing.
("Hey dude...guess where I am....on top of Halfdome!...")

The park ranger gave me two things when I picked up my permit. The
first was of course the permit itself. The second was a form to
report bear sightings around human encampments along with a phone
number to call in such sightings. I guess they like to know when
bears are coming into campsites looking for food. This particular one
just sniffed around a neighbor's campsite and moved on. I called that
in and left a message. I reported a juvenile bear at the Valley
backpackers campground although I suppose the 20 or so others who saw
the bear could have done the same.

My phone calls were to someone who had been there. I was looking for
tips on what to look out for. He mentioned that he'd seen snow on HD
in August, but I didn't see any. There was plenty of room on HD, and
I don't think I was annoying anyone by yelling to loud into my phone.
I was the only one on Clouds Rest when I made the call there.

When I was in Desolation Wilderness last Memorial Day weekend, my cell
phone didn't get a signal. The kid (lost from his party going up Mt
Tallac) who I helped get out couldn't get a call out until we got to
the Fallen Leaf Lake Lodge store. And even then, phone coverage was
unpredictable.

[Fred Goodwin, CMA]

Post by Jim
Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety
net is the preparations I've made beforehand.

I believe that was the point of the article.

[Jim]

Understood. The problem is getting more common and more serious.

Post by Fred Goodwin, CMA

Post by Jim
Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety
net is the preparations I've made beforehand.

I believe that was the point of the article.

[Wild Monkshood]

Post by Jim
Understood. The problem is getting more common and more serious.

Unless the weight of a cellphone is prohibitive, you might as well
carry it. I've had bars in places I wouldn't expect. While it should not
be essential to any safety plans, I think it would be foolish not to
avail yourself of it if it can make calls when you might need it. I
carry mine, and would not use it needlessly, but I can't fathom not
taking it, with its possibility of help, just to appease some
anti-cellphone sentiments. <shrug>

WM

Post by Jim

Post by Fred Goodwin, CMA

Post by Jim
Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety
net is the preparations I've made beforehand.

I believe that was the point of the article.

[Jim]

Carrying it is one thing, relying on it over common sense and preparedness
to bail you out of a bad situation isn't bright. That was the point of the
story.

Where I go, getting out of range of a cell tower really easy. I'd much
rather carry the GPS when weight is a consideration. Cell is last on my list
of optional equipment/preparedness. It never goes, can't depend on it.
.

Post by Jim
Understood. The problem is getting more common and more serious.

Unless the weight of a cellphone is prohibitive, you might as well carry
it. I've had bars in places I wouldn't expect. While it should not be
essential to any safety plans, I think it would be foolish not to avail
yourself of it if it can make calls when you might need it. I carry mine,
and would not use it needlessly, but I can't fathom not taking it, with
its possibility of help, just to appease some anti-cellphone sentiments.
<shrug>
WM

Post by Jim

Post by Fred Goodwin, CMA

Post by Jim
Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety
net is the preparations I've made beforehand.

I believe that was the point of the article.

[Wild Monkshood]

Post by Jim
Carrying it is one thing, relying on it over common sense and preparedness
to bail you out of a bad situation isn't bright. That was the point of the
story.

I carry my appendix, too. :0 Like I said, If the weight is not a
consideration, might as well have it as not. To let anothers bias,
misconceptions, etc. deny it would be foolhardy. It should not be
depended on, or replace common sense and other preparedness, but serve
as a back-up, or as a means of communication IF it works.

Post by Jim
Where I go, getting out of range of a cell tower really easy. I'd much
rather carry the GPS when weight is a consideration. Cell is last on my list
of optional equipment/preparedness. It never goes, can't depend on it.

But, if you had a broken leg AND service, only the truly dedicated
would not avail themselves. That's all I'm saying. Heck, if the weight
is not a consideration, a limited yield nuclear warhead should be taken
as well. The flame-thrower would just be an unnecessary tool of
one-upmanship, IMHO, though....
WM

Post by Jim
.

Post by Jim
Understood. The problem is getting more common and more serious.

Unless the weight of a cellphone is prohibitive, you might as well carry
it. I've had bars in places I wouldn't expect. While it should not be
essential to any safety plans, I think it would be foolish not to avail
yourself of it if it can make calls when you might need it. I carry mine,
and would not use it needlessly, but I can't fathom not taking it, with
its possibility of help, just to appease some anti-cellphone sentiments.
<shrug>
WM

Post by Jim

Post by Fred Goodwin, CMA

Post by Jim
Places I go, cell service does not exist. The safety
net is the preparations I've made beforehand.

I believe that was the point of the article.

[Wayne]

Post by Jim
Understood. The problem is getting more common and more serious.

Unless the weight of a cellphone is prohibitive, you might as well carry
it. I've had bars in places I wouldn't expect.

