2020-11-17, 09:30 PM
(This post was last modified: 2020-11-17, 09:31 PM by MojaveGeek.
Edit Reason: duplicate message
)
David, hope you're OK! Obviously as we age, the shit starts to hit the fan. I went in back in February to "rule out heart attack" (which was something I very much wanted to rule out) and ended up diagnosed for pulmonary emboli. Which did not rule out a trip out to the Mojave a few weeks later, but I'm thinking maybe I've hung up my climbing harness for the last time (worry of intra-cranial bleeding - sobering, a friend on the same meds as I died with that cause a few months ago now). It seems a tough balance between doing what you want and not being too unsafe. Not going alone is great. I spend a lot of my time out solo though, and on foot away from the safety of a vehicle, so...
Taco, those are interesting cases you mention. Now I would HOPE that the InReach protocol would be that you hit SOS and the responders message you, so you could tell them the details. That is exactly why I wanted it over the Spot - that we could communicate before they sent the chopper. Good question if that actually happens that way.
But, right. I could see myself in a situation where I am at my vehicle, which is disabled for whatever reason, but have water and maybe food (less essential) and enough gear to survive a random day or two. What I would need is a tow, not a chopper. Now I could simply text my wife directly (via the InReach) to explain, because that message would have the position (I'm pretty sure) and at 10 or 25 cents a message, well worth it
A friend who lives out there uses message 3 to signal his wife "I'm on a road, I'm fine, but please come because I need assistance". Which might mean using a tow strap on the second vehicle or maybe driving him out if he's physically unable to drive, or whatever. Nice to have the flexibility. That doesn't do me much good when my "help" is 3 days or more away
Your two experiences in the Saline were intense. We were once first on the scene when a pickup in the other lane went off the road (no rollover, driver probably had a seizure, was not conscious) but we had cell service. Another vehicle also stopped and smashed a window so my wife, a doctor, could get into the cab and evaluate the driver. With the motor running and fluid draining on the ground we had some concerns about possible fire, but it turned out the liquid was from the case of beer in the back that had been smashed (intoxication did not appear to be a factor, though, based on preliminary investigation).
Those beat hikers must have been SO glad you stopped!
Taco, those are interesting cases you mention. Now I would HOPE that the InReach protocol would be that you hit SOS and the responders message you, so you could tell them the details. That is exactly why I wanted it over the Spot - that we could communicate before they sent the chopper. Good question if that actually happens that way.
But, right. I could see myself in a situation where I am at my vehicle, which is disabled for whatever reason, but have water and maybe food (less essential) and enough gear to survive a random day or two. What I would need is a tow, not a chopper. Now I could simply text my wife directly (via the InReach) to explain, because that message would have the position (I'm pretty sure) and at 10 or 25 cents a message, well worth it
A friend who lives out there uses message 3 to signal his wife "I'm on a road, I'm fine, but please come because I need assistance". Which might mean using a tow strap on the second vehicle or maybe driving him out if he's physically unable to drive, or whatever. Nice to have the flexibility. That doesn't do me much good when my "help" is 3 days or more away
Your two experiences in the Saline were intense. We were once first on the scene when a pickup in the other lane went off the road (no rollover, driver probably had a seizure, was not conscious) but we had cell service. Another vehicle also stopped and smashed a window so my wife, a doctor, could get into the cab and evaluate the driver. With the motor running and fluid draining on the ground we had some concerns about possible fire, but it turned out the liquid was from the case of beer in the back that had been smashed (intoxication did not appear to be a factor, though, based on preliminary investigation).
Those beat hikers must have been SO glad you stopped!