I was struck by the blend of old and new technologies used in this operation at Grand Teton National Park: (from the NPS Morning Report).

Rangers rescued a 28-year-old climber just before dark last Friday after he became stranded near the top of the Grand Stand below the North Face of the Grand Teton. Jesse Selwyn of Florence, Montana, and his climbing partner intended to climb the Black Ice Couloir on the northwest side of the Grand, but they couldn't find the entrance to the couloir and got off route. They ended up on the Grand Stand instead, a common route-finding mistake. Just before 5 p.m., the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notification from the county sheriff's office that a SPOT rescue locator had been activated somewhere on the Grand Teton. Rangers flew to the area by helicopter to assess the situation. A ranger inside the helicopter used a white board with the words "OK?" written on it to ask the climbers if they were all right. The climbers gave a thumbs down sign, so rangers responded by writing the word "rescue?" and the climbers gave a thumbs up, indicating they were in trouble and needed help. Based on the climbers' location, rangers flew to a landing zone on the west side of Teewinot Mountain. From there, one ranger was inserted via short-haul to Selwyn's location just after 8 p.m. Once on scene, the ranger prepared Selwyn for a short-haul evacuation off the mountain to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache on the valley floor. Selwyn was uninjured and released soon after landing. After rescuing Selwyn, the helicopter made one last flight to retrieve the other rangers from the landing zone on Teewinot. The ship landed back at Lupine Meadows at 8:47 p.m., just two minutes before it was required to stop flying due to darkness. This time is called "pumpkin hour" and is 30 minutes after official sunset. By the time rangers reached Selwyn, his climbing partner had begun to backtrack the route in hopes of reaching the Lower Saddle before it got too dark to continue. After realizing it was too dark to safely backtrack across the Valhalla Traverse, Selwyn's partner decided to spend the night on the mountain and begin his retreat again at first light on Saturday. The climbing partner reached the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton early on Saturday morning.
[Submitted by Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs Specialist]

Hmmm... Perhaps a good idea to add a nice fat piece of writing chalk to your chalk bag?

That's the reason that I'm uncomfortable with the elimination of learning and using of Morse Code. Our extreme dependence upon technology seems like a good way to get bitten in the rear.

Sue

.. - --- - .- .-.. .-.. -.-- .- --. .-. . . ... ..- .

I'm glad someone does!

Sue

Yup, writing and concurrent reading of something on a whiteboard, along with the flowchart response of "thumbs up, thumbs down" is taxing.

What's your callsign, Sue?

"What's your callsign, Sue?"

Never had one. My father was a ham, W6BMT for 60 yrs, but he said I was too stupid to learn code. I have to decipher it, letter by letter, with a guide.

I never got into it seriously enough to get licensed, but I recognize the value of amateur radio operators and code. Even if you're stuck on a big rock with just a flashlight, someone might know it and come to help, or at least recognize trouble when they see the flashes.

Sue

Not by a long shot - this here be a discriminating forum, and you have all of our respect. That isn't easy, and it certainly doesn't reflect "stupid."




As do we all, until we do it for some years. A white board is much less unambiguous, at least for me, unless I ignite an annoying companion and push 'em off the edge. That gets a big thumbs-up.

Okay, returning this thread to useful info...

... .... .- .-.. .-.. .-- . .--. ..- ... .... ..-. --- .-. .- -- --- .-. ... . -.-. --- -.. . --- -. .-.. -.-- ..-. --- .-. ..- -- .-.. --- .-.. - .... . .-. . .. ... .- - .... .-. . .- -.. --- -. .- -.. -.. .. -. --. -. . .-- ..-. --- .-. ..- -- ... . .-.. ... . .-- .... . .-. . --- -. - .... . ... .. - .

- .... . .-. . .--. .-. --- -... .- -... .-.. -.-- .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. -. --- - -... . -- ..- -.-. .... .. -. - . .-. . ... - . ...- . .-. -.-- --- -. . .-- .- -. - ... .. -. ... - .- -. - .-. . ... ..- .-.. - ... - .... . .-. . .. ... .--. .-. --- -... .- -... .-.. -.-- .- - .-. .- -. ... .-.. .- - --- .-. --- -. .-.. .. -. . --- .... -.-- . ... - .... . .-. . .. ... . ...- . -. .-- .. - .... ... --- ..- -. -..

http://morsecode.scphillips.com/



The intertoobs be amazing!

I guess that's why no one learns morse code. But I think that knowing how to SEND and RECOGNISE SOS ...---... is still valuable. It is an unmistakable signal and cannot easily be mistaken for any naturally occurring phenomenon.

Some lights have a built in strobe or SOS modes, which could be useful. Using a built in flash mode will generally prolong the battery life, so use it if you can.

If you have a simple on/off light, you can still flash it by turning it on/off, or by turning it on and then covering the lens with your hand to create a flash (unless you have a light with a built in signalling flash button). Another way is to rotate the light, like a light house, at a steady speed.

IMO a slow, steady paced flash (or an SOS) is easier for a searcher to recognise from a distance. If you flash too fast it tends to look like a steady light (from a distance).

SOS can be used with lights and sounds and even markings on the ground, so it is very versatile and is internationally recognised.

But do you think it will continue to be?

I think I was born knowing SOS. Can't remember ever not knowing it.

Sue

Hi all, first post here. Leaving morse code aside for the moment and getting back to the OP, I'm still left wondering if this rescue was really necessary?
Apparently the climber was not injured. His partner successfully self rescued, solo. Helicopter short haul rescues are not without risk. In addition, this one was done under pressure from impending darkness. I try not to be judgemental, since I don't know all the facts. Still, I have to wonder if this wasn't a case of using the SPOT because it was available, not because it was really necessary?

I have absolutely no problem with someone using SPOT or a PLB when life or limb is endangered. And it is usually better to initiate a rescue before things get totally out of control. On the other hand I also believe strongly in the concept of self reliance, and that one should make every reasonable effort to get oneself out of trouble, before calling in the cavalry.

Welcome AKSAR.

You make a good point, its interesting that the partner self rescued, but without the details its hard to judge the situation.

From a closer reading of the article, it looks like the two climbers may have been seperated, and perhaps one panicked a little ?

It could be that the rescued climber was exhausted and couldn't move, or perhaps lacked the confidence or equipment to continue.

Looks like the other self rescue climber proceeded appropriately and was safe. Perhaps you're right about a case of use it because you can, not because you have to, if he didn't have the SPOT perhaps he would have been able to self rescue too ?

I also want to add my welcome ASKAR and I 100% agree with your assessment. The inability of rescuers to communicate with the people who activate a beacon whether it be of the PLB or SPOT variety will continue to create issues for SAR. SAR is headed to the scene expecting the worst when all we may have is a lost hiker who has simply given up hope of getting out but is otherwise in good shape.

I am hoping the new generation of two-way communicators like DeLorme's InReach will negate some of the waste of resources. Its not even out yet and will take some time to catch on, but I'm willing to bet SPOT (Globalstar), Garmin, and others are working on versions which will make these issues a thing of the past.

AKSAR, comes out on the first post with a solid hit. good job. Welcome to ETS forum.