Kmrtnsn
Explorer
I recently got the most up to date version of the California Gazetteer from DeLorme, this is what it shows,
Sad End to This Cautionary Tale, As Folks Start to Head Back Out Into the Wilds, Pls Be Careful
- Thread starter AbleGuy
- Start date
I recently got the most up to date version of the California Gazetteer from DeLorme, this is what it shows,
BigDawwg
-[Gettin-it Done]-
Ok,,,,,, Nice Map for getting the lay of the land, and the existing Road's and Connection Points, but that's about it,,,,,, this is the Type of Map that will get the In-Experienced Traveler in Trouble,,,,,, as you look at where they were at on Gold Springs Road, ie... towards the end as I understand it,,,, this Map shows it's just a Hop-Skip & a Jump over to Mormon-Point,,,,, NOT SO,,,,,, what this Map tells me, and I can't see what the Contour-levels are, but this Map tells me Mountaineering Skills and Gear would be needed to make this Trek, this is what got those folks in TROUBLE,,,,, not understanding the Map, and the Terrain.....
BD in Alaska....
Kmrtnsn
Explorer
Ok,,,,,, Nice Map for getting the lay of the land, and the existing Road's and Connection Points, but that's about it,,,,,, this is the Type of Map that will get the In-Experienced Traveler in Trouble,,,,,, as you look at where they were at on Gold Springs Road, ie... towards the end as I understand it,,,, this Map shows it's just a Hop & a Skip over to Mormon-Point,,,,, NOT SO,,,,,, what this Map tells me, and I can't see what the Contour-levels are, but this Map tells me Mountaineering Skills and Gear would be needed to make this Trek, this is what got those folks in TROUBLE,,,,, not understanding the Map, and the Terrain.....
BD in Alaska....
Go to the link I posted a few pages back and zoom in to get a real idea of the topography!
The first map I posted was from the Harrison map of Death Valley, the $9.95 maps commonly sold at REI.
Somewhere around here I have a Nat Geo map, like the ones sold at the Parks gift shops. When I find it I’ll post that one.
The Gazetteer books are what we’ve used for hunting my whole life. Theyre fairly detailed and adequate for planning but that’s about it.
Porkchopexpress
Well-known member
One caution on SAT phones, I have been in remote locations and couldn't get a connection. It was probably user error because I don't use them often but if they are your emergency plan, figure it out at home before you need it. Same for radios. I know of a guy who was treading water for 3 hours at night because he couldn't turn his radio on in the dark. Luckily he had pencil flares and heard a boat nearby.Ok,,,,,, with all the "********" you guys buy for your Overlanding Adventures,,,,, a Sat-Phone can be used with a plan that does "NOT" have to be "Turned-on" all year,,,, you can activate when needed,,,, Easy-Peasy,,,,, I've been doing it for years,,,,, and you don't have to Buy one either, you can Rent for what ever time you need, and the Rental Fee will in-clude Air-time as well, So,,,,,,, what's your Life Worth, and or your Loved ones that maybe with you on this Adventure,,,,,,,, think about it.
BD in Alaska
Edit: Also a good idea to check your emergency equipment before each trip for battery charge ect.
Kmrtnsn
Explorer
chet6.7
Explorer
Is this worth carrying? Any other suggestions? Thanks.
Leland Reacue Tools 01 Emergency Strobe Light
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Porkchopexpress
Well-known member
I can't speak to that specific model but strobe lights work great as night signal devices.
For reference, military pilots typically carry locator beacons, (GPS based similar to SPOT or InReach), radios with emergency preset frequencies, strobe lights, signal mirrors, flares, smoke, sea dye and other stuff more survival related. You can probably skip the smoke and sea dye but everything else on the list is pretty accessible.
Edit: forgot space blanket. Almost weightless and cheap.
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BigDawwg
-[Gettin-it Done]-
Ok,,,,, if you took Notice in my 1st Post on this subject of Sat-Phones, you will see I said I use an Iridium 9555 Sat-Phone,,, ie... all Sat-Phones are not Created-Equal..... see attachment, and I've NEVER had a connection Problem anywhere, L48 and or Especially here in Alaska, where Global-Star and others DON'T WORK PERIOD..... make a note about this......
BD in Alaska....
Attachments
Porkchopexpress
Well-known member
I was using Iridium. Like I posted, it was probably user error. The instructions had confusing codes that didn't work for me. I'm sure they are a great product if you figure it out at home before you need it.Ok,,,,, if you took Notice in my 1st Post on this subject of Sat-Phones, you will see I said I use an Iridium 9555 Sat-Phone,,, ie... all Sat-Phones are not Created-Equal..... see attachment, and I've NEVER had a connection Problem anywhere, L48 and or Especially here in Alaska, where Global-Star and others DON'T WORK PERIOD..... make a note about this......
