[pct-l] Gizmo

Thu Mar 5 13:53:52 CST 2009

It certainly sounds like him. The age is right. He was a medium/slim build and wiry, with longish brown hair, above the shoulders.  I can't remember, but he might have had a beard. His enthusiasm was quite contagious, and in retrospect he had such a passion for reaching out and teaching us dopey junior high kids about the ability to get out there and enjoy the backcountry.  I wonder where he is today.

I'm such a packrat, somewhere buried in my box of memorabilia is the document he handed out that day.  It was on brown paper, cut in the shape of a backpack.  There were pockets and compartments drawn, and written on each was the appropriate contents.  I was enthralled with it and the idea of so compactly fitting everything you need to survive -- an entirely new concept -- which is why I kept it. I know it's somewhere, wherever I've stashed that box.  No time for a hunt today, though.

Always amazed by the interconnectedness of the trail.

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
From: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com [mailto:ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com] 
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 11:22 AM
To: Donna "L-Rod" Saufley; PCT MailingList
Subject: Re: [pct-l]Gizmo

Donna,

Right around 1971 or 1972, while out hiking the western slope of Sierra NF 
up to Hell-for-sure Pass, my hiking partner and I met two young guys in 
their 30s. One of them called himself "Gizmo," gave me a business card from 
a backpacking store called "Gizmo's," and was quite the enthusiastic 
proponent of backcountry hiking.

Can't help but wonder if it was the same guy??

Mtnned
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna "L-Rod" Saufley" <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
To: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>; "PCT MailingList" 
<pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Emergency helicopter signalling

> Something to add:
>
> I learned from a local gear store guy called "Gizmo" who came and did a 
> presentation at a school assembly when I was in middle school way back in 
> '71 that if you're lost in the wilderness and believe that air crews will 
> ultimately come looking for you, DO NOT try to follow a stream or river to 
> what you think will be civilization.  Along bodies of water is where the 
> trees grow, blocking you from rescuer view.  Also, there is likely to be 
> cliffs and drop-offs along any stream body in the mountains.  Streams and 
> rivers don't necessarily take you to civilization, and can take you 
> farther into the wilderness.  Bear Grylls is always doing this the wrong 
> way and it drives me crazy because it's the absolute worst advice for the 
> average Joe who is not an expert survivalist or climber.  It's a different 
> story if you're out there and have reason to believe that no one is going 
> to be looking for you and you have to get yourself out.
>
> The thing to do is get to an EXPOSED PLACE, AS HIGH UP AS IS SAFE, and 
> signal from there. Don't move around to different locations.  Back in '71 
> he recommended signaling with Mylar space blankets (which were very new in 
> those days!) which are very light, reflective, and can be life saving in 
> cold situations. Inexpensive, too.
>
> I often wonder if this bit of information might have saved John Donovan.
>
> L-Rod
>
> p.s.  Gizmo handed out a diagram showing what should go into a backpack, 
> sparking my very first awareness and interest in backpacking.  He made a 
> lifelong impression on me.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
>>Sent: Mar 4, 2009 10:42 PM
>>To: PCT MailingList <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>>Subject: [pct-l] Emergency helicopter signalling
>>
>>I discovered a two year old description from a former helicopter crew 
>>chief regarding how best to signal a helicopter. Good info for the class 
>>of '09.
>>
>>
>>
>> "Yea, one was a Z-Rest and there was a full length and a 3/4  self
>>inflating Thermorest.  All are bright colored relative to the natural
>>forest colors.  Now having been an Army Helicopter Crew Chief for many
>>years I know how hard it can be to find something from the air, even
>>with 3 pair of eyes focused directly on the target.  Headlamp strobes
>>are useless, even at night unless its really dark, you are in a
>>clearing, and the air crew are wearing night vision goggles.  Strobes
>>have a very limited visibility range from the ground to the air, even at
>>sea.  Hold the mattress or pad in front of you hanging down to the
>>ground.  Raise it up chest high and level with the ground so that the
>>bright colored side of the pad is making a 90 degree arc from facing the
>>horizon to facing the sky while you are facing the aircraft.  Don't go
>>above your head.  That extra 3 feet will not do anything for you, and
>>you won't be able to see through it.  Side to side motion is too small
>>to be seen, even with day glow orange.  One complete up and down motion
>>should take 2 seconds.  This creates an orange regular strobe effect to
>>the aircrew and is much more easily recognized than either stationary or
>>6 foot movement.  Adrenalin will make it hard to do this small slow
>>motion but it is the best.  You'll want to jump, holler, wave your hands
>>etc.  All useless except for personal emotional release.  So do it
>>anyway if it makes you feel better.  When they do see you, you will know
>>it, either by 'wagging the tail' 'rocking the wings' or a landing
>>light.  Ours wagged the tail.  The same motion along with a whistle
>>attracted the hiking crews attention from 1/2 mile."   C
>>
>>
>>
>> Mtnned
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
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>>Pct-l at backcountry.net
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>
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