Oh here's an interesting Hiker Locator

[Wise Old Owl]

I am a bit troubled by something… If I left a clear plan of my hike in the wilderness in the front window of my car for police to find. And the Cell doesn't’t work, and you choose to hike by yourself following blazes of some unknown trail. (no I don’t think my relatives give a hoot) How comfortable would you feel and would you do something differently?

[bredler]

Sounds like leaving an advertisement on your dash saying that you wouldn't be back for a while is asking for a break-in.

[Nest]

I am a bit troubled by something… If I left a clear plan of my hike in the wilderness in the front window of my car for police to find. And the Cell doesn't’t work, and you choose to hike by yourself following blazes of some unknown trail. (no I don’t think my relatives give a hoot) How comfortable would you feel and would you do something differently?

I wouldn't leave a detailed itenerary visible from the outside of my car. Most people are decent, but it just takes one to see that and wait for you. I would leave a note saying I was on a trail and maybe when I plan on returning to the car, but that's it. Maybe a contact number of someone at home who does have an itenerary for the cops to call just in case.

[Nest]

Sounds like leaving an advertisement on your dash saying that you wouldn't be back for a while is asking for a break-in.

Just saw this, and good point. Maybe just a contact number of someone at home then. If the cops are worried or anything, they can call.

[Cuffs]

HUH? This forum is for those behind a keyboard who need assistance in locating a hiker who is currently out on a trail...

[Wise Old Owl]

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg275/MarkSwarbrick/Nuts.jpg

Ok Cuff's I don't disagree, But when I post in General it gets transported to never never land.

[Wise Old Owl]

What if you are the Hiker that needs assistance ??

[fiddlehead]

If you are worried about breaking a leg or something (or getting lost)
Why don't you tell a friend here on whiteblaze and that you will check back in on a certain date as per your plan.
Maybe someone here would be more responsible than your friends or family.
Just an opinion.

Personally, i never worry about things like that. If i get lost, i go downhill to water and follow it.
If i break a leg? Well i never have and have hiked pretty much.

One time i hiked with someone who had a stress fracture but he could still walk.
I guess i worry about it more if i'm mountaineering and i don't do that alone.

If i get murdered? Well gee, i never really thought about that either.

Nah, i'm not gonna look for things to worry about.

Now being in the wrong forum? That's cause for worry. (just kiddin)

[NICKTHEGREEK]

Hello, Operator? Trace this call and tell me where the heck I am.

[Homer&Marje]

I always tell 1 relative and 1 friend where I am going when I leave for more than a few days. I try not to leave any itinerary in the view of the public and always try to park where I will not be towed. If I was weary about the car getting carted off by the cops I might leave a note saying something like Vehicle not abandoned. Driver is hiking. Very vague, no times or what not. If they run the license plate and come up with a missing persons report they've got their first clue:D

[Homer&Marje]

If you are worried about breaking a leg or something (or getting lost)
Why don't you tell a friend here on whiteblaze and that you will check back in on a certain date as per your plan.
Maybe someone here would be more responsible than your friends or family.
Just an opinion.

Personally, i never worry about things like that. If i get lost, i go downhill to water and follow it.
If i break a leg? Well i never have and have hiked pretty much.

One time i hiked with someone who had a stress fracture but he could still walk.
I guess i worry about it more if i'm mountaineering and i don't do that alone.

If i get murdered? Well gee, i never really thought about that either.

Nah, i'm not gonna look for things to worry about.

Now being in the wrong forum? That's cause for worry. (just kiddin)


Your in Thailand. You can ONLY go downhill to water:D JK Careful of those nasty wasps too.

[Gaiter]

as i've learned from living in atlanta, if you are worried about your car being broken into, remove all valuables except for the itinerary (maybe put that in an envelop so your whole plan isn't visible) and leave your car unlocked....

or maybe a note on the itinerary saying 'if i'm not back by _______ then please break my window and come find me' be sure to put a reasonable date.