BD in Alaska....
rruff
Explorer
A sensible plan. I don't see any other making better sense. 3 days worth of water and a 5 mile hike. Earlier I speculated that they might have had a 10 mile hike, but that's still short. Sounds very conservative.
Maybe I was extra lucky (doubt it)... but I've spent a few thousand days camping in terrain like this in the winter, and I considered it a site failure if I encountered other humans. I went on hikes longer than that over terrain that was "unknown" all the time. Usually I was alone... no cell, no beacon, nobody knew where I was, minimal gear, minimal water, etc. I would have been buzzard food for sure if I'd been unable to make it back to my vehicle. I just don't think this sort of thing is that dangerous... but sure, you can die doing anything.
It's possible that they encountered big dropoffs on their route (like Rallyroo's photos above). That would have made progress slow. Or they tried to get through a tricky area and suffered a fall. Or got bit by a rattlesnake coming out of hibernation. Hope we find out eventually.
Kmrtnsn
Explorer
Is this worth carrying? Any other suggestions? Thanks.
Leland Reacue Tools 01 Emergency Strobe Light
Pelican makes some small battery powered strobes geared around diving that are nice and inexpensive. I’d also check Streamlight and Surefire. Search “helmet strobe Velcro” and you should get some results for a few different compact strobes too.
Cheap, tiny, micro-lite! https://www.thefirestore.com/store/...MIqNn4sor37wIV6v_jBx0wIAloEAQYCSABEgLaRfD_BwE
Ultimate Survival Technologies SplashFlash Keychain Light - 5mm Nichia White LED - 25 Lumens - Includes 1 x AAA - Orange (20-17001-08)
Ultimate Survival Technologies SplashFlash Keychain Light - 5mm Nichia White LED - 25 Lumens - Includes 1 x AAA - Orange (20-17001-08) - UST SplashFlash™ LED Light - 25 Lumens - Runs on 1x AAA battery - Orange The UST SplashFlash LED Light is an essential addition to any outdoor or emergency...
www.batteryjunction.com
rruff
Explorer
If they took the Willow Canyon route (which looks the most obvious) it does look like they would have encountered some tough spots with steep rock walls and dropoffs. Like this for instance: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Willow+Canyon+Waterfall/@36.0529114,-116.7188959,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipMuYXuDiITrhVe96KYHMv4ofmCEDDVWiYiVORnx!2e10!3e12!6shttps://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipMuYXuDiITrhVe96KYHMv4ofmCEDDVWiYiVORnx=w203-h270-k-no!7i3024!8i4032!4m15!1m7!3m6!1s0x80c6e7aeebb4a567:0x71b7b9c65b33750c!2sMormon+Point!3b1!8m2!3d36.0535653!4d-116.757267!3m6!1s0x80c6e66c14e1bba5:0xacb31f0328b38674!8m2!3d36.0529113!4d-116.7188948!14m1!1BCgIgAQ#
Another view: https://www.google.com/maps/place/W...31f0328b38674!8m2!3d36.0529113!4d-116.7188948
Another view: https://www.google.com/maps/place/W...31f0328b38674!8m2!3d36.0529113!4d-116.7188948
AbleGuy
Officious Intermeddler
Regarding signal lights, etc...there have been some good rescue reminders/advice posted here, stimulated by the discussion of how to avoid being a statistic.
If you’re stuck in the remote wilds and have already changed out a flat, and you don’t have or can’t use a tire repair kit on the damaged tire, remember that you now have one pretty worthless tire you can set on fire to create a very noticeable plume of thick, black smoke and also some flames visible hopefully in the dark. Just try not to set the woods, etc., on fire too.
If you’re stuck in the remote wilds and have already changed out a flat, and you don’t have or can’t use a tire repair kit on the damaged tire, remember that you now have one pretty worthless tire you can set on fire to create a very noticeable plume of thick, black smoke and also some flames visible hopefully in the dark. Just try not to set the woods, etc., on fire too.
I'm a diver and actually have a Pelican strobe in a bin somewhere... don't use the thing because it's too damn annoying underwater and I can always signal my buddy where I am by waving around my primary or secondary light. Unless, you know, both fail... which has happened and makes things more fun!
But I wouldn't want to use a Pelican diving strobe for above-water signaling. Have a hard time imagining it being strong enough. Who know, though, I'll dig it out, put some batteries in, and give it a shot.