98.6 Degrees by Cody Lundin

Author:Cody Lundin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781586852344
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
Published: 2003-06-22T23:00:00+00:00

12

HELPING RESCUERS BRING YOU BACK ALIVE: LEAVING RESCUERS A 5-W GAME PLAN FROM DAY HIKES TO EPIC BACKCOUNTRY BONANZAS

This book is based upon the fact that someone will be tracking you down if you screw up. They are looking for you because you bothered leaving a game plan before you left. Get in the habit of leaving an itinerary regarding your whereabouts with two people you trust, before each and every outing. We’ve already addressed the deadly day-hike scenario, but ponder also the location of your excursion.

There’s a popular hiking spot in my town that’s so profoundly urban that at the base of the mountain butte itself sprouts entire neighborhoods. The route is so well-used the city paved it, literally, with blacktop, allowing couples to push baby strollers up the trail.

Years back, hikers found the remains of human bones in the area, bones that apparently belonged to a man visiting on a business trip. He had decided to take a simple day hike and visit our town’s glorious landmark. Unfortunately, in his apparent zeal to fully enjoy a southwestern view, he moved a little too close to the mountain’s edge and promptly fell off. He didn’t bother leaving a note with the hotel front desk as he was only going to be gone for a few hours. A day or two later, his wife reported him missing, filled with the absolute terror that only a lost loved one can conjure forth. Although distressed by her husband’s unknown whereabouts, the months and years went by, and little by little she started to heal. Eventually, people found her husband’s decomposed remains and the magic of dental identification enabled her to grieve all over again.

A simple note left with the hotel lobby might have spared his life or at least eliminated years of unnecessary pain and suffering for his wife and family. Think about it. If it’s time for you to meet your maker, that’s one thing, but be courteous enough to give the people who love you a break by allowing them to mourn only once. Considering the fact that simple day hikes kill far more people every year than backcountry treks, it’s rudely apparent that it doesn’t take a trip to the farthest reaches of the wilderness for you to appear very dead.

Search and Rescue are two different disciplines. If you’ve left a game plan and stuck to it, the time needed to search should be minimal, as you’ve already informed rescuers as to your location. Once you’re found, the rescue happens as it needs to happen.

If you don’t tell someone where you are going and when you will be back, no one will know you’re missing. As an added slap in the face, if folks eventually do figure out you’re missing, they’ll have no idea where to search for you. Using the list below, prepare a plan for two trusted people (not the guy at the bar), including as much detail as possible. Instruct these folks to contact whoever handles Search and Rescue upon your failure to arrive back on time.

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