HikeArizona.COM

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Hikers Evacuated After Three SPOT Activations In Three Days

On the evening of September 23rd, rangers began a search for hikers who repeatedly activated their rented SPOT satellite tracking device. The GEOS Emergency Response Center in Houston reported that someone in the group of four hikers – two men and their two teenaged sons – had pressed the "help" button on their SPOT unit. The coordinates for the signal placed the group in a remote section of the park, most likely on the challenging Royal Arch loop. Due to darkness and the remoteness of the location, rangers were unable to reach them via helicopter until the following morning. When found, they'd moved about a mile and a half to a water source. They declined rescue, as they'd activated the device due to their lack of water. Later that same evening, the same SPOT device was again activated, this time using the "911" button. Coordinates placed them less than a quarter mile from the spot where searchers had found them that morning. Once again, nightfall prevented a response by park helicopter, so an Arizona DPS helicopter whose crew utilized night vision goggles was brought in. They found that the members of the group were concerned about possible dehydration because the water they'd found tasted salty, but no actual emergency existed. The helicopter crew declined their request for a night evacuation, but provided them with water before departing. On the following morning, another SPOT "help" activation came in from the group. This time they were flown out by park helicopter. All four refused medical assessment or treatment. The group's leader had reportedly hiked once at the Grand Canyon; the other adult had no Grand Canyon and very little backpacking experience. When asked what they would have done without the SPOT device, the leader stated, "We would have never attempted this hike." The group leader was issued a citation for creating a hazardous condition (36 CFR 2.34(a)(4)).

I would've just left them in there....

normally id think you're bored and needed to invent a silly story.. but like you say.. "you cant make this stuff up"

there's one born every day.. nay, every minute

hikeaz wrote:The group leader was issued a citation for creating a hazardous condition (36 CFR 2.34(a)(4)).

Was he cited 1,2, or 3 times?

I'm leading a Mt. Rainer trip in December... because I've seen pictures of it. Who's game? Give me a friggin break.

rlrjamy wrote:I'm leading a Mt. Rainer trip in December... because I've seen pictures of it. Who's game? Give me a friggin break.

And then I thought you were serious for half a second

this might explain a comment made by one of the rangers we talked to this weekend.

Ok...I was in this area in April. At the time I was by myself..I misplaced the trail..and was getting pretty anxious. I knew I had overshot my camp but I wasn't sure by how much..I thought... I need to relax.... so I sat down and I looked thru the pics on my camera...amazingly by doing that I figured out where my end point was. There wasn't a trail. My gps lost its signal, but I did have a compass and map. I made it to camp about 5 minutes before we were supposed to leave. I drank a lot of that nasty,salty water and ended up getting sick, but I did learn a valuable lesson. The same lesson I learned when I got lost when I was 16. Slow down relax and clear your mind of fear...being a little nervous is fine but fear/panic can kill you. The moral of the story..people make mistakes..its how we overcome them that counts. I thinks Spots are great...but obviously they can become a crutch and be misused.

hikeaz wrote:The group's leader had reportedly hiked once at the Grand Canyon; the other adult had no Grand Canyon and very little backpacking experience. When asked what they would have done without the SPOT device, the leader stated, "We would have never attempted this hike."

More than stupid, this guy is a genuine stupid idiot!!

This goes back to my radical idea that with these 'rescues' we are 'dumbing down' the gene pool. Whereas in times past these types of folks would perish and therefore not be in the procreation business any longer, they now are continually rescued and guess where their offspring are gonna be in, say, 20 years? Yep... out on the trail. As it is, about the only backcountry skill these guys have (and therefore can pass on) is knowing how to yell "HELP!". These GC guys... the DS last week who went up on Camelback to take sundown photos... without a headlamp (or any other non-photo gear) and was plucked off by helo... "Gee, what almost immediately follows sundown?" "Um....... darkness"? Another Jaywalk All-Star......

You know, I keep thinking that I'd like a spot... then I read these things. I guess I'd just like one for longer trips to send an OK and avoid my wifes eventual worry, although she doesn't worry that much at all to be honest.

Yeah, I think it would be useful for worrying family members. Can't you set the thing so it notifies only your own phone number that you are ok?

You can send OK messages to specific email addresses I believe, I think it sends your long/lat as well

It sends okay messages to up to 3-4 email addresses and phone numbers that you specify. you can also personalize the "okay" message. The email even includes a link to google maps with your coordinates specified.