I agree. Since my cellfone is just a couple of ounces, I usually take it
along. However, I've never turned it on to see if there are any "bars".
That being said, here is my list of the modern 10 essentials for backcountry
enjoyment:

1. GPS
2. Cell phone
3. GMRS
4. PLB
5. iPod
6. Satellite phone
7. Portable Cardiac Defibrillator
8. Laptop Computer
9. TV
10. Batteries and chargers for all of the above
:)))

[Wild Monkshood]

Post by Wayne

Post by Jim
Understood. The problem is getting more common and more serious.

Unless the weight of a cellphone is prohibitive, you might as well carry
it. I've had bars in places I wouldn't expect.

I agree. Since my cellfone is just a couple of ounces, I usually take it
along. However, I've never turned it on to see if there are any "bars".
That being said, here is my list of the modern 10 essentials for backcountry
1. GPS
2. Cell phone
3. GMRS
4. PLB
5. iPod
6. Satellite phone
7. Portable Cardiac Defibrillator
8. Laptop Computer
9. TV
10. Batteries and chargers for all of the above
:)))

Well, lest anyone think I'm a cellphone proponent, I'm not. They are a
useful tool, if needed, but I hate their casual use. They are a menace
for drivers and have wrecked discourse. Used to be the company break
room was a place to socialize and find friendship. Now you walk in to
find isolated pockets of people on their phones.

WM

[Jim]

I agree completely.

Post by Wild Monkshood
Well, lest anyone think I'm a cellphone proponent, I'm not. They are a
useful tool, if needed, but I hate their casual use. They are a menace for
drivers and have wrecked discourse. Used to be the company break room was
a place to socialize and find friendship. Now you walk in to find isolated
pockets of people on their phones.
WM

[PatOConnell]

Post by Wayne

Post by Jim
Understood. The problem is getting more common and more serious.

Unless the weight of a cellphone is prohibitive, you might as well carry
it. I've had bars in places I wouldn't expect.

I agree. Since my cellfone is just a couple of ounces, I usually take it
along. However, I've never turned it on to see if there are any "bars".
That being said, here is my list of the modern 10 essentials for backcountry
1. GPS

Map/Compass.

Post by Wayne
2. Cell phone
3. GMRS

or FRS, if you are hiking with a spread out group like cavers
ridgewalking across a hillside, looking for caves.

Post by Wayne
4. PLB

Modern version of an avalanche beacon. I stay out of avalanche zones,
thankyouverymuch.

Post by Wayne
5. iPod

I have one, but have never taken it hiking. I need all my senses when
hiking.

Post by Wayne
6. Satellite phone
7. Portable Cardiac Defibrillator
8. Laptop Computer
9. TV
10. Batteries and chargers for all of the above
:)))

Don't forget the electric beer cooler and the ten mile long extension
cord ;^)

[smwalker]

Post by PatOConnell

Post by Wayne
5. iPod

I have one, but have never taken it hiking. I need all my senses when
hiking.

I have one of the iPod shuffles that I use when I mow the lawn and when I am
camping only during sack-time. I wouldn't even consider wearing it while
hiking.

(I usually have it loaded with podcasts from PTC media
[http://www.ptcmedia.net]. </shameless plug>)

[ShadowTek]

Post by smwalker

Post by PatOConnell

Post by Wayne
5. iPod

I have one, but have never taken it hiking. I need all my senses when
hiking.

I have one of the iPod shuffles that I use when I mow the lawn and
when I am camping only during sack-time. I wouldn't even consider
wearing it while hiking.
(I usually have it loaded with podcasts from PTC media
[http://www.ptcmedia.net]. </shameless plug>)

I used to hike with both earbuds in. And then, one day, I got poped on
the hand by some kind of stinging insect. I realized that I could have
walked right into a yellow jackets nest without even hearing them.

Ever since then I've been hiking with only one earbud in.

[PatOConnell]

Post by ShadowTek

Post by smwalker

Post by PatOConnell

Post by Wayne
5. iPod

I have one, but have never taken it hiking. I need all my senses when
hiking.

I have one of the iPod shuffles that I use when I mow the lawn and
when I am camping only during sack-time. I wouldn't even consider
wearing it while hiking.

...

Post by ShadowTek
I used to hike with both earbuds in. And then, one day, I got poped on
the hand by some kind of stinging insect. I realized that I could have
walked right into a yellow jackets nest without even hearing them.
Ever since then I've been hiking with only one earbud in.

Sensible. I use on the ear headphones when walking/hiking, as they don't
cut me off from the world as long as the volume's reasonable. That's
especially important if walking in the city.

