[pct-l] Fw: Hiking Alone & SPOT
Edward Anderson
mendoridered at yahoo.com
Thu Dec 2 20:17:03 CST 2010
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>
To: Sean 'Miner' Nordeen <sean at lifesadventures.net>
Sent: Thu, December 2, 2010 11:52:38 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Hiking Alone & SPOT
Think about this, Miner. If everyone eventually started carrying a SPOT, we
would no longer
have the "I Shouldn't Be Alive" series on TV. Did you know that Les Stroud
carries one in
case of a real emergency?
MendoRider
________________________________
From: Sean 'Miner' Nordeen <sean at lifesadventures.net>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Thu, December 2, 2010 11:38:51 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Hiking Alone & SPOT
Actually, the appeal of going without something like a SPOT is that I can use
the excuse that I can't contact anyone until I get to the next town. Not having
to deal with other peoples fears and checking in daily was far more relaxing to
my peace of mind then a fear of what if something happens. And the fact that my
cell rarely connects means that work can't get ahold of me is a blessing from
God. That and not having to carry something that is essentially dead weight
99.999% of the time after spending years lighening my pack. Same reason I
rarely carry a GPS since I always have maps and a compass anyway (and I actually
check them frequently) so its mostly dead weight to me.
If someone chooses to carry a SPOT/PLB for the rare emergency, then great. As
long as its presence doesn't cause someone to act more careless since they have
this device that is going to save them and don't mind the extra weight, then
sure carry it. Though, like GPSs did when they first became prevailent, too
many think as long as they have it, they don't need to be as aware of their
surroundings and get into trouble that they wouldn't have in the past.
But many hikers that I saw carrying SPOT in 2009, did so only because their
family wanted some peace of mind about their trip. Most grew to hate that half
pound brick in their pack (and more then a few had to backtrack to pick it up
when they left it out at a break). In many cases, SPOT actually caused more
worry due to the person occasionally missing a day checking in for various
reasons and their family freaking out wondering what happened to them.
When they get the weight down even more (SPOT2 was a good move in this direction
but it isn't there yet) and the service fees drop dramatically, I suppose I'll
give in an get something like it one day just as I did with GPS. But I suspect
that I'll rarely carry it just like I rarely do with my GPS.
-Miner
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check my 2009 PCT Journal out at
http://www.pct2009.lifesadventures.net/Journal.php
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