Story here

Reading this story about Aron Ralston cutting off his own arm I couldn't help gearing up the 20/20 hindsight machine and second guessing him. What could have saved this guy's arm? Or more to the point, what would keep me from having to cut of my own arm?

I thought of my last day hike in the mountains with my daughter. We were going out to scout out a route to the top of a ridge where we're planning to camp. This mountain has no road access so you have to park a few miles away and hike to the base. I stopped at the house of a local cattle herder/subsistence farmer to get local info as to the trails. It turned out that his place was about as close as you could get by car and he suggested we leave the car there so nobody would mess with it.

I pointed out the exact point on the mountain we were headed for, an unmistakable ramp to the top between two sheer rock walls. He knew the route we were going to use to get there. I got his cell phone number and told him we planned to be back at the car by dark.
My daughter and I each carried WHISTLES and in addition to the CELL PHONE I also had a SIGNAL MIRROR.

It seems every time I read one of these horrible stories I am impressed by the urgent need to carry some means of signaling or communication. Also, how could this guy be missing for five days and not have a search party following the route that he left with a trusted friend? Seriously this guy went out to hike alone and apparently either didn't notify anyone or changed his plan mid-hike. I would much rather blow three blasts on a whistle every five minutes, knowing people are looking for me, than cut off my arm with a Chinese Leatherman copy!

Whenever I go out I want someone to eventually think, "Mac isn't back yet." I want someone to be able to find my car or starting point and follow me until they hear my whistle or see my mirror flashing. Better yet I want to be able to call my wife and say, "I've fallen and I can't get up!" It doesn't have to be this way. Mac