Two Ways to Reduce your Risk on Mt San Jacinto

[guest]

Thanks for all the info.
Let's remember that the storm didn't move in till well beyond 24 hrs after Ellen set out, and I'll bet she checked the forecast beforehand.
I would have gone up as many did on Sat. And I don't think anyone predicted 80-90mph winds!

Even at the lower tram station, which rarely happens, windows were blown out of cars & the ol tramcar was toppled.
I've seen at least 2 large (40+ft.) pine trees blown over from it in PS, I think they call this a mountain wave, were the wind hits the top of the Mt. hard, but also works it way down to the valley.

Yes, an ELT would have helped, but as mentioned before, SAR's was busy with another rescue of hikers who messed-up bigtime.

As with anything electronic or "too convenient", it may give some a false sense of security, which isn't to say they don't have a place. One possibility is folks setting them off inappropriately.

ss

[Perry]

Perry,
I don't know if steel is a better bet for cleats on snowshoes. I have a pair of Tubbs that I bought extra steel cleats for and in certain condition snow tends to ball up on the cleat like crazy. It makes it very difficult to walk. When the steel gets cold ice tends to form on it and for some reason it doesn't on aluminum.

Yeah, it sucks when that happens in slush. If they don't have antibott plates, you can spray paint them. The redfeathers I own have a coating of paint on the steel cleats. Ice is usually the most dangerous, and aluminum definitely does not have the grip of steel.

[john m]

My regular hiking buddy got a SPOT for Christmas.

We eagerly took the unit with us on Jan 11th on our day hike from Humber Park to Wellman's Divide. Every 30 minutes or so, he would press the button saying he was OK. Bottom line; not a single transmission made it to his wife.

He later spoke to tech support and they claim that after pressing the button, there is a lag time of up to 20 minutes during which the unit needs to be in clear contact with the sky. Between the trees and putting the unit back in his bag or pocket, not a single message made it through.

I love the price, size, weight, and the fact that you can send varying types of messages. However, it utterly did not work. I was ready to trade my old clunky PLB in for the SPOT but after this simple real world test, forget it.

I'm sure with time, they will get it right (or go out of business). I can also see that future versions will allow some sort of "satellite texting" akin to a cell phone. So Ellen could text "I broke my leg, I'm in the cabin, very cold, need help".

I respect everyone's right to bring nothing with them and rely on the their primitive sense of survival. More power to you. But for now, the PLB stays in the bag. BTW, I'm not even aware it's there so all of this talk about wanting to leave technological innovations at the door of the forest is hard to figure. I had a GPS and got rid of it. I'm happy with compass and map. I also leave the cellphone behind since it doesn't work from Humber Park anyways. As for my hiking buddy saying I don't need to bring a PLB since he is there with me, I bring it anyways so that when he has his heart attack and passes out, I can have a helicopter ferry him to the nearest hospital, in spite of himself.

Again, all respect to those who want to be unencumbered of technology. However, if I come upon you needing assistance and in dire circumstances on the trail, am I allowed to press the PLB button for help?

[kevin trieu]

The most effective and surest way to be safe is to stay home.

Carrying these modern devices into the wilderness gives people a false sense of security. Call me old school (I'm 26) but the best device you need, you already have and that's the head on your shoulders.

Cheers,
Kevin

[Rob]

PLB vs. satellite phone? Which should I buy for myself for my birthday?

[magikwalt]

What about the Garmin Rino series? I would think that with the FRS/GMRS radio feature they could be handy. Get a GPS and 5 watt radio in one package. I have been kicking around the idea of picking a couple up.

Nice for keeping groups together but I was wondering if the forest service or RMRU was using radios that would be compatible. I understand the dynamics of line of sight and terrain problems but given all that I think it would still be cheaper to buy two of these and leave one at home.

Once the wife decides to activate the search she could turn over my hike plan (Everyone does leave one with someone don't they?) and the extra Rino to the seach team.

[Hikin_Jim]

PLB vs. sat. phone? For wilderness use: PLB hands down. It gets through.

[AlanK]

The Rino has it's merits, but it doesn ot save you anty money. People have been talking about $700 PLBs, but there are much cheaper models.

GPS/FRS radio
Garmin Rino 530HCx GPS/Two-Way Radio
$500 (at REI)

Satellite beacon (PLB)
ACR Electronics Terrafix 406 GPS I Personal Locator Beacon
$450 (at REI)

[Hikin_Jim]

Every 30 minutes or so, he would press the button saying he was OK. Bottom line; not a single transmission made it to his wife.

...there is a lag time of up to 20 minutes during which the unit needs to be in clear contact with the sky. Between the trees and putting the unit back in his bag or pocket, not a single message made it through.

... it utterly did not work. I was ready to trade my old clunky PLB in for the SPOT but after this simple real world test, forget it.

I just took a few quotes here, but I think these are in line with what the author was trying to say and are in line with what I've heard and read about sat phone technology, which is what SPOT uses.

So, with the preceeding in mind, I ask one question: would SPOT have helped Ellen? I don't think it would; the roof of the hut would block the message.

Besides that, within a few years of paying the subscription fee, you'd have paid off a real PLB.

[halhiker]

Perry,
I don't know if steel is a better bet for cleats on snowshoes. I have a pair of Tubbs that I bought extra steel cleats for and in certain condition snow tends to ball up on the cleat like crazy. It makes it very difficult to walk. When the steel gets cold ice tends to form on it and for some reason it doesn't on aluminum.

Yeah, it sucks when that happens in slush. If they don't have antibott plates, you can spray paint them. The redfeathers I own have a coating of paint on the steel cleats. Ice is usually the most dangerous, and aluminum definitely does not have the grip of steel.

That's something I haven't tried. I have some Atlas shoes with steel cleats and I never use them. I will try the painting trick and see how it works.

Hal