That article really made me mad. I'm guessing the adults were filthy rich and assumed the rescue team was at their disposal, working for round the clock for SPOT and dropping off water and supplies to people in need. These people are completely out of touch with reality.

hikeaz wrote:This goes back to my radical idea that with these 'rescues' we are 'dumbing down' the gene pool. Whereas in times past these types of folks would perish and therefore not be in the procreation business any longer, they now are continually rescued and guess where their offspring are gonna be in, say, 20 years? Yep... out on the trail. As it is, about the only backcountry skill these guys have (and therefore can pass on) is knowing how to yell "HELP!". These GC guys... the DS last week who went up on Camelback to take sundown photos... without a headlamp (or any other non-photo gear) and was plucked off by helo... "Gee, what almost immediately follows sundown?" "Um....... darkness"? Another Jaywalk All-Star......

I dont think I could agree with you more Kurt. People always complain about how rangers will not give them any water info besides "carry all you need". People like this are to blame. I have called several National Monument's and Parks in regard to water information, and am always given the response "carry all that you need". Then I have to finagle and convince them that I am experienced, and tell them "I know the NPS position, and I know the risk of drinking unfiltered water, but are there any reliable springs or water sources along the route?" Finally that will yield some sort of response.

Perhaps there should be a waiver form that has to be signed when one goes backpacking in a National Park, "You are responsible for your own safety and well being. Risks are huge part of the wilderness and backcountry experience. Wilderness allows you the freedom to make mistakes. Mistakes made in the Wilderness can be life threatening and fatal. Do not assume a rescue crew will be sent out in the event of your non-return."
I do believe that rescues still should be conducted for legitimate reasons, but perhaps a ranger reading this "clause" to hikers like this will persuade them not to go out there in the first place. Then maybe rangers can do their jobs instead of worrying about divulging water info to someone and that source ending up being dry at that time of year. This story just takes the cake.

There needs to be greater penalties for abusing the system. Things like the stupid-motorist law. In my town, if the cops are called to a party at your house you get a warning. If they have to come back again, there's citations and fines. If SAR has to contact you once during a trip and you refuse help, any future "emergency" should be treated similarly. There should be a mechanism in place that places the burden of cost on the person(s) being rescued. If the situation is not caused by abuse or blatant stupidity, SAR can choose not to request payment.

This policy should be clearly stated in printed literature and signs at trailheads and park entrances.

#1 problem in America today: lack of personal responsibility.

chumley wrote:#1 problem in America today: lack of personal responsibility.

Get rid of all the trail lawyers..I mean Trial lawyers...

Royal Arch was in Backpacker Magazine a few months back; not that they are to blame, but a magazine reaches an awful lot of folks - experienced and not, with no way to tell who may get in over their heads.

Rather than a citation, that GC 4some maybe should be made to wear a hat or t-shirt every day for a year saying "I had to have my pumpkin saved by the park service because of my own lack of judgement and brain power".
Case in point... I ran across a guy & his two 20-something daughters this past march on the RA Loop (+/- 5 miles in) It was their SECOND day. The guy says to me "Can you help me, I'm confused... Where are we?" So I give him one of the THREE maps I had brought (redundancy is a wonderful thing), pointing out where we were at the time. He says "No way! That's not where we are!". (here's a guy who lost his map within the first 5 miles and had no backup, admits he's confused but disbelieves help when it arrives) Biting my tongue, I bid adieu.
Later, when we were stopped for lunch, same guy walks up sees the small seep that we're next to & starts gathering water. Well... anyone who has hiked in the southwest, especially in GC, sees the telltale dried salt deposits on the banks near water and knows to stay away if possible. So, in an attempt to prevent him (them) the inevitable intestinal discomfort, I suggest that he avoid this particular source - that there were more suitable spots further on. I said to him 'taste it; does it taste salty?' He replies 'yes, but it's just the salt from my hand' (from which he drank); he continues gathering from this spot.
Oh well.... I tried.
2 days later we see them on our layover day @ Toltec and they are BEGGING for TP, saying they ran out (hmmm.... I wonder why?). Additionally, he is fervently watching for a river trip (raft) so that he can use their sat phone to call for a helo evac. They weren't hurt - just tired. The next morning, when we were about an hour out of camp we heard a helo down in the Canyon near Toltec - I'm not sure if it was for them or not, but........

I was up in Colorado in early September and ran into two guys,no map and they would not believe me when I told them where they were at. Crikey, we were standing right next to an distinctly shaped alpine lake and still they thought I was mistaken. You cannot help these people, you can just hope they don't take you down with them.

Where was the option to select "neat so your friends and family can see your progress"? That is the true utility as I see it - showing off your trek to your friends in real-time.

I'm no expert, but I have always thought of hiking as a craft, with a set of skills that takes time to learn. Anyone with a lick of common sense should be able to see that if you don't have the knowledge, then you should tag along with someone who does.

But we see illustrated here that peculiar twist of mind that many people have regarding experience. They aren't experienced, and they aren't experienced enough to know they aren't experienced, and they also aren't experienced enough to recognize someone who IS experienced.