[Camp Counselor]

I am a bit troubled by something… If I left a clear plan of my hike in the wilderness in the front window of my car for police to find. And the Cell doesn't’t work, and you choose to hike by yourself following blazes of some unknown trail. (no I don’t think my relatives give a hoot) How comfortable would you feel and would you do something differently?

I've always been in the habit of cleaning out my car or truck before I leave it at a trail head. I empty the glove box of all but the bare essentials and then those go in a zip under the seat. I leave the glove box and/or console open and empty so it's obvious that the vehicle has been cleaned out. The only thing anyone might see is a folded slip of paper on the seat that has contact and itinerary on it if but not with printed info showing from the outside.

The open and empty glove box idea was something I read on a forum years ago and have always done it. I've never had a break in even at places where other cars got hit while I was hiking. The itinerary is a copy of the same one I leave at home the the refrigerator for my wife.

[Montana Mac]

If the police are checking on your car they can do a registration check on the license plate, no need to enter the vehicle. If you are parked at a "trail head" parking lot it is a good chance it won't draw the attention of the police. If you leave a note who is going to read? As most people said it is an invitation to have your car broken into.

If your family decides to get around to calling the police if you are a "no show" they should know the trail head you entered the woods from. The police will check the trail head to see if the car is there. If so, a search of the trail will be conducted, so unless you "bushwacked" off trail you should be found.

[sasquatch2014]

I've always been in the habit of cleaning out my car or truck before I leave it at a trail head. I empty the glove box of all but the bare essentials and then those go in a zip under the seat. I leave the glove box and/or console open and empty so it's obvious that the vehicle has been cleaned out. The only thing anyone might see is a folded slip of paper on the seat that has contact and itinerary on it if but not with printed info showing from the outside.

The open and empty glove box idea was something I read on a forum years ago and have always done it. I've never had a break in even at places where other cars got hit while I was hiking. The itinerary is a copy of the same one I leave at home the the refrigerator for my wife.

I had my car broken into a year ago at the small parking area on Hoyt Rd near the NY Ct line. I had the ipod and Navagation units stolen. I had put them in the fold down between the seats but they saw the plugs for them and figured they must have been in the car. I was gone for a total of only 45 min while checking on something at the Wiley Shelter. I figure that it was local kids. I have replaced the both items now and lock them in the glove box. I was lucky my laptop was in the back part of the car (subaru wagon). What made me really angry was that they broke out the window to get in so I had to clean out all the glass and crap. Someone told me what they do when they plan to leave the car at a trail head for any extended period of time, I now do this as well. Its not too hard seeing as how I live in the car and constantly am transporting the kids as well. The week before they plan to leave the car they stop cleaning it out. By the end of the week I have all kinds of trash laying around. Newspapers, empty coffee cups, wrappers, etc. The theory is if you are going to break into a car which will you break into, or steal, one that looks like it may have something good in it or one that looks like someone lives in it? Has worked so far.

I don't leave info in my car as to where I will be. Police if they are concerned about a car note when they first saw it and then how long it has been there. They can run plates and find out who it belongs to if really concerned. You can always contact the local sheriff or who ever is there and tell them it will be there if you are worried that they will tow it or ticket you. Who knows if its slow they may even drive by from time to time. When possible I try not to leave it at trail heads anymore. There are enough WB's around that you may be able to find someone to have your car at their place and grab a ride to the trail. My 45 min walk cost me about $1,000 and over 3,000 songs. Finding the little punk who did it will be priceless. If I find him you may not want to mess with the water in the river nearby, cause someone maybe swimming with the fishes.:-?

[Doctari]

I agree with not leaving a note on/in the car saying in effect "I won't be back for 5 days, so do what you will to my car".

If you are that worried, find the local police or ranger station, leave a note there with a description of your car & where you will park. After you get safely back TELL THE POLICE / RANGERS THAT YOU ARE BACK! I also tell 2 or so family / friends when where etc and that I am "Out of the wilderness & heading home" first chance I get.

