WARNING: Initial Trip ReportElephant Tusk/December 30-31

[Texan4life]

Its great that you had a PLB, it probably saved your life! Search and rescues more often than not have a bad outcome. Glad your safe and at home with your loved family

[MarkB]

Wow-what a story, and a lesson for all... Here's some information I located about this beacon:


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/14/tech/digitaldan/main568150.shtml

[Drifter]

Hey Cougar, Sure glad you are safe but don't kick yourself.  I have had many solo experiences but none of them as close as yours.   I have started the climb up the Tusk exactly where you were and carried webbing , rope and harness and decending ring but got concerned about doing it solo. I will make it up but not solo.  I salute you for your courage to attempt it and for your preparations with the locator.  My wife and 92 year old father have required me to rent a Satalite phone on my more extensive solos.  It is $40.00 a month and you only pay for the minutes you use.  I have never turned it on but there have been times that it felt great to have in the pack.  Oh, you take it , don't use it and then return it to the rental agency.  There are no long term leases.  It's kind of like a rent car.  Keep pluging and if you ever want to join up with another solo walker, give me a ring.(I'm in San Antonio also.)

[Boot Canyon 1 Cougar]

Thank you all so much for your responses and kind words of concern and support.  For those of you with questions, I’ll try to answer them below:

A.   Burn Ban:   No, I won’t be seeking a refund.  It worked, and I’m alive, so I’m not complaining.    However, I am in contact with the manufacturer to try and resolve this discrepancy so the possibility of such a discrepancy adversely effecting someone in the future in limited.  Also, I have a correction as to the manufacturer’s represented accuracy—it is to be within 110 yards, instead of 10 feet.  In addition, in reviewing the ACR website, there is no “representation” that SAR will arrive in 4 hours.  It is just that a canoeist was rescued on the Yukon River in Canada, way out “in the middle of nowhere,” within 4 Ѕ  hours after activating his ACR PLB.

B.   Homero:   The ACR Electronics web site is:  http://www.acrelectronics.com/.

I learned of the ACR Personal Locater Beacon through the following site, “”Equipped to ‘Survive,” which appeared to me to be one of the better sites on preparing to survive an emergency in the wilderness:  http://www.equipped.org/.

C.   TheWildWestGuy:   1.   Not as of this moment.  I am hopeful that I will not be charged for the rescue.  I’m certain that the rescue was very expensive, and significant resources were involved in my rescue.  ACR had represented to me that if a person is justified in activating the PLB—for example, if a person answers “Yes, with confidence” to any of the following:  “Have I exhausted all other means of rescue?” or “Am I in danger of losing life, limb, eyesight or valuable property if I am not rescued soon?” or “Am I in danger of not surviving the upcoming night if I am not rescued soon?”—then the rescue is a public service, and is not an expense borne by the person who is rescued.

            2.   I’m not sure.  Since:  (i)  I’m told that Langley was very precise in it’s location of the beacon signal being at specific coordinates on the desert floor; and (ii) the signal was not moving, I suspect that all involved in the rescue would have been surprised that I was not located anywhere except near the signal.  For me to have been located at the top of Elephant’s Tusk would probably have seemed extremely unlikely, given that the PLB signal was some distance from Elephant’s Tusk, on the desert floor.  And when I was not found near the location of the signal, I will bet that there was a concern that I can struck out on my own without the PLB—perhaps that I had dropped the PLB somewhere.

I’ve read that people who are in an emergency situation sometimes will “freak out” and do things like that.  A good book on those types of responses is set forth in the book by Laurence Gonzales, “Deep Survival:  Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why?”

            3.   See the ACR and Equipped To Survive  websites in 2 above.

            4.   SAR climbed up the 30’ face that was infested with rotten rock I tried to descend.  Then, after visiting with me he walked down the steep pitched ramp that ended with a 20-30 foot drop off.  When he returned, he had ropes and harnesses, secured the ropes to two small trees spaced along the ramp, lowered me down that 20-30 feet, with another SAR positioned below to assist me as I reached the bottom of the drop off.  Then, we hiked out.

