Accident strand Arizonaa backpacker who survives

“Something about this particular trip Lon took made him or his family want him to take a satellite phone for the very first time. Was it just coincidence that an accident would happen this time, or did someone feel that this trip was more risky than those in the past.
last edited: 4/28/07 1:45:53 PM”

“sometimes, bad things just happen.

sometimes, they don't.

the catch is that you never know when its gonna happen to you.

Like the Boy Scouts say: Be Prepared”

“As you might guess from my photo albums I have taken risks in mountain climbing in the past.”
USA
10:55:32 PM
4/27/07



No, as we might guess from your photo albums, you have pictures of mountains.”

“And hyway, you are the one who is cornered by your own words. You said Lon did "everything right" when clearly he didn't since he needed to be rescued. He made a judgement error going out solo in a risky situation, putting himself, rescuers, and his family at risk. He put his satellite phone in a place where it could get wet when protecting it in a waterproof bag would have been obvious. You, hyway, are the one defending irresponsibility.
last edited: 4/28/07 3:13:09 PM”

“Red"X"”

“really? I can see it in this thread.”

“Don't make me call USA to this thread.”

“so is it still a red x? I can post something similar.”

“Yup and that exalted compliment I gave you this morning is in danger of being revoked. Combine that with USA calling you a meanie and what's that do to your day?”

“


How about that one, can you see it? And compliments can't be revoked. They can only be appended to.”

“LMAO”

“

"And compliments can't be revoked. They can only be appended to.”
hyway

It must be my eyesight slipping. Someone posted a compliment and I missed it! I'm too used to seeing insults flying around here. Does that rule apply to insults, too?”

“"I am one of those guys who never goes anywhere yet still posts on a backpacker forum" - hyway

A picture of yourself going nowhere?”

“

You need a SAR team to dig you out of this thread.”

“You still defending this Arizona hiker, hyway. Heck, he won't even defend his own actions by answering a couple questions. When you rely on technology to save you, and you don't know how to use it, you aren't prepared to be going solo into the wilderness. He wasn't smart enough to let the phone dry before he turned it on wet. Of course something like that isn't lost on a technology expert such as yourself...


“Red"X"”
Nimblefoot


“really? I can see it in this thread.”
hyway


“so is it still a red x?
hyway
last edited: 4/28/07 11:47:53 PM”

“BTW, you might have less trouble with the Red X if you weren't irresponsibly stealing other people's photos without giving credit to the photographer.”

“See, he's calling you a meanie.”

“so nimble, do you think I should commit hara kiri because you are revoking your compliment or because USA is calling me a meanie? I am stuck on my death poem and can't decide where the majority of my dishonor lies.

(aside)I have seen someone post a pic, and someone else say all they see is a red x, yet I can see the pic. Does that ever happen to anyone else or do I have one of those super spy CIA computers that was accidentally shipped to my house instead of Langley.(/aside)”

“Hyway, I can't see your first pic, but I can see your second. Is that you digging a cathole? ;)


Welcome, Kneecap and Princess. We are a (mostly) fun but a little-off-kilter group of backpackers.”

“

Does that work?”

“Nope.

Hyway, you're okay in my book (not that it means a hell of a lot). However, if you could get a compliment from USA, well that would be just spiffy.”

“

Does that work?”
Ruby

It sure does! You did great. That's, by far, the prettiest "Red X" on the entire thread.”

“Hello USA,
I sorry that my misadventure is so upsetting to you. I'm human, I sin, and I make mistakes. Let me know the actions that you feel I should be defending and I'll be happy to share my thoughts with you.

Life is Good my friend, Enjoy”

“Oh, man, you shouldn't have done that. Taking the high road is really going to get his goat:)”

“USA takes a goat into the backcountry? Is that his emergency rescue plan or his nightly entertainment?”

“From: Wikipedia

An accident is a detrimental event that occurs unexpectedly and unintentionally. Physical examples include unintended collisions or falls, being injured by touching something sharp, hot, or electric, or ingesting poison.

Several years ago when I did my first solo bp trip, I left my itinerary with my wife and son, arranged to be dropped off and picked up by different people and when asked by my boss and coworkers if I was taking a cell phone told them no I was hiking in an area that was well traveled and in fact never was more than 45 mins away from other people. ( yeah go into the woods and its crowded..yeah)

Twofootdrive”

“My only point was what's being brought up again and again. Your arguement just don't fit this guy very well.

Lon and daughter, I hope y'all stick around, you'll greatly benefit our hiking family. Some have been here for years, and many of us have hiked with one another before, numerous times. And yes some of us ACTUALLY even hike. Nice article in the Republic, I live in Phx NW Valley, over in Surprise. I'd love to talk with you sometime about your fav hikes in the Superstitions if you don't mind.

And USA, I've spent many years solo'ing. And now that I'm an at-home Dad with 3 little ones, do ya thank I'll venture out into that dangerous old world, like Lon?

....til the day I die bro!”

“If USA is so concerned about his family responsibilities that he can't 'take chances' and go into the backcountry then he sure better not get on freeway - or even leave his house for that matter.

