Great backcountry safety article(s)

[jerrett]

Was poking around today and came across to blog posts by Jeremy Jones that I thought were worth sharing, both on Backcountry safety.

http://jeremyjones.net/2009/12/five-red-flags/
http://jeremyjones.net/2009/12/backcount...http://jeremyjones.net/2009/12/backcountry-basics-part-two-ju

Worth a read - The first one is very basic warning signs, and the second is a little more him musing on personal experiences outlining the importance of patience and reading the signs.

[peteraugusts]

Backcountry needs these items are necessary in emergencies.:

1. Topographic map and magnetic compass
2. Flashlight (with extra batteries and bulb)
3. Extra clothing (including mittens, hat, jacket and rain gear)
4. Sunglasses
5. Extra food and water
6. Waterproof matches in waterproof container
7. Candle/Fire starter
8. Pocket knife
9. First aid kit
10. Space blanket or two large heavy-duty trash bags
11. Extra Clothing and many more..

[flary]

Since almost all my tramping is in backcountry about as remote as you can get in the North Island, and solo, safety is my first priority.
I am prudent, perhaps cautious, and am well prepared.
However, the stress of those close to me when am in the mountains detracts a little from the experience.
I had looked at getting a personal locator beacon (PLB).

The first choice is GPS enabled or not. PLBs with a GPS onboard are more expensive but can send your exact (if you can get a gps signal) location with your distress call.
The newer 406MHz beacons also send unique information that identifies the unit sending the signal and contact details of the owner, perhaps helping with the search.

A good deal of my tramping is river routes often with steep sides. My Garmin map60 struggles, often with one or two satellites only. In this situation, would a GPS enabled PLB get help to me any faster than one without?
Where you can get a GPS fix, this feature can get help almost straight to you.
Having decided to spend the $$$s on a GPS PLB, I came across the SPOT messenger and it has added a whole new option.

The Spot messenger (google findmespot) has an onboard GPS and can send a distress signal but also has some other, very useful, functions.
The first thing that caught my attention was the ability to send an 'I'm OK' signal with your current location. This goes to a phone as a SMS and/or email as a Google Maps link. Awesome! Now I can let them know where I am and that I am fine. Everyone's happy.
It can also send a 'Help me' message for non life threatening emergencies as well as a "911 request" for a full blown emergency. All messages have your current location (if you can get a gps fix).

This additional functionality comes with using a commercial satellite system and therefore there is a yearly subscription cost at around USD$100 with some more functions available at a further cost.
This means that the signal will be detected in the US not in NZ although it will be passed on immediately, it does add another 'cog in the wheel' and a place for failure.
Forums in the US are full of problems with getting a signal although New Zealand and Australia apparently have very good, strong signal coverage.

I have been unable to find very much feedback on this product in used in NZ. Anyone have a comment?

[eric]

(07-16-2010 02:40 AM)flary Wrote:  Since almost all my tramping is in backcountry about as remote as you can get in the North Island, and solo, safety is my first priority.
I am prudent, perhaps cautious, and am well prepared.
However, the stress of those close to me when am in the mountains detracts a little from the experience.
I had looked at getting a personal locator beacon (PLB).

The first choice is GPS enabled or not. PLBs with a GPS onboard are more expensive but can send your exact (if you can get a gps signal) location with your distress call.
The newer 406MHz beacons also send unique information that identifies the unit sending the signal and contact details of the owner, perhaps helping with the search.

A good deal of my tramping is river routes often with steep sides. My Garmin map60 struggles, often with one or two satellites only. In this situation, would a GPS enabled PLB get help to me any faster than one without?
Where you can get a GPS fix, this feature can get help almost straight to you.
Having decided to spend the $$$s on a GPS PLB, I came across the SPOT messenger and it has added a whole new option.

The Spot messenger (google findmespot) has an onboard GPS and can send a distress signal but also has some other, very useful, functions.
The first thing that caught my attention was the ability to send an 'I'm OK' signal with your current location. This goes to a phone as a SMS and/or email as a Google Maps link. Awesome! Now I can let them know where I am and that I am fine. Everyone's happy.
It can also send a 'Help me' message for non life threatening emergencies as well as a "911 request" for a full blown emergency. All messages have your current location (if you can get a gps fix).

This additional functionality comes with using a commercial satellite system and therefore there is a yearly subscription cost at around USD$100 with some more functions available at a further cost.
This means that the signal will be detected in the US not in NZ although it will be passed on immediately, it does add another 'cog in the wheel' and a place for failure.
Forums in the US are full of problems with getting a signal although New Zealand and Australia apparently have very good, strong signal coverage.

I have been unable to find very much feedback on this product in used in NZ. Anyone have a comment?

I also looked into getting a PLB vs a SPOt and ended up picked the SPOT. The extra features like 'track me' really made the choice for me. I've used my SPOT in a few different places on the Island without any issues so far. My friend has the original SPOT and went all the way down to south america with it and didn't have any problems sending out updates.