[Stormin Mormon]

That's profound. Earbuds can be dangerous on the trail, or during emergency
bug out. I've worn headset radio while shovelling snow. Sure makes the job
easier.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

Post by smwalker

Post by PatOConnell

Post by Wayne
5. iPod

I have one, but have never taken it hiking. I need all my senses when
hiking.

I have one of the iPod shuffles that I use when I mow the lawn and
when I am camping only during sack-time. I wouldn't even consider
wearing it while hiking.
(I usually have it loaded with podcasts from PTC media
[ http://www.ptcmedia.net ]. </shameless plug>)

I used to hike with both earbuds in. And then, one day, I got poped on
the hand by some kind of stinging insect. I realized that I could have
walked right into a yellow jackets nest without even hearing them.

Ever since then I've been hiking with only one earbud in.

[Eugene Miya]

Post by ShadowTek

Post by smwalker

Post by PatOConnell

Post by Wayne
5. iPod

I have one, but have never taken it hiking. I need all my senses when
hiking.

I have one of the iPod shuffles that I use when I mow the lawn and
when I am camping only during sack-time. I wouldn't even consider
wearing it while hiking.

I used to hike with both earbuds in. And then, one day, I got poped on
the hand by some kind of stinging insect. I realized that I could have
walked right into a yellow jackets nest without even hearing them.
Ever since then I've been hiking with only one earbud in.

Having an iPod might or might not prevent running into yellow jackets.
I had this happen approaching a climb not long ago. No iPod.


No, what you guys don't yet understand is that iPods are not longer for
merely listening to music. An ex-PARC friend at the ETH in Zurich has
developed the color balance for shooting color 3-D movies and viewing them on
an iPod just using red-green (the cheap ones) stereo glasses (you perceive
the full range of colors). I'm trying to convince him to put up some iPod
demos on YouTube, but he's currently taken ill and is in a hospital.
The stuff was initially developed to record surgeries at Stanford. So
just taking inexpensive stereo cameras and viewing them with an iPod is
likely to become common place in the near future. Little different from
viewing slides or video.


Reduce follow ups.

--

[Stormin Mormon]

Did His Holiness kiss your hand? Not many people have met a Pope in person.
You are so lucky to get Poped.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.


"ShadowTek" <***@_NO_SPAM_cs.com> wrote in message news:***@85.214.90.236...


I used to hike with both earbuds in. And then, one day, I got poped on
the hand by some kind of stinging insect. I realized that I could have
walked right into a yellow jackets nest without even hearing them.

Ever since then I've been hiking with only one earbud in.

[ShadowTek]

Post by Stormin Mormon
Did His Holiness kiss your hand? Not many people have met a Pope in
person. You are so lucky to get Poped.

Yeah, lol. That new guy must be quick like a ninja. I never even saw him.

[Eugene Miya]

Post by Stormin Mormon
Did His Holiness kiss your hand?

Har Har

Post by Stormin Mormon
Not many people have met a Pope in person.

One of my senior year college roommates married (for 18 years) the
Religion Editor to the SF Chron. His travel budget was 10% of the
entire SF Chron travel budget to in fact follow the Pope (John Paul)
where ever he went. He travelled with the Pope to China, to Israel,
where ever. That was his job. That included going hiking with that
Pope and going skiing with that Pope. Various photos exist with John
Paul skiing. I saw one of those photos when I went skiing just off the Sella
Rhonda. There he was in a down insulated version of his papal robes.
I saw this photo after JP died.

Don, for his part, took the old joke:
Do bears shit in the woods? Is the Pope Polish?
once the Pope was an appointed Pole turned into a Pope, made:
Does the Pope shit in the woods? Are bears Catholic?
Part I is yes, because Don shat with the Pope JP. When you have to go,
you have to go. So maybe bears are Catholic.

Post by Stormin Mormon
You are so lucky to get Poped.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org

So, gee, young Chris, does the LDS Church dump on Catholicism as much as
parts of my old Baptist church did?

Post by Stormin Mormon
I used to hike with both earbuds in. And then, one day, I got poped on
the hand by some kind of stinging insect. I realized that I could have
Ever since then I've been hiking with only one earbud in.

Just learn to cut down followups Chris.

--

[Stormin Mormon]

Dear Eugene,

The LDS church leaders are rather rare, in my experience. I've been LDS for
18 year or so, and can't remember once when a leader has criticized any
other church. Some times they will say kind words about Christians of other
churches who help out with this or that.

In my case, my Dad is an editor. I'm sensetive to spelling because Dad
edited everything I wrote. Even if I didn't want it edited. Sometimes it's
funny when others make spelling errors with double meanings.

I do try to trim trailing text. As best possible.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.