D.   Casa Grande:   My decision of whether or not to attempt to summit Elephant’s Tusk was not the result of the information I received on this bulletin board, or elsewhere.  All information I obtained was considered and weighed, but ultimately this was my decision.  I began last Spring trying to identify a “desert trek” with a summit to a peak that was visible from the South Rim, and Elephant’s Tusk became that trek.

E.   Presidio:   When Big Bend asked if they could release my name, I responded that if releasing my name would likely reduce the risk of someone getting into this same pickle in the future, then no problem.  However, I was not particularly interested in having my name appearing during what would probably be slow news days.  Thus, the anonymity.

         A few clarifications to the press release—I’m pretty sure it took 2 to 3 hours before the helicopter spotted me, in the shadows, near the top of Elephant’s Tusk.  To me, “soon” would have been 30 minutes.  Those 2 to 3 hours seemed like years.  I was so afraid that the helicopter would leave after scouring the desert floor.  Also, I did not cache my pack, sleeping bag, tent, etc.  I merely left my day pack, with rain/wind jacket and pants, down vest, extra food and water, extra signaling gear, etc. about 100 feet (which might as well have been 100 miles) away, and 30 feet down.  Nor did, to the best of my knowledge, did I give a “thumbs up,” but I did wave (would a UT Longhorn ever use a “Gig’em to indicate he is OK? :lol: ).  Maybe they didn't want to say I looked like I was crying in joy and relief ?  Also, the temperature was either 32 or below--and I think it was more likely in the 20’s.  Not that any of this is that critical.  I’m just glad I’m sitting here able to type this on my pc and make another post to his forum.

F.   Picacho:   I believe it was generally the same route.

G.   Drifter.      I’m told that a sat phone will not have as thorough of coverage.  For example, there were times during our return from Elephant’s Tusk when the sat phone lost coverage.  In contrast, the PLB is supposed to have coverage as long as it has a direct line of sight, without obstructions, to the sky.  I’ll take you up on your offer to join up with a solo walker, once I get another “kitchen pass.”  Thanks.

[Robert]

Hey BC1Cougar. I run at lunch with a friend of yours. He started telling me about this friend of his who got rescued in Big Bend. I filled in the details before he finished (as I already read your original post). Small world. His initials are CW and he moonlights as a football ref.

A few years ago my hiking buddy and I hiked up to ET with the idea of climbing it. After camping in the draw below the peak we decided against it the next day.

[bdann]

Article in the Odessa American:

http://www.oaoa.com/news/nw010507c.htm

Official: No changes in park policy after rescue — yet
San Antonio man used device to signal for help
Odessa American

Big Bend National Park Big Bend National Park Acting Superintendent David Elkowitz said Thursday that the New Year’s Eve rescue of a 48-year-old San Antonio man could have an impact on park procedure.
The unidentified San Antonio man used a personal locator beacon to signal his position after he was “cliffed out.”
The personal locator beacon saved the man from spending at least another 24 hours on the face of a cliff, but park officials aren’t stressing use of the device by every park visitor — yet.
“It’s an option for people, but I don’t know if we’ll necessarily recommend it yet,” Elkowitz said. “Maybe someday.”
On Dec. 30 the signal from the man’s personal locator beacon was received by the U.S. Air Force from a backcountry location of Big Bend National Park. The Air Force then notified Big Bend park officials.
After unsuccessful search attempts from two park rangers, a DPS helicopter was called in the next morning to aid with the search.
A man was found at the source of the signal and was OK after spending a night on the cliff with below-freezing temperatures.
The rescue was the first time in Big Bend that a personal locator beacon was used by a hiker to call in rescuers.
The man was “stuck on the edge of a rock base,” but was in good condition, Elkowitz said. “He will be OK. That’s the good news.”

[Bobcat]

I believe that there was no hiking or backpacking related fatality in BBNP in 2006.

There was the old guy back in November or so that died doing the Outer Mtn Loop. Expired in transit to the hospital.

