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Hard to beat the scenery in Patagonia though.

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Georgia Hiker’s Killer Helped Write Horror Movie About Serial Murderer

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Guests wrote:

NICE. Wish I could get my lady on the trail. I can’t even get her to go car camping.

Try bribery (shopping or a fancy dinner) works for my wife but you know your lady better than me, and if not, I’m in big trouble.

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Stories I’ve been told:

In talking with the company and a few reps I’ve heard a few interesting stories.

How To Catch A Crook:

At a baja race out West a motorcycle competitor crashed and was injured. He was airlifted out to a hospital and his bike was left behind. Some dude decided to steal the bike and not knowing the bike had a SPOT attached to it, he was promptly arrested. The SPOT allowed the riders wife to track the location of the bike (an added optional service). One for the good guys.

The tracking feature ups the yearly service agreement up to about $150. The trick is to just periodically press the ok button and this will allow friends and family to track you and will save you $50 a year.

Just In Time:

A guy’s 98 yr old mother saw the SPOT on TV and bought one for her son who spend a lot of time in Alaska as a security guard and w/o a telephone. She wanted a way to be sure her son was okay and asked him to send her an okay message twice a week. He did so for several weeks. During the Winter the lodge he was guarding (think “The Shining” heating went out and hypothermia was beginning to become a very real possibility. He went outside and built a huge fire but eventually passed out (details are a bit vague here as I was having two coversations at this time).. In the end, his extremeties began to freeze and just before passing out he hit the 911 feature and he was rescued by the Air National Guard in the nick of time, barely.

Like I said, I’ll let you all know what I think soon.

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I’ve been talking with the company for about a week now in regards to SAR applications for Army Aviation and having the Spot with us in our flight vest as we fly.
Today I was offered a complimentary unit. I have to activate it out of my own pocket (hopefully my unit will foot that bill for training purposes) so I’ll soon be giving you my impressions on the Spot.

A good website I was given from the rep is:

sales.findmespot.com

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I’ve read about it, heard about it, but never seen it and I’m dying to see it. Is it on the tube lately or DVD only?

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I’ve spend A LOT of time on the backpacker site, checking it out, even before the big upgrade. I’ve told you in email but let’s make it public. I really don’t care for the backpacker site very much. Bigger, flashier, more “busy” is not the way to go in my opinion.

Also, I’m not happy with the changes to the magazine. Some of the better features like tear out a card hikes, regional hikes aren’t there anymore and lasat month there’s an article about some rock star (didn’t read it). I truly hope backpacker isn’t losing it’s way and turning into some type of fashion magazine for the outdoors.

Keep it up Bird Shooter.

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Well said Tomvag. I keep on posting run ins I have with aggressive dogs on the trails. We seem to be going through quite a streak of meeting Kujo’s cousins these days on Savannah area trails, but I keep deleting the comment in order to keep it civilized conversation. I simply don’t get how people seemingly don’t have a problem with their dogs charging, snarling, nipping, at my 4 yr old and then get upset when the dog gets kicked. Are people truly this self centered that they put a dog over a kid? In Savannah, this seems to be the case.

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SPOT Sattellite Messenger

Backpacker Editors Choice Award April 2008 issue

They did a really good writeup on the gadget. In case you don’t have access to Backpacker I’ll do my best to post their writeup. Please excuse typos…I’m medicated.

Now you can call in a rescue–or simply send the OK signal-from anywhere

First, the problem: Wilderness adventurers have always faced a delemma when choosing how to call in help. Cell phones are useless in remote locations without reception. Satellite phones are generally reliable, but heavy and expensive. Personal locater beacons are lightweight and reliable, but they can only send one message and emergency recsue alert, even if you just have an ankle sprain.

Now, the solution: SPOT, an internet tracking beacon that wighs less than 8 ounces and uses GPS to determine your location, then transmits it along with your safety status to pre-selected contacts via email or text message. The waterproof, floatable, soap bar sized SPOT has three key functions:

* 911: Push this and GeOS Alliance, a global rexue coordination company, contacts local authorities (24/7) and directs them to your location. Repeats every 5 minutes. You can also cancel any distress call and offers optional rescue insurance.

*HELP: If you’re stranded but not in any immediate danger, pushing this and up to 4 people you pre-selected will receive an email with a link to Google Maps showing your location. This is useful if, you’ve just twisted an ankle or are lost but not injured in which case friends or rangers can find and help you. If they choose to alert authorities, rescuers will know the situation is serious but not dire and can respond appropriately.

* OK: This feature gives your anxious spouse, mom, or envious friends the peace of mind that you’re safe, prevent them from initiating premature SAR efforts should you merely be overdue, and also lets them follow your trip with a Google Map link showing your location. Your contacts can log in to your account and check your progress at any time, you don’t need to do a thing.

During six weeks of sending test messages from canyons, timerbed ravins, and alpine cirques, the SPOT reliably broadcast OK reports anywhere we had a decent view of the sky (such as a canyyon with a 30 degree arc of view overhead. Check the SPOT website for coverage detail. Like a GPS, it needs time to orient and should be left on for at least 30 minutes- ideally stationary and face up-when transmitting. In risky situation, simply leave it on. Two AA lithium batteries last long enough for 1,000 to 1,200 OK messages, or several weeks of continuous tracking.

7.3 oz, $159 plus the basic subscription of $99/yearly: Options: Tracking for %50/year, rescue insurance for $8/yer (pays up to $100K in SAR fees). 866-651-7768; findmespot.com

As soon as I get back from Iraq, hopefully the price is down a bit more and I’ll be getting it. Was thinking on getting one anyway while I’m in Iraq for the wife but not sure how effective it would be in a moving helicopter. We have two GPS’ in the a/c and they work great so that’s a question I’d have to ask the company about I think.

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Yet another bad experience with dog owners who place their dog over my kid. Yet another pit bull on the trail, unleashed, and charged me rather than my son. When my 4 yr old panicked, the dog got interested in him and charged my son. Dog got the snot kicked out of him repeatedly and whacked with the trekking pole. Dog owner was upset at me for hitting his dog..go figure. I wish I could say this is the only experience I’ve had with vicious dogs on the trail but it’s not. And the dog owner’s reply of his dog’s behavior after he calmed down? “I just don’t understand, he’s never done that before, I never thought he’d do something like this”. Whatever.

I love friendly dogs on the trail but I’m sick to death of kujos.

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That would be an interesting matchup but my money would be on Bear as he’d simply run his way out due to his superior athletic ability and his fitness. Just as long as it’s not another desert episode, ugh.

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Birdshooter,

What did you decide or is the jury still out? Forum traffic seems to have picked up lately by a smidge.

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After watching all the Man Versus Wild re-edited episodes, I like them a ton more with the transparency. Now if they’d just show the Patagonia episodes a bit more rather than the stincking desert ones.

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Great advice Birdshooter, was hoping you had BMT on your list.

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Chihuahua….

the other, other white meat.

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