"Clearly, they didn't expect to get lost."
(Cue jarring music) Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
No one plans on getting lost, but they should plan what to do IF they get lost. This guy was lucky to be alive - he kept moving around, even though he knew he was lost, and he eventually stumbled across the trailhead where his car was parked. It amazed me that he was wandering around trying to find his way back and then wouldn't answer the phone because he apparently couldn't be bothered.
Years ago I was into geocaching, where you find a hidden cache of trinkets using coordinates and a handheld GPS unit. I'd always set waypoints as I hiked, so I could retrace my steps if I got turned around a few times. If I was hiking alone, especially in an unfamiliar area, that's one tool I would always want in my pack - as long as it can find a satellite, you can find your way back or tell someone exactly where you are.
"Satellite radios are expensive but I just found out you can rent them for as low as $8/day."
The expensive part is the usage costs - could be as high as $2-$3 per minute to call a landline or a cell phone, much higher to call another sat phone. |
