Here We Go Again! Skyline rescue 4/20/13

[neverwashasbeen]

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at approximately 1:06 PM, the Palm Springs Police Department received a call from four hikers, one of which was dehydrated. The hikers called PSPD from Dunn Road, approximately two miles above the Rimrock Center, 4733 East Palm Canyon Drive. One of the hikers left the area in an attempt to obtain water, but later called PSPD. During the incident, PSPD and PSFD responded.

The dehydrated hiker, a 21-year-old male from the Coachella Valley, was located by the Palm Springs Mounted Police Search and Rescue Unit. The Palm Springs Mounted Police Search and Rescue Unit was able to transport the dehydrated hiker to the base of the mountain where he was later transported to a local hospital in stabile condition.
The Palm Springs Mounted Police Search and Rescue Unit handles dozens of calls like this one every year and would like to remind everyone that with rising temperatures, the risk of hiking in these treacherous mountains increases. They recommend that every hiker be well-hydrated and in good physical condition before beginning any hike. Hikers should carry several liters of water each. They should always tell a friend where they are going, dress appropriately in bright colors (not green, brown or black) and carry a cell phone with a strong battery.

[wb]

Most reasonable people look before they leap. With respect to Cactus to Clouds, they’ll do the homework, find the route on a topo map, ask questions, etc. People on or visiting this board fall into this category. I believe that the very best guide out there is Perry’s link, “Cactus to Clouds Hiking Guide” on this web page. Anybody looking for answers will find them here and will be well informed.

Unreasonable people will NOT look before they leap. They will not do the homework or route-check or ask questions or come prepared. Dire warnings of death and dismemberment are lost on these people, no matter how earnestly made.

Communicating a warning should be done with a reasonable person in mind since that’s the guy or gal who is going to read it. To be effective, warnings should be honest and informative. Making claims that the mountain is closed through the summer, for example, only undermines the cause because people find out that it ain’t so, and the message board with all of its invaluable information becomes discredited.

There is no doubt that we will continue to have rescues on this trail no matter what means of communications are made to this unreachable and sizable group of people. If the highest objective is to save lives, closing the trail to all hikers is the most effective approach. But who wants to do that? When a person enters into a wilderness environment unprepared, they need to bear upon themselves the consequences that befall them. At a minimum, they should be required to pay the cost of their rescue. Economic sense can sometimes step in where common sense is lacking. So that’s my two cents!

[Florian]

At a minimum, they should be required to pay the cost of their rescue. Economic sense can sometimes step in where common sense is lacking. So that’s my two cents!

Although i share the sentiment, i don't think is the right way to go. What if you had to pay if you called the fire department if your BBQ ignited your patio? Or if you had to pay the police if you thought someone was breaking into your house? You might not call with possible dire consequences. If people knew they'd have to pay if they called for a rescue many would not call and would probably die. Of course the point can be argued either way. So that's my two cents.

-Florian

[Florian]

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at approximately 1:06 PM, the Palm Springs Police Department received a call from four hikers, one of which was dehydrated. The hikers called PSPD from Dunn Road, approximately two miles above the Rimrock Center\

I saw a helicopter circling around there this afternoon. Wondered what was going on.

-Florian

[halhiker]

Looks like we had another one today although not on Skyline

http://goo.gl/eRDJt

[halhiker]

At a minimum, they should be required to pay the cost of their rescue. Economic sense can sometimes step in where common sense is lacking. So that’s my two cents!

Although i share the sentiment, i don't think is the right way to go. What if you had to pay if you called the fire department if your BBQ ignited your patio? Or if you had to pay the police if you thought someone was breaking into your house? You might not call with possible dire consequences. If people knew they'd have to pay if they called for a rescue many would not call and would probably die. Of course the point can be argued either way. So that's my two cents.

-Florian

I agree with Florian here. Most Search and Rescue teams, who are primarily volunteers, do not believe in charging for rescues, either. If people put off calling for rescues they might be putting not only themselves but their rescuers in greater danger. I have never needed a rescue and I fully support having "No Rescue Areas", places where no rescues would be forthcoming and you'd be on our own but as long as we are going to provide rescues to people, I believe this should be a taxpayer funded endeavor, just like police and fire services.

[scotts]

Referring to skyline, the crucial concept of "must complete", "point of no return" "descent into inferno = death or helicopter lift rescue" would be well worth emphasizing in any article that references the trail (especially one dealing with rescues on the trail) and as easily done/space efficient as offering boiler-plate hiking advice.

There's much willful ignorance in the world, and it is insufferable. But ignorance itself shouldn't be conflated with bad faith or recklessness. Some people really just don't know.

[cynthia23]

I agree with you ScottS. The concept that summer hikes on Skyline are committed hikes is not well understood. People (mostly) get that they need to leave early, but fail to understand that if anything goes wrong, they can't turn back. Even the guy who posted about Skyline on the REI blog didn't understand this; he recommended summer for the hike. I think it's hard for non-locals to understand how deadly the heat is. We need a new death sign, but the BLM would probably just take it down again.

Yep, it's definitely getting time for me to post my Summer Doom Warning and "Close the Trail" again! ( Hello, wb--that was a JOKE. Though with all the foolish behavior and rescues, it wouldn't surprise me at all if there IS some official attempt to close it!) Btw, the BLM is still very much proceeding with the so-called 'land exchange' (the draft EIS will probably be released in September.) All the rescues and the trashing of the trail by the shortcutters give them ample ammunition to make their case that Skyline needs to go into the hands of the tribe.

[wb]

I understand the sentiment expressed by you guys - Florian and halhiker. Nobody wants to see somebody get hurt or worse because they opted to avoid the cost of being rescued. It would be nice, however, if the S&R community had the authority to determine if a rescue call was frivolous or not, and charge accordingly. Sort of like the bill you get from the police department for responding to a false alarm on one's work or place of business for the third time.

Hello, wb--that was a JOKE

Hi Cynthia23 - when I read your comment in this thread about "closing down the trail again" this year, I was thinking of the "Skyline closed for the summer, come back in October" thread from last summer, which did seem to close the trail down for at least a few people who did not understand the humor.

[Screerider]

Nobody plans on getting rescued. Money would make little difference. While the number of unnecessary rescues may have gone up, cell phones are not only making Skyline safer, they are making rescues easier. It's when the number of rescues goes down and the death toll raises, that there will be talk of closing the trail.