I feel safer in the backcountry above treeline on the side of some mountain in a snowstorm than I do on most US interstates.”

“From summitpost.org discussing mountain rescues.

http://www.summitpost.org/article/288660/Mountain-Rescues-Climbers-are-Not-to-Blame.html”

“Roam Around - Thanks for posting that link. It appeared to be a good and factual article.

While reading it, I was reminded of John Stewart Mill's, "On Liberty." Mill points out that unless one can understand and argue a subject from both sides, one is not justified to proclaim his view as correct.

Too many times we find information published that is incomplete, misleading and/or false. Then others quote the material as supporting evidence to justify their own stance on the subject. Our newspapers are full of such material daily(My opinion.).”

“I haven't read this whole thing in detail, but I do about 90% of my hiking solo. A lot of it is off trail. I've been caught on a ledge in a flash flood, overnighted it without provisions a few times, fallen and had a variety of cuts, bruises, black eyes.
Close up to lots of rattlesnakes, a few scorpion bites, and a couple of black bear encounters, a cougar or two.

I love it out there. If I screw up and die so be it. I admire those who are prepared and have that survival instinct. I also admire those with a sense of responsibility to others and stick to it. Both are good.

I'll keep on doing my thing. I choose not to carry any technology with me, I am a map and compass kind of gal, and just use as much outdoors sense that I can muster. I don't fault those who use those devices, but I don't like relying on them either.”

“IF caught in a rutt ...USA may not be the man ....because he is set in his way,and dont know to go off course.. to help get you out?”

“Kneecap,

What guarantee do you have that a PLB would have saved you 5 days earlier? What's to say that your fall would not have disabled the PLB?

roseymonster mentioned first aid. What first aid training have you taken to rescue yourself?

How risky was the scrambling you were doing?

Have you reimbursed the taxpayers for your helicopter rescue?

Would you encourage other hikers to go out alone?

Why wasn't the satellite phone protected from water in a fragile water pouch? Did you let the phone dry out before you turned it on?

What prompted the satellite phone to be taken this time? Was there something more risky about this last trip. Did you take on additional risk knowing you had a "back up."”

“Unusually Stubborn Asshat
last edited: 4/30/07 9:36:51 PM”

“USA - Are you as good on the trail as you are off the trail? Will you sleep better with answers to all your questions? When are you going to prove that you ever get more than 10-feet away from a car? Until you show otherwise, you're still just a troll to me.

Kneecap - On my serious backpacking trips, I, too, travel alone. Sometimes I join group hikes, but mainly for the social parts of it. I am happy to still be active at 74.
Me. Click and scroll down.”

“Why not just be glad he is safe and at home?”

“I think I answered that when I showed you where he got the letters for his name.”

“I wonder if USA has ever reimbursed the taxpayers for his share of the cost the last time he was involved in a traffic accident or some other instance when emergency responders responded.”

“Dang, I missed a lot not reading this thread!!

Naked Ape!!
I did that gig for five years with three not-so-little-anymore ones.
How old are your kids?

Hello KneeCap, its good to be alive!”

“Kneecap, thanks for posting your outlook on things. Welcome aboard and don't let the loonies scare you off.

I may look into those PLB's. Like you, it would be nice to have, just in case. Well, unless that laundry list of bad things happened to it that USA mentioned....oh, wait, it's there just in case, just like yours.”

“My plans for living in the backcountry for a week in the High Sierras in '09 will most likely by solo.
As Thoreau said "I go....to live deliberately...."
What makes me feel alive and not half dead is the quickening of my senses, my desire, and my prowess in the wilderness, that 'wild' part of me that begs/needs to get out.”

“Chappy, drink a beer:)”

“USA, drink a 6 pack.”

“Nimblefoot, go pound sand in a rat hole.”

“Nimblefoot.....you buyin????”

“I wonder if USA has ever reimbursed the taxpayers for his share of the cost the last time he was involved in a traffic accident or some other instance when emergency responders responded.”
Roam Around

Never involved in a traffic accident, never have needed any rescue. But don't people who need rescue in a traffic accident pay for the rescue? Don't they bill for a ride in an ambulance?”

“Lawng time bro! 4,7, and 8. Did the Grand Canyon thang this past weekend, just the tourist thang. But me and the girls are gonna start training for a cabin-stay, prolly 2 nights, down at Phantom Ranch. By fall, they'll be 7 and 9, so they'll be good ta go!

More or less, the past 8 years my backpacking has been almost zero. Basically I'ma housewife with testicles, so it has taken some time before I can easily get out. Not to mention we've been a long way from family the last 10 years. I'm so badly itching to go, I need a fork.”

“if your house catches fire. The volunteer fire department doesn't bill you. They just put out the fire. If you are trapped in your car. The fire department doesn't bill you for ripping your roof off with jaws of life.

Your comparison doesn't work because after you are rescued, the hospital will bill you for services at the hospital. If they send their chopper to get you, you're insurance will pay for that? There is the rescue, then the post rescue. Post rescue is when the charges come.”

“NA, glad to see you back! I get to Phoenix now & then on biz, next time I'll let you know when I'm coming & bring my boots, maybe we can do a quick-trip somewhere!”