[pct-l] Sierra Solo

[Edward Anderson]

Well, Diane, while you make some good points, having a SPOT locator - in a genuine emergency, would be what could save your life. I also bring a signal mirror and a very loud whistle - and a space blanket ( It can become a huge mirror). Pushing the SPOT'S "911" button would be a last resort only if all else failed and I was really disparate. Pushing that button would be very easy to do if necessary - even if you had frozen fingers. Doing the other things that you mention would take better coordination than pushing one simple button.
 
Your best defense, always, is to not be a risk-taker and be sure that you have along with you what you might need to survive an emergency. Hopefully, you, and other hikers, will exercise good judgment on the trail. As you did while on your own PCT hike. I am now nearly finished reading your wonderful book - PIPERS FLIGHT. Where I am now, you are hiking alone and have recently left Sierra City - going north - - - . Your book is one of those that is very hard to put down. More about that later. We met many of the same hikers on the trail in 2008.  I wonder how we missed meeting each other.
 
MendoRider-Hiker
 
 
 
 

________________________________
 From: Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 2:51 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Sierra Solo
  
Oh, and I forgot to say, one reason not to make high-tech things your  
main safety net are because if you really are in real trouble, you:

- may not be able to read the buttons or screen
- may not have the finger coordination to press buttons
- may be mentally compromised in a way that navigating a user- 
interface is too difficult
- may find that other types of knowledge can provide better safety in  
the short term

For example, you could have hypothermia and not be able to use your  
fingers. Your thinking could be compromised at the same time. If you  
at least have the mental capacity to set up a shelter and get warm,  
you might then be able to use your fingers to push the buttons and  
use your brain to realize pushing those buttons maybe isn't needed  
after all.

Or another example, you broke your leg and your reading glasses fell  
off a cliff. You can't see anything small. You can still blow a  
whistle that another hiker can hear.

Maybe I'm way off here, but still, having something simple you can  
use to call for help when other parts of you aren't working so well  
is a good thing.

On Apr 21, 2012, at 2:22 PM, Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes wrote:

> Also, I would strongly suggest you not look to high technology to  
> be your main safety net. A whistle and signal mirror are good  
> things to have on hand, won't break or lose power. Fine if you want  
> to bring a high-tech thing as well, but often it is the simple  
> things make the real difference.
>
> On Apr 18, 2012, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>> I have the amazing opportunity to tackle the Sierra section (from  
>> Tehachapi
>> to Chester) over the summer, however it looks like I will be  
>> soloing it.
>> This brings some interesting challenges to the table.
>

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