Another missing hiker in a National Park

Posted by: hikermor

Another missing hiker in a National Park - 10/25/20 10:03 PM

Hre we go again. A hiker missing in Mt Rainier NP for two weeks has yet to be located. Family desires search to be continued when conditions allow.

https://news.yahoo.com/family-hiker-missing-2-weeks-050924137.html

Mt. Rainier isn't Zion, even in the lower country, not by a long shot....
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: Another missing hiker in a National Park - 10/25/20 11:06 PM

Hmmm...a pretty dangerous place to be lost especially this time of year.
Posted by: roberttheiii

Re: Another missing hiker in a National Park - 10/27/20 01:17 PM

I realize I'm beating Doug's dead horse here, but every time I see a story like this I think of how simple it is to carry a PLB...
Posted by: KenK

Re: Another missing hiker in a National Park - 10/28/20 12:06 AM

Yeah. Amazing life saving insurance coverage for roughly 10 years (maybe more) for under $300.

Being an avid PLB owner, I kind of saw Doug's PSP as something to keep me comfortable and entertained while waiting for help to arrive - and to signal them when they are nearby.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: Another missing hiker in a National Park - 10/28/20 02:32 AM

Originally Posted By: KenK

Being an avid PLB owner, I kind of saw Doug's PSP as something to keep me comfortable and entertained while waiting for help to arrive - and to signal them when they are nearby.


Let's hope that will be the case if you ever activate your PLB. However circumstances may vary. In bad weather, your signal may get through, but rescuers will be delayed. Helos usually don't fly at night (some are equipped to do so); fog and high winds slow things down.

Ground troops can be tardy due to a whole bunch of factors. Believe it or not, not all rescue groups are equally competent, due to a whole variety of circumstances.

Signaling when in trouble is definitely a great idea!
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: Another missing hiker in a National Park - 10/28/20 04:21 AM

I hate to have to admit it but I do not yet have a PLB! eek It's been on my list for a while but I haven't found the extra $300 yet. Only recently did I get a good, modern GPS unit!
Posted by: hikermor

Re: Another missing hiker in a National Park - 10/28/20 06:03 PM

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-woma...?ocid=Peregrine


This just in. giving a few more details.

Let me just say that things get amplified and blown out of proportion more easily in this social media and Go Fund Me era, compared to the old days. It will be interesting to see the NPS report on the operation, due out shortly....
Posted by: roberttheiii

Re: Another missing hiker in a National Park - 10/28/20 08:26 PM

Originally Posted By: KenK
Yeah. Amazing life saving insurance coverage for roughly 10 years (maybe more) for under $300.

Being an avid PLB owner, I kind of saw Doug's PSP as something to keep me comfortable and entertained while waiting for help to arrive - and to signal them when they are nearby.


A survival kit is still critical. There are lots of places (as others have said) that in the best of circumstances it'll take a while to be rescued, and in the less-than-best circumstances it could take a considerable amount of time to be rescued.

Plus you just never know. Take a fall and smash your PLB? Happy to have the survival kit. Lose the survival kit but rescuers show an hour after you press the PLB button? Good to have the PLB.