I should have looked in the Park press releases before I made that statement, but I did say "correct me if I'm wrong..." Anywho, here's the link:
http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parknews/nr06_18.htm

[SHANEA]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4468022.html

Jan. 13, 2007, 7:32PM
Group says transmitters could help lost hikers
National Park Service officials to test equipment, but warn of false sense of security


By MATT REED
Associated Press
RICHMOND, VA. — A Virginia organization that developed wristwatch-sized radio transmitters to track Alzheimer's patients and autistic children wants the National Park Service to use the technology to track forest rangers and lost hikers.

Park Service officials are getting ready to test the equipment, but they say electronic devices often provide a false sense of security. They say such a device couldn't have prevented a tragedy like the one on Oregon's Mount Hood last month, in which one hiker was found dead and two went missing after a week of blizzards on the mountain's treacherous north side.

Project Lifesaver International started providing the transmitters in 1999 to police departments and emergency agencies in and around the city of Chesapeake. Sales have expanded to 530 agencies in 40 states and Canada.

Autistic children and other dependents are outfitted with a wristband or an ankle bracelet that sends out a radio pulse every second, project spokesman Jay Smith said. If the person wanders away from home, a caregiver calls an 800 number, and searchers often are able to find the missing person within minutes using a tracker, he said.

"We find most people within a mile of their house," said Mike Catron, a police officer in Virginia's Chesterfield County.

Using electronic devices for wilderness search and rescue would save valuable time, as well as public money, said Kathryn Healey-Flores, programs development officer at Project Lifesaver, a nonprofit based in Chesapeake.

"The dollars spent on search and rescue can be prohibitive," she said.


Not to be used alone

Hikers going into treacherous terrain during winter months — as the three hikers on Mount Hood did last month — could be required to rent the equipment at a trailhead Park Service station.

If hikers become lost, or aren't heard from for several days, searchers could track the radio signals to narrow down a search area.

The National Park Service has agreed to experiment with Project Lifesaver's device, but only for use by forest rangers, said Dan Portbriand, the Park Service's branch chief for emergency services.

And it would complement other electronic devices, since there are often blackout spots in cell phone or two-way radio coverage, he said.

"This is not a stand-alone device," he said. "Should this be used in place of a radio? Not a good idea."

Project Lifesaver hopes to demonstrate the transmitters for Park Service officials on Alaska's Mount McKinley in the next few months, Healey-Flores said. McKinley's extreme conditions — it's the tallest mountain in North America — make it an attractive spot to experiment with the equipment, she said.


Still use common sense

The technology behind Project Lifesaver's radio transmitter has been around for years, Portbriand said. Now there are personal locator beacons, portable satellite phone and devices that use the Global Positioning System — not to mention the growing prevalence of cell phones.

Portbriand, who oversees search and rescue for 400 federal parks, said Park Service officials have been concerned that new developments in personal technology are leading people to take more extreme risks.

A climber in Big Bend National Park in Texas last month used a Personal Locator Beacon to call for help, he said.

"People get this false sense of security that all you have to do is push a button," Portbriand said. "But it should not replace common sense."

[Al]

Thank you for your stepping out front and reporting your trip.  You are a survivor and thank goodness you had the beacon, which I'd guess one in ten thousand BiBe hikers has.

It's some rough country that can kick one's ass particularly if one is trying to do technical climbing, but even if one is going cross country like it takes to get to Elephant Tusk.

Al

[SHANEA]

http://t237.bgtoyou.com/Personal-Locator-Beacons/

In the wake of the recent tragedy of lost climbers on Mount Hood, public interest in safety and survival has focused on technological advances that could have assisted in the location and rescue efforts. Satellite-detectable Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are proving to be valuable emergency life-saving devices.

In Texas, the value of the PLBs was proven in Big Bend last New Year’s Eve as reported by Jeorge Zarazua of Express-News on 1/5/07:

The 48-year-old hiker, whose identity was not released, activated the emergency transmitter at about 8 p.m. Dec. 30 after becoming stuck on a rock ledge of Elephant Tusk Mountain, according to National Park Service officials. The U.S. Air Force contacted park officials after picking up the distress signal. After spending the night on the ledge in below-freezing temperatures, a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter spotted the trapped hiker near the top of the mountain early on New Year’s Eve.

