Fellow Kentuckian dies while hiking in Wyoming, hypothermia

[John B]

Please people, let's be careful out there.


http://www.louisvillecardinal.com/20...-dies-wyoming/

http://www.buffalobulletin.com/artic...e356a71dc.html

[kibs]

Please people, let's be careful out there.


http://www.louisvillecardinal.com/20...-dies-wyoming/

http://www.buffalobulletin.com/artic...e356a71dc.html

Very sad. My prayers are with her and her family.

[Venchka]

Very sad. My prayers are with her and her family.

PLB. Cheap effective insurance.
My thanks to the SAR team.
https://www.acrartex.com/products/outdoor/#1122
Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[firesign]

PLB. Cheap effective insurance.

Very sad what happened to this lady.
Agree 100% regarding the PLB (or equivalent). I would estimate that the majority* of people who solo hike in the wilderness simply choose to rely on contingency support from a cell phone or the next hiker that comes along - these are obviously not the most reliable options available.

*This is just my opinion based on asking fellow hikers what they carry in way of emergency response.

[Tipi Walter]

Very sad what happened to this lady.
Agree 100% regarding the PLB (or equivalent). I would estimate that the majority* of people who solo hike in the wilderness simply choose to rely on contingency support from a cell phone or the next hiker that comes along - these are obviously not the most reliable options available.

*This is just my opinion based on asking fellow hikers what they carry in way of emergency response.

I do alot of solo winter trips and only have an old 2005 walmart tracfone for communication and/or survival. Thing is, I just don't leave my tent in the winter to go on long dayhikes away from camp, especially into darkness. I regard my tent as my survival blanket and extreme weather bivy and emergency shelter all rolled up into one. When I do leave camp it's with all my gear as a trek to my next camp. Not to say I won't fall and snap a tibia or a dead tree won't fall on me.

[nsherry61]

. . . I would estimate that the majority* of people who solo hike in the wilderness simply choose to rely on contingency support from a cell phone or the next hiker that comes along - these are obviously not the most reliable options available.

Nope! At least not for me and apparently only somewhat, if at all, for Tipi.

I do alot of solo winter trips and only have an old 2005 walmart tracfone for communication and/or survival. . . Not to say I won't fall and snap a tibia or a dead tree won't fall on me.

I am solo backcountry traveling all different times of year. I generally choose places where I am unlikely to run into anyone, often off trail, and most often out of cell range. So my expectation of being randomly found or having a cell signal is quite low and not on my RADAR for help.

What I depend on is statistical odds given the choices I make about risk at every step of my trip and that includes following an outline of a plan for my trip that my wife has a copy of. So if I do get into trouble, she has a pretty good idea of where I might be. I also leave a map and note of expected times and locations on my car dashboard so people watching parking lots will know when I'm overdue. I have found that rangers and local police, without being asked or notified, keep at least as good a track of my expected return to my car as my wife does.

AND, I figure that if I die, at least I've arranged for my family to be taken care of financially, and I'll die doing what I love instead of lying in a hospital or behind the wheel of a car.

Finally, I have considered carrying an emergency satellite communication device, to reduce my risk even further, but I bought a new mountain bike this year instead. ;-)

And, for what it's worth, I would certainly make more risky choices if I knew I had a satellite communicator for emergency backup, and although that would be a good fun thing in some ways, it might not be as good in others.

[illabelle]

Yes, very sad.
Another reminder that even experienced prepared equipped people can succumb to hypothermia. Warning to myself not to be over-confident.

[Tipi Walter]

Condolences of course. What a story.

** A man and woman backpacked in and set up camp.
** They dayhiked out of camp and got separated late in the afternoon.
** The man did not find camp and spent two nights away from camp in snow.
** The woman actually made it back to camp somehow (while the man was pulling his two nights alone) and then left a note and took off to find help on a solo hike. She apparently got lost and died from hypothermia.
** The man apparently never did make it back to camp but got out of the wilderness to alert authorities.

The article says "A sudden snowfall made finding shelter difficult". Too bad the woman when reaching camp did not sit put and wait.

[Venchka]

PLB or a new mountain bike? Why didn’t I think of the mountain bike?

Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DuneElliot]

This happened in my backyard. Those mountains, and especially the area they were in, are unpredictable in winter...and that is some tough terrain. I have backpacked all over those mountains and won't go anywhere without my InReach. October not always a good time to go up there unless you are well prepared and know the terrain intimately, especially when the weather often has snow predictions.

Sad.

[Ercoupe]

A PLB will assist the rescue teams, sent out to save your life, and they will be looking. Why make their efforts a search and rescue. They are putting their lives at risk, to save yours.

[Venchka]

A PLB will assist the rescue teams, sent out to save your life, and they will be looking. Why make their efforts a search and rescue. They are putting their lives at risk, to save yours.

The SAR teams were sent out blind without a signal from a PLB.
My PLB doesn’t do anything until I tell it to send out an SOS. I’m still responsible for not putting myself at risk.
If I activate the PLB then the SAR community will have a better idea of where to find me.
That was not the case in this situation.
Be safe Y’all!
Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cue]

Right on brother. I've had a SPOT in Afghanistan, and while it was accurate within about 20', their customer service SUCKS!
Now I'm in Africa and the next locator I buy is going to be and ACR for $245 on Amazon It's good for 5 years with no other subscription fee.
I'll only use it in a dire emergency, so I don't need two way comms.

[Hikingjim]

Common for couples or solo hikers to have "near misses", and unfortunate that this led to a death

My wife & I were talking about getting me a PLB a couple months ago. Has anyone used this Mcmurdo fastfind or have a better recommendation?
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5035-8...Locator-Beacon
Price is in CDN $ and seems to be a somewhat affordable and reliable version. The only bad reviews there were people who couldn't test it properly, and reviews seem better elsewhere

[Venchka]

I bought the ACR ResQLink+ from REI last year. I see the current price has come down $20 since then.
With my dividend from REI and a $50 rebate from ACR the net price was a little over $200.
I have no trouble testing the ACR. Battery shelf life is 5 years and the new battery is ~$150. If I’m still backpacking then I may just buy a new unit.
The ACR lives on a shoulder strap on my backpack where I can get to it no matter what.
Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[iAmKrzys]

I bought the ACR ResQLink+ from REI last year.

You may want to read up on the most effective way to use your PLB. From what I read this is the model Kate Matrosova carried that sent out inaccurate positions: http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthrea...l=1#post440884

For the record, I own Spot3 and it sent out plenty of locations in the past that were far from my GPS traces and sometimes so obviously wrong that they were a subject of ridicule from my family.

[MuddyWaters]

You may want to read up on the most effective way to use your PLB. From what I read this is the model Kate Matrosova carried that sent out inaccurate positions: http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthrea...l=1#post440884

For the record, I own Spot3 and it sent out plenty of locations in the past that were far from my GPS traces and sometimes so obviously wrong that they were a subject of ridicule from my family.

As she unfortunately proved, PLB is not a substitute for prudence and ability. It might only help authorities locate your body.

[egilbe]

As she unfortunately proved, PLB is not a substitute for prudence and ability. It might only help authorities locate your body.

If you are interested, Ty Gagne’s book, “Where You Will Find Me” is an excellent resource on Kate Matrosova and the decisions made and risks she took leading to her death. It also explains why the first satellite location was correct and why the others were bouncing all over the place. Its a very good read into the minds of the paid employees and volunteers who risk their own life in hazardous conditions.

[firesign]

You may want to read up on the most effective way to use your PLB. From what I read this is the model Kate Matrosova carried that sent out inaccurate positions: http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthrea...l=1#post440884

For the record, I own Spot3 and it sent out plenty of locations in the past that were far from my GPS traces and sometimes so obviously wrong that they were a subject of ridicule from my family.

I think that some may be confusing a satellite tracking system (Spot/Open Reach) with a 406mhz PLB. The PLB has to be registered with a US govt. agency who will normally require information regarding one's hiking trip. Research suggests that a PLB is a more reliable method of initiating a rescue, i.e. only switched on when required, minimum 24 hours transmission, built-in homing beacon and strobe light to help rescuers find you. Latest PLBs can be as light as 4 oz and costing a few hundred Dollars, there is really no reason why all hikers should not carry this device.

[Maineiac64]

very sad. I hike alone a good bit, usually on trails that see some traffic but there are times when I haven't seen anybody for a long time, maybe a PLB would be a good idea. I always think about this going along those brief sections with steep drop offs where a simple trip or stumble could take you way down off the trail.