Hiker rescued from Arizona desert after three days

[hikeaz]

June 3, 2015
PHOENIX -- A 58-year-old Tucson hiker was rescued early Tuesday after getting lost near the Arizona Trail and surviving three to four 100-plus degree days without food and water.

Read more here ...
(dead link removed)

[Al_HikesAZ]

If Whiterock Mesa, one has to believe they found him down in the Gorge, only canyon with the kind of drop they mentioned in the second article. Its a shame cool area and there was most likely water. ...

I was looking at the Topo for that area. Water in Arizona creeks can be so unpredictable. You get there and it is dry. But go 200 meters upstream or 200 meters downstream and there can be surface water. As I read the story, I think he really tried and did a lot of the right things to self rescue. Including getting back up the canyon to where he could be found. And in the end he did the most important thing to self rescue which was to let loved ones know where he was. I have been amazed in the past how text messages can go through. I remember an instance when Eric's text messaging worked even when my expensive Satellite phone didn't go through

[RowdyandMe]

Maybe he'll get a Spot. I really like mine and it keeps my wife and son worry free.
As a real hikers know phones only work in certain areas. And it sounded like he made it to a high where it worked and contacted his wife.
I am glad all is well.

[azbackpackr]

@Widowmaker
Yes, this ought to be a wake-up call to those of us who regularly hike solo. I ought to get one of those gadgets. What is the other kind called? A lot of people have complained about SPOT making false alarms, although perhaps the company has improved upon the product recently.

[chumley]

@azbackpackr
relevant discussion here: viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5752 (especially page 2)
background discussion here: viewtopic.php?f=32&t=3072 (last couple of pages more recent)

[RowdyandMe]

@azbackpackr
Well I carry my Spot with me but don't turn it on until I need it. And thats so far has been when I am running late. Thats just lets my wife and son know that I am ok and if they want they can see my exact location at the time I sent it. As it sends them a text and email with my gps location.
I never had to use it in a emergency and hope I never do. But this has made think that if I am out in the middle of nowhere and I run into some that really needs help I can use it without leaving them to find a spot where I get cell service.

[azbackpackr]

@chumley
@Widowmaker
Thanks guys!

[wha]

@azbackpackr the only references I've seen about a SPOT and "false alarms" are those who hit the SOS because they are tired and don't feel like hiking back out, or things like that. I haven't heard of any inadvertent SOS messages, so I wouldn't worry about that.

Where the SPOT does have a problem is that it is not 100% reliable. I tracked success of sending about 200 checkin messages. My results were

94% of messages were sent with an accurate gps fix
1% sent with poor gps fix
5% failed

Of the 5% that failed, some were understandable, down in a gorge or something. But some were in ideal conditions, no trees, clear to horizon, no bad weather. 95% isn't bad odds though, so I think it is worth carrying. I've used the SOS button one time and it went through.

The Delorme Inreach is perhaps a bit more reliable, but the real advantage is that you get confirmation that your message was sent. Oh, and 2 way communication. With SPOT it's press the button and hope for the best.

[azbackpackr]

After reading up on them, I think I might spend the extra money and get the ACR PLB from REI. I dislike the idea of paying a subscription. Would just rather spend the money and go. It is fairly light, less than 5 0z.

[AZWanderingBear]

Come on guys, SPOT is so last year. There is a new device that is SPOT like, but also receives vs. just sending. Put out by DeLorme, it is called the InReach. I don't have one, but it solves several of the SPOT deficiencies. Price has come down some over the past two years and I think DeLorme is having a sale on them now. I use their GPS, thus I get the emails announcing such things. I think there is both an option for a subscription or simply a pay as you go. I used to carry as SPOT and it was OK. But, were I to invest in a device, that would be my choice.

[mazatzal]

If he was on Polles / Whiterock you would think he would have filled up with water at the East Verde
Perhaps he was south of East Verde, maybe Bullfrog Canyon?

[nonot]

He survived for 3 days, maybe he did have east verde water and just got lost? It would be tough to survive for 3 days in that heat with no water at all. I haven't seen anything accurately placing him, most just say 12 or 14 miles west of payson.

[big_load]

@azbackpackr the only references I've seen about a SPOT and "false alarms" are those who hit the SOS because they are tired and don't feel like hiking back out, or things like that. I haven't heard of any inadvertent SOS messages, so I wouldn't worry about that.

It's the other kind of false alarm I worry about: people back home who call SAR because they didn't get the OK messages they were expecting.

[mazatzal]

@nonot I agree with you but the article said "surviving three to four 100-plus degree days without food and water."
It's really good he survived and It doesn't matter where he was - just curious about his proximity to a perennial water source.

[Jim]

It's the other kind of false alarm I worry about: people back home who call SAR because they didn't get the OK messages they were expecting.

See, that is why I never tell anyone where I am going, when ever I hike alone, which is almost all of my hikes. Keep it mysterious.

[Sredfield]

How irresponsible!

Unless of course we can all take this as notification that when you don't come back, it is your expressed wish that no one is to come looking. And you have also notified SAR and other appropriate authorities not to risk life and equipment in their official duties? And the administrative and legal cleaning-up of what is left of your existence--you've got that covered?

The trauma of coming upon your carcass will just be whoever's bad luck. "Really? Other than that, how was your hike?" But they can take heart, you did it your way. I'm sure everyone will understand.

There are many reasons to use these devices, protecting one's sorry pumpkin is a ways down on the list.

[azbackpackr]

@Sredfield
While I agree with what you said, you don't know Jim. He's always kidding around.

[rwstorm]

you don't know Jim. He's always kidding around

This excuse is getting a little old.

[chumley]

He's always kidding around

This is true. He actually loves Flagstaff. And Kayenta. And Alamagordo. And wind. And cold. And heat. And rain. And... :roll:

[azbackpackr]

@chumley
Especially Kayenta.

[azbackpackr]

On a more serious note, this is why I'm thinking about getting the PLB. I generally hike alone. I almost always tell someone where I'm going, etc., etc. In this area around Williams, the cell phone works in most places. But it's "almost" and "most places." (Back to that other thread now about the PLBs/SPOTs, etc.)