Sign-in Boxes

[Jim]

I saw an old hike description I wrote where I reference a trailhead sign-in sheet and box. I don't think I have seen any in the Coronado, or the Lincoln, but I remember them a lot around Flagstaff. I can't recall either way in other National Forests. Do people sign those things? and Why? I know I did when I first moved to Flag, but stopped long ago.

For that matter, are the sign-in boxes still around? I guess the Humphrey Trail still has one, but what about Elden, and many other trailheads?

[hippiepunkpirate]

Elden/Fat Man's Loop still has the one by the parking lot. Inner Basin still has the one at the junction with the Waterline Road. Abineau/Bear Jaw still has one. I'm mostly familiar with the ones in the Coconino as well, but I believe they have one at Peralta and First Water THs (Superstition Wilderness, Tonto National Forest). They don't seem to be going obsolete with advancements in technology, Jim.

I think the poll is too simplified by the way. If I'm in going into an uncrowded area for a substantial hike, I will typically sign the register (especially if alone), mainly in case I should have an accident, I figure the sign-in log may help potential SAR locate me. If I'm doing Fat Man's Loop or even Elden, I just skip it.

[azbackpackr]

I answered "yes" on your poll, but I don't sign the Elden one. I sign the less-traveled ones, or if I think I ought to give some indication of where I am going to be (in case of getting into trouble).

You should have had a "sometimes" response. ;)

[chumley]

If I'm in going into an uncrowded area for a substantial hike, I will typically sign the register (especially if alone), mainly in case I should have an accident, I figure the sign-in log may help potential SAR locate me. If I'm doing Fat Man's Loop or even Elden, I just skip it.

What Jake said.

[gummo]

I don't sign those things anymore because someone on here (not mentioning names) got all emotional and weird and posted the list of names on the trailhead sign-in sheet and made an accusation that one or more of the people on the list disrespected the area. It made me realize that I'd be subjecting myself as a suspect if something really bad happens on that day that I was in the area.

[chumley]

@gummo
Sorry that was me. Try not to take a crap in the middle of the trail next time and I won't say anything :roll:

[Jim]

I don't sign those things anymore because someone on here (not mentioning names) got all emotional and weird and posted the list of names on the trailhead sign-in sheet and made an accusation that one or more of the people on the list disrespected the area. It made me realize that I'd be subjecting myself as a suspect if something really bad happens on that day that I was in the area.

Well, that is just weird, and crazy.
I don't sign them, but don't even see them. I don't know if I would sign one if I was concerned about SAR, since it would be a recovery, not a rescue, and no one ever really checks those things. I rather the idea of my corpse in nature, than in some other area.

[Al_HikesAZ]

I almost always sign in and if I sign in I sign out. I think it is terrible to not sign out if you sign in. If it helps SAR give my widow and orphans some closure it is probably one of the nicest things I could do for the one's I've written out of my will.

[big_load]

I almost always sign them, too, although I don't always like spending the time and trying to cram the words into those little tiny spaces. I'm also very careful about signing out if I signed in.

In some places, TH records are used to guide the allocation of resources for maintenance, etc.

[azbackpackr]

What Big_Load said. In the Apache-Sitgreaves I always signed them because I heard they might actually send a trail crew to that trail if enough people are using it. And their trails, especially in the Springerville Ranger District, always need work. That district never allocated much funding for maintaining very many trails per year, other than the two Baldy trails, and maybe work a few Greer trails. They almost always ignored the Overland Trail (which didn't have a register last time I looked). Pole Knoll did have a register. They'd let it get all messy, leave it there for 2 years without actually putting new paper in, so I started fixing the register. I printed new sign-in sheets and replaced the notebook several times over the years. But they still never did fix some of the loops in that trail system (used mostly by mtn. bikers, cross country skiers and snowshoers.) People signed in but it did no good.

[Bradshaws]

I know it sounds odd but even if I don't sign in, I stop almost every time to read them. I like to know how many people I can anticipate running into I also like to see how much traffic the area has had in the last few days. Not to mention checking for other HAZers

[SpiderLegs]

In the past year I've seen them on the Weatherford Trail and at Quartz Peak. Figure it's nice to let SAR know where you were and when you started hiking. From talking to people with much more experience in the mountains than me, I've been told it's a matter of when, not if you need assistance when out hiking/climbing. Everyone seems to screw up at least once during their hiking career.

