I'm new here, but came across this on the NPS Morning Report dated 1/3/07 (I added some paragraph breaks to make it easier to read):

http://home.nps.gov/applications/morningreport/

Big Bend National Park (TX)
Stranded Hiker Uses PLB To Summon Help

On the evening of December 30th, the U.S. Air Force notified the park that a personal locator beacon (PLB) signal had been received from a backcountry location within the park. Rangers headed to a backcountry campsite about six miles from the coordinates given by the PLB and found a vehicle registered to a visitor who had a solo hiker permit for that zone of the park. Two rangers then hiked to the approximate PLB coordinates, but were unable to find anyone in that area. They were joined by another team of searchers and a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter the following morning. The crew of the helicopter homed in on the 121.5 MHz distress transmission from the PLB within minutes of arriving on scene and soon spotted the hiker, who was waving a space blanket at them.

He had “cliffed out” on the side of Elephant Tusk peak, but gave the helicopter crew a thumbs-up signal indicating that he was okay. Although the helicopter was unable to land, the crew directed searchers to the man’s location, then ferried rope and climbing equipment to the rangers on scene. They climbed to his location and helped him down.

The man told rangers that he’d attempted to climb to the top of Elephant Tusk the day before. He’d cached his backpack, tent and sleeping bag and had made the ascent carrying only a space blanket, food, water, a whistle, an LED light, and a PLB. After topping a 40-foot chimney, he decided to turn back – only to find he couldn’t climb down from his location. He spent the night on a 6-foot by 50-foot ledge wrapped in the space blanket, with his PLB tied to a bush to keep it from being blown away by high winds. Overnight temperatures were just below freezing.

This incident marks the first time in Big Bend that a PLB has been used by a hiker to call in rescuers. Without the PLB and assistance from the DPS helicopter, it would have been extremely difficult to find and rescue the man in a timely fashion. The PLB probably saved his life. [Submitted by Mark Spier, Chief Ranger]

I know the area well. I'm surprised the Border Patrol's SAR team wasn't in on the rescue (probably were). I'm also surprised there was no mention of the climber leaving a hiking plan at the Ranger Station, especially in light of the fact that the guy was carrying a PLB.

Welcome to the forum <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Interesting. I didn't realize that the Border Patrol had SAR teams. Is this a full time SAR team or are normal agents only pulled together when needed? I suppose the answer to this could also depend on the location.

Yes, full-time in some locations (Arizona especially) and quick-response teams in others. All are trained the same though. They'd have been there in Big Bend and, as I mentioned, they probably were.

Nighthiker,
You might be right about that guy being a beginner, however:

I've been climbing and bouldering for more years than I care to admit, and it's happened to me many times. I don;t go climbing solo though. I've been in spots where, if it hadn't been for my climbing buddy(s) talking me through this route or that, I am sure I would have been stuck.

"A surprisingly common occurrence among beginning climbers, they become competent at climbing up but don't consider having to come back down the same way."

Yes, like nine-week-old kittens, creatures with a brain smaller than a walnut.

Oh, well, at least he did some things right.

Sue

Now I wish I hadn't admitted that I've "been there" too <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I'd prefer being compared to a nine-week old puppy though {pant pant} <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I may be missing something but it appears that the park service had no way to locate or home in on the plb signal and had for the helocopter which had the direction finding equipment. I just left big bend the week before and it is remote. I would have thought or hoped that the park ranger had the ability to home in on plbs.

I wish the article would have said whether the PLB has an internal GPS or not, and how far the PLB coordinates were from the actual unit.

It is nice to know that the 121.5 MHz homing beacon worked as advertised.

Actually it would seem luck had nothing to do with it. Copying from our gracious host:

Chance favors only the prepared and equipped.™