The wilderness is an unpredictable and unforgiving place. No matter what preparations or education we have "Things" can still happen that are widely beyond our control. Mr. Ralston certainly deserves our respect for his courage and strength. Given the tools he had in hand when he found himself in that situation and the fact of no-one knowing where or how long he was expected to be, he did what was necessary and he has earned his life in the bargain (and some noteriety tho some of it may not be welcome). In most of North America and certainly in the area where Mr. Ralston was climbing help is much less than a day away if you have the ability to call it. Leaving an agenda with planned route and schedule is very helpful in preparing for the eventuallity that you might need help but it is a personal choice on the loss of privacy and freedom and some feel that the additional risk is acceptable. Having a signalling device such as a PLB, Ham radio (and license) or cell phone is extremely helpful in summoning help when needed and allows us to maintain our privacy and freedom but it is added weight and some may feel that the additional risk is acceptable in order to keep the pack weight down. When asked by someone or when in a position of authority on how to reduce risk the wise counselor will suggest filing an agenda with concerned third parties and carrying many and the best signalling devices. To suggest otherwise is to invite liability.

A PLB, Ham radio, Cell phone, mirror, whistle, or match could have provided the needed signalling ability and I don't know which Mr. Ralston had with him (tho I am sure he didn't have the opportunity of having a PLB since they were only made legal by the FCC after Mr. Ralston's sad event took place). The likely utility of the above devices is probably in the order listed. In days gone by, the only options were mirror, whistle and match. Those tools will be usefull if someone is looking for you and knows where your are generally but in a wilderness situation they are limited. And who wants to be beholden to tell someone where you are going all the time. What if you change your mind and want to stay an extra day or go a different path?

The difference between having a stump and having an expensive reconstructive surgery and a usefull arm with a bunch of titanium pins in it is simply a matter of the inability to signal for help. My step father had his hand crushed in some industrial machinery and because of prompt medical attention he was able to have a usable tho deformed hand for the rest of his life. Mr. Ralston needn't have suffered any worse than that and wouldn't have had he been able to summon needed help at his time of need. Mr. Ralston certainly cannot be blamed for a boulder choosing that moment to roll down on top of him and certainly deserves respect for his courage in dealing with his situation - in his situation he had no other choices. But to suggest that the outcome might have been different had he had some decent signalling gear and to use his story to highlight the usefullness of that signalling gear is a very reasonable thing to do and may indeed save the arms, if not lives, of others. His situation was defined not only by being pinned by a boulder but also by the fact that others did not know that he was in need and he had no way of letting them know. A SAR member with a stout pry-bar or perhaps even a walking staff placed appropriately may have been able to free the appendage and he and could have been brought by medivac helo to a trauma center for limb saving surgery. Mr. Ralston would have lost his opportunity for the spot-light, never had people using his name in vain, earned a medical bill that might bankrupt him but would have saved not only his life but also his arm and probably his climbing career as well.