"Eugene Miya" <***@cse.ucsc.edu> wrote in message news:48a603b8$***@darkstar...
In article <g7t9d1$m5u$***@registered.motzarella.org>,

So, gee, young Chris, does the LDS Church dump on Catholicism as much as
parts of my old Baptist church did?

Post by ShadowTek
I used to hike with both earbuds in. And then, one day, I got poped on
the hand by some kind of stinging insect. I realized that I could have
Ever since then I've been hiking with only one earbud in.

Just learn to cut down followups Chris.

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Post by Fred Goodwin, CMA
Is Your Backcountry Safety Net A Personal Locator Beacon or Cell
Phone?
<http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2008/05/your-backcountry-safety-
cord-personal-locator-beacon-or-cell-phone>
http://tinyurl.com/5473y4
Posted May 19th, 2008
by Kurt Repanshek
Do you skimp on backcountry preparations, figuring you've got your
trusty personal locator beacon or cell phone to summon help at a
moment's notice? It's tempting, no? Why prepare yourself equipment-
wise and possibly skill-wise when help is just a button push away?
Curious about the SAR [search and rescue] professional's opinion on
these gizmos, I turned to Butch Farabee, who during his 34-year
National Park Service career participated in more than 1,000 SARs in
such parks as Yosemite, Death Valley, and Grand Canyon, for his
thoughts.
He'd didn't mince words.
"Most SAR people will tell you that this kind of technology is great
from their perspective and when it is used appropriately and there is
a connection, i.e. the cell phone gets the distress call into 911 or
that the cell phone can be traced through the various cell phone
towers and related sites, etc. That is the good news," says Mr.
Farabee. "The bad news is that all too many people are now believing
that all they need to take into 'the field' is their cell phone.
Forget the rain gear or matches or whistle or tarp or mirror or
checking the local weather forecast or letting someone know when to
expect them back and where they were going, etc."
[excerpted]

A cellphone was too little too late for James Kim:

http://www.nbc11.com/news/10481708/detail.html

In addition to standard emergency equipment, hikers, backpackers and
travelers in general should carry an FRS or FRS/GMRS radio and spare
batteries. And they should let their family and friends know that they
normally carry an FRS or GMRS radio and what channel they use*. These
radios do not rely upon connection to a communications tower to
communicate.

The best radios to carry will use easily obtained AA batteries,
compatible with other battery powered equipment being carried.

Additionally, most EMS and NEWS aircraft are equipped with a
Technisonic TFM-403 UHF FM radio which can readily be field programmed
to operate on the FRS and GMRS channels. From the air, an FRS radio can
be received for a great distance. If Jame Kim had an FRS radio and the
helicopters which reportedly searched within a mile nearby were equipped
to receive FRS, it is unlikely he would have died.

*There is a move about to establish the lowest FRS channel (462.5625 MHz
(carrier squelch) as a national calling channel.

http://www.nationalsos.com/index.html

http://www.f-r-s.org/homepage.htm

[h***@juno.com]

Post by Fred Goodwin, CMA
Is Your Backcountry Safety Net A Personal Locator Beacon or Cell
Phone?

I agree with what others have said, your most important safety
equipment is between your ears. That said, things do sometimes
happen. An unexpected storm cases the creek to become impassable or
an accident disables someone, etc.. For those cases, emergency
communication is useful.

However, remember that no equipment is any better than your ability to
use it. I can think of several occasions when we've rescued people
who had a GPS but didn't know how to use it.

Actually I suspect that the SPOT system is better than the government-
created PLB. It is also cheaper and you can change your own
batteries. Plus it gives all digits of the GPS reading whereas PLB
drops the last two (it was originally intended for marine/aircraft
use).

[the Moderator]

Post by Fred Goodwin, CMA
Is Your Backcountry Safety Net A Personal Locator Beacon or Cell
Phone?

I carry a PLB and a cell phone. It is worth mentioning that when no phone
signal is present you can still try to send a text message. Text messages
will go out if they catch a blip of service at a later time.

[Stephen Henning]

Post by the Moderator
I carry a PLB and a cell phone. It is worth mentioning that when no phone
signal is present you can still try to send a text message. Text messages
will go out if they catch a blip of service at a later time.

Post by Fred Goodwin, CMA
Is Your Backcountry Safety Net A Personal Locator Beacon or Cell
Phone?

My backcountry safety net is a map & compass and the knowledge to use
them; notification of someone back home of my plans and timing; and the
knowledge to use signal mirrors and lights and fires in an emergency.
Anyone who depends on terrestrial phones in backcountry usually has
false hope. I have a GPS but seldom use it. You could say I am saving
the batteries.

If I was leading a Scout group, I would bring along at least one piece
of false hope (a cell phone). I was in one situation where an adult
broke a collar bone and we had to send runners to the nearest highway to
get word out for a helicopter rescue.