[Nighthiker]

During my career as a firefighter from time to time a call would have us assigned at either First Water or Peralta supporting a SAR mission. I would ask if they had checked the sign in boxes and the standard reply would be "We got all the information from the 911 call".

[RowdyandMe]

I always sign in and out. I hike most of the time alone. By signing it lets it lets SAR know where I am hiking just in case something happens. And by signing out it lets everyone I am not here. Maybe Happy Hour some place, but not on the trail

[FOTG]

I am a firm believer that the government uses sign in boxes as another measure to track my whereabouts so I generally don't use them, in fact, I will usually sign in 4 or 5 pseudo-names to throw them off my track...

Although, the joker that signs "lost Dutchman" at nearly every sign in box in Supes sure is a funny guy :roll: never gets old and so original..

[big_load]

I know it sounds odd but even if I don't sign in, I stop almost every time to read them. I like to know how many people I can anticipate running into I also like to see how much traffic the area has had in the last few days. Not to mention checking for other HAZers

Yes, I've posted this before. It brought me a smile at the end of a day where I was dragging a bit. It also captures how little traffic some trails get.

[SuperstitionGuy]

Although, the joker that signs "lost Dutchman" at nearly every sign in box in Supes sure is a funny guy never gets old and so original..

Is this the guy that always signs in but never signs out?

[Jim]

During my career as a firefighter from time to time a call would have us assigned at either First Water or Peralta supporting a SAR mission. I would ask if they had checked the sign in boxes and the standard reply would be "We got all the information from the 911 call".

Sort of part of my point about a recovery. Around Tucson, it really won't matter, as if I can't walk out, I can't call. Something bad happened and it's probably over. No one knows where I am most of the time, and so no 911 calls are going out. The SAR thing gets over blown and over used. I remember lots of blurbs in the Flagstaff paper about what really just amounted to tired and lazy people getting "rescued" by SARS on the Peaks in winter.

The entire idea is a joke if you go on a multi-night pack trip in a place like the Gila, or a real wilderness. If you got really sick, and it wasn't some bad luck stomach bug, but something serious, you can't call anyone out there, and there is a very good chance you're simply going to die. No one will come. It isn't a movie, so no heroic rescue will take place because you signed a box that might get checked every 6 months. If you aren't alone, maybe you'll be lucky and a member of the party will carry a SPOT device, and perhaps someone can get to you in time to carry you out. Probably, if you're really lucky, what ever took you down took your life, and you won't suffer for a long period of time.

Here is part of why I say or think these things, since I know people will otherwise roll their eyes or think of how arrogant I am. While I was in Alamo, there were 3 separate incidences that come to mind. 1 a mountain biker who fell and was injured, and despite a rescue effort, he was so far away from any rescue or search area if one was going on at all, they didn't find him until he crawled, with a broken leg, more than 1 mile to a road, over 2 days time. He was severely dehydrated, had muscle breakdown and was in kidney failure as a result. If he wasn't near a road, he would have died. The next is a guy who came up from down low to the Sacramentos, had a heart attack, was still "rescued", but died. If something like that happens, you're going to die no matter what. Then, the last was a very able bodied individual called 911 for help because he suffered a minor injury and was in need of assistance getting off a trail. It took EMS so long to access him, that if it was serious, he would have died. Maybe it is a difference of location; a big city handles stuff better, so Phoenix would overall do better than Alamogordo and the counties nearby? I don't know, but I have very low hopes and don't think rescues are likely unless you basically need it right next to a trailhead with excellent cell service. I even remember a guy on Summitpost complaining about doing chest compression for over an hour on a person, after he repeatedly attempted to engage a SPOT device rescue, but nothing ever happened and he had to lead a recovery party back up a few days later to extract the corpse. Sign those boxes if you want, I just don't see the point.

[chumley]

I really enjoy starting my week with the positive thoughts and mental energy that exudes from all JimH posts. It really is a breath of fresh air that will fuel my motivation and zest for life for the next several days.

[The_Eagle]

@chumley
Agreed! I feel all warm and fuzzy after reading that......
But if I didn't know you better, I could read a tad bit of sarcasm into that statement.