being prepared, having right equipment knowing how to use it

beemerphile1 wrote:
I always hike with a small backpack that has food, water, dry clothing, first aid kit, two knives, two flashlights, two means of purifying water, emergency bivy sack, and miscellaneous other gear. Never leave the trail head without it.

Same here! I also have my nice giant can of bear spray :)

A couple years ago, my SIL's brother, who teaches a wilderness survival course in Flagstaff had 2 vans of students out for a hike in the Grand Canyon. A freak and unforecast snowstorm left them stranded.

Preparation was the key to survival. In fact, there were many rescues to make at the same time, and their group was put off to the last because they were prepared where others were not.

Students stranded

Dale

12 years ago I headed put on an overnight backpack, and managed to twist my knee badly about 5 miles in. It was a full 24 hours before I could put enough weight on that leg to hobble out to the trailhead - even with sturdy hiking sticks.

It was a minor injury.
I was not lost.
I was set up for being out there overnight.
I was over due for getting home.

My husband called the sheriff to report me missing. I met the search team 1/2 mile from the trailhead.

All kinds of stuff can happen. Even with a map and compass, and the ability to use them. I'm just happy this guy was found safe and was able to get back home.

A compass is a good thing to have in the wilderness, the glass part can be used as a mirror to reflect sunlight to the search aircraft or helicopters, for that matter even moonlight can be used if there is a moon out.

A good quality out doors knife is also good to take, you can always make a crutch from a "Y" branch and a splinter and have fire wood for the marsh mellows, and with the crutch and the compass and a map you can still get out of the woods.

navegator

I also carry multiple pieces of Ham Radio gear.... Basically I can guarantee that if I need to "Shout for help" someone is going to hear me 24 hours a day.

wa8yxm wrote:
I also carry multiple pieces of Ham Radio gear.... Basically I can guarantee that if I need to "Shout for help" someone is going to hear me 24 hours a day.

What types, models do you have? I have been considering a smaller handheld device small enough for hiking.

The only communications devices that are pretty much guaranteed to work as long as you can see the sky are sat phones and sat based emergency locator devices like the SPOT messenger series.

And when the batteries run down or you fall into the river and the smoke goes out of the GPS or the satellite phone you still can use the compass!

navegator

beemerphile1 wrote:
I always hike with a small backpack that has food, water, dry clothing, first aid kit, two knives, two flashlights, two means of purifying water, emergency bivy sack, and miscellaneous other gear. Never leave the trail head without it.

Other, more detailed articles, do indeed say that he "got lost because usually well-marked trails were covered in snow". Backpacking, alone, in the snow? Hmmmm.... He also planned an overnight hike, but wasn't noticed missing till 3 days later, when he didn't show up to work. Hmmmm.... No mention of whether he had a GPS or a compass/map; the latter would have helped him find his way if the GPS/batteries quit. Hmmmm....

Sounds to me like he made at least several major mistakes, mistakes that can easily result in death, especially in that kind of weather. Luckily, he was at least prepared to hunker down and sit tight.

Even for a dayhike, somebody has my itinerary and knows to call the sheriff if I don't check in by a certain time. There is no exception.