If you hike in isolated areas, please buy and use a PLB. If you do not care about your life, care about the rescuers that must try to rescue you.

Has anyone been keeping up with the Brazillionare Microsoft dude that's been "lost" from his boat lately?  Seems to me that someone with a Brazillion dollars would have a PLB???

[Undertaker]

Money doesn't make you smart :lol:

PS: I could not get lost this weekend in BB (which I was planing to do) because I don't have money and had to do some jobs, maybe on the weekend of the 16th, boy this would have been a great weekend.  

[mule ears]

After Boot Canyon 1 Cougar's unfortunate situation on ET last year there was quite a bit of interest in PLB's.  I cut and pasted this just released review from Backpackinglight.com as it is a pay site so most folks can't see this review.  This is a brand new PLB with many good features that is both fairly light and inexpensive.

HISTORY
When Personal Locator Beacons first came on the hiking scene circa 2003 the lightweight backpacking community had a mixed response. Here was an electronic device that you could use to summon help from virtually anywhere in the world with a push of a button. PLBs were a seemingly ideal insurance policy for backcountry adventurers in remote locations. But, they were heavy (initially over one pound), expensive, and as their use became more widespread, likely to set rescue operations in motion for non-life threatening scenarios.

Technology, however, does not stand still.

At the 2004 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, we reported on the 12 ounce, $740 MSRP ACR Electronics TerraFix 406 GPS Personal Locator Beacon and the 9 ounce, $999 MSRP McMurdo FastFind Personal Locator Beacon. In 2007, ACR released their Microfix PLB with further reduced size and weight. While these units were still very expensive, the trend towards smaller, lighter PLBs had begun. In addition, these units incorporated GPS technology to pinpoint the user's location with unprecedented speed and accuracy making them far more useful to hikers than older non-GPS PLBs designed primarily for ocean rescue. However, these second generation PLBs still set an expensive and possibly hazardous full-fledged rescue operation in motion when activated, with no option for a lesser response.

Last Winter, we reported on the non-satellite based 1.6 ounce, $130 MSRP TracMe locating device. At first glance, this seemed to offer emergency locating capability that was small, light, and inexpensive enough to carry anytime you ventured beyond the pavement. However, the device's short range, reliance on a third party to initiate a search, and need for specialized locating equipment (Radio Directional Finders) in the event of a rescue limit its usefulness in many situations. Nevertheless, the TracMe is still a clever device that is well suited to certain backcountry activities, such as group outings where RDF equipment is carried in the group.

OVERVIEW
The SPOT Satellite Messenger promises to overcome many of the shortcomings of these other systems. Presumably because SPOT does not use the 406 MHz PLB frequency and instead relies on a commercial satellite network, it is marketed as a “Personal Tracker” rather than a PLB. However, like conventional satellite-based GPS-enabled PLBs, SPOT has the ability to broadcast your exact position to emergency personnel at the push of a button. And, it offers this capability for less weight and cost than ever before. But what really sets SPOT apart from conventional PLBs is its ability to send out non-emergency messages containing your location. This allows you, for example, to alert your family or friends (instead of Search and Rescue) if you just become lost or suffer a minor injury. You can even send out "I'm Ok" messages with your current location, or allow contacts to track your position with Google Maps™. As any hiker who has ever left a worried spouse at home can tell you, these last features are well worth SPOT's 7.4 ounce weight and $149 MSRP.


Google Maps™ screen shot of spot tracking. Photo courtesy of SPOT, Inc.

SPOT offers four types of messages based upon varying levels of need:

Alert 9-1-1 - Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location
Ask for Help - Request help from friends and family in your exact location
Check In - Let contacts know where you are and that you're okay
Track Progress - Send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps™
Specifications and Features (claimed)
Worldwide Satellite Coverage via the Globalstar network
7.4 ounce weight
$149 USD MSRP
$99 USD annual OR $9.99 monthly service fee
Available Nov, 2007
Backpackinglight has arranged with SPOT to test the device ahead of its November release. Check back for a complete review where we'll provide further details, specifications, test reports, and field impressions.