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?
....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. .....just before 5 p.m., the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notification .... that a SPOT rescue locator had been activated somewhere on the Grand Teton. Rangers flew to the area by helicopter to assess the situation. ..... 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. ...... 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. ..... By the time rangers reached Selwyn, his climbing partner had begun to backtrack the route.....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.
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.