Use this forum to stay informed on missing persons alerts, active SAR's and unfortunate hiker accidents we can all hopefully learn from. Any information you may have on a missing person, including first hand weather related information or any other insight (however little) may prove to be critical information to Law Enforcement / SAR in locating the person in question.
Spot or PLB useful to novices or those with worrying relatives back home but unnecessary for many of we experienced enthusiasts.
I would agree that the spot is not useful if you know how to read a map....
However, don't fool yourself, the spot can be helpful for other things like an injury. Imagine solo hiking and breaking your leg. Or hiking with a partner and breaking your leg. It's still going to be easier and faster to get a helicopter 30 miles into the backcountry via a SPOT rescue compared to 'your friend carrying you out' 30 miles to the trailhead to the ambulance.
IF IT WORKS.
Have seen it not work.
reconn.org is your best failsafe.
What has SPOT got to do with maps?????? It's not a GPS in the sense that it helps you navigate.
Spot or PLB useful to novices or those with worrying relatives back home but unnecessary for many of we experienced enthusiasts.
I would agree that the spot is not useful if you know how to read a map....
However, don't fool yourself, the spot can be helpful for other things like an injury. Imagine solo hiking and breaking your leg. Or hiking with a partner and breaking your leg. It's still going to be easier and faster to get a helicopter 30 miles into the backcountry via a SPOT rescue compared to 'your friend carrying you out' 30 miles to the trailhead to the ambulance.
IF IT WORKS.
Have seen it not work.
reconn.org is your best failsafe.
What has SPOT got to do with maps?????? It's not a GPS in the sense that it helps you navigate.
Yes, it is just another tool that has susceptibilities like all tools do.
What spot has to do with maps is that if you don't know how to read a map and get lost like 100's of hikers a year that are on the news, it will allow you to notify authorities and they will come get you... if it works. At least it increases their odds quite a bit...
Delorme Inreach SE =awesome. Handshake tells you msg received and can 2 way txt. GPS too. Uses Iridium Sat system, very reliable...ReConn good too. No batteries required!
Like the old Amex commercial "don't leave home w/o it"
I do not understand the reluctance to simply turn back and return the way you came when you run into too much snow of difficult terrain. I have retreated plenty of itmes. It beats trying uncertain new routes forward.