I did that one time in the GSMNP & got to see the funniest thing (to me) ever: Guy came in from the attached campground (Elkmont) commplaining that a bear had eaten all their food during the night, the ranger [while raching for a piece of paper] asked where the food had been kept, toruist: "in a cooler on the picnic table!!" The ranger handed him a $50.00 ticket/fine for feeding the bear :banana (the "piece of paper") I thought the toruists head was going to explode :D

I nearly died laughing.

So, had I not stopped to let the rangers know where I would be hiking, I would have missed that. And I wouldn't have missed that for anything!

I also second the idea that a messy car is less likely to be broken into, takes to much time to look thru all that stuff to find anything worth stealing IMHO. So far it has worked fine for me.

[Cuffs]

What if you are the Hiker that needs assistance ??

If a hiker is in need of assistance, I think WB would be the last place they look for help while on the trail.

[sasquatch2014]

If a hiker is in need of assistance, I think WB would be the last place they look for help while on the trail.

And so begins the cross thread to hiking with an iphone.:D

[wrongway_08]

dont leave a note, ever. I do let people know my plan but at the rate I get lost... they have gotten use to me never being were I'm supposed to be!

I also have the truck cleaned out well, leave the glovebox open and toss a pair of used looking socks and boxer briefs on the seat.... hey man if someone looks in and sees a pair of underwear on the seat and they still want to look through the truck.... they are sicker then I am :) !

Other then telling people at home were I am, thats all I do. Those locator things are just a nice peice of mind thing for the most part. I mean if someone tries to take you out, your not going to say excuse me while I press the "I'm in a heap of ***** and need you to send the airforce out to help me" button.

Just keep a cool head, keep try'n the cell phone and relaxe........ the worse that is going to happen is a few more days in the woods - that also means a few more days off from work!!! Thats called a Win-Win :) !

[Texasgirl]

Hello, Operator? Trace this call and tell me where the heck I am.

hahahaha...... I busted out laughing after such near-heavy posts!

[Texasgirl]

dont leave a note, ever. I do let people know my plan but at the rate I get lost... they have gotten use to me never being were I'm supposed to be!

I agree. No note in the car, take out valuables and park the car someplace that it's okay to be there. I tell family where I'm going, promise to check in when I'm done, and stay in the general vicinity where I said I'd be. I do this all the time when trail running long distances. I don't want to advertise I'm by myself, but I also don't want my family to think I've dropped off the planet.

[khanti]

Once I did not leave a note and a local called the police thinking the car was abandoned. This was in a pull-out in the national forest near a trailhead, as there was no actual parking at the trailhead. The police then proceeded to run the plates and got my old address. Since I didn't live there any longer they used the old emergency contact information I had on my rental agreement in the apartment complex to call my ex-wife 1200 miles away who had no idea I was hiking and proceeded to freak the heck out and call my entire family. The only folks who knew where I was were friends and co-workers, so my family were no help in persuading the police that I was OK and not the victim of foul play. I returned to my car to find a note from the sherriff and about 50 messages on my cell phone which I'd left in the car.

So, after that adventure, I leave a computer-printed note on the dash of the car that reads:


Attention

Law Enforcement

Local Residents

and

Potential Thieves





I've gone hiking and will return.




Friends are aware of my itinerary and will notify the proper authorities if I do not return as expected.







Special note to potential thieves...

I could be coming back at any time ...

wait ... is that me behind you right now??!

[fiddlehead]

Your in Thailand. You can ONLY go downhill to water:D JK Careful of those nasty wasps too.


I'm in Sedona, AZ right now (just got here 2 days ago)
Lots of beatiful mountains around and i'm staying with a friend who has tons of hiking experience. (way more than me)

Anyway, we are looking at this huge mountain in the middle of his great view from his back deck. I asked him if he's been up there yet and he said no.
So, we are going up there Sunday morning.
But we mentioned it to a 75 year old guy who's been up there 5 times.
He said that was a bad idea because there is no trail and some times people have to be rescued.

We're going anyway. Can't wait. See how my body likes going to 6600 feet from living at sea level for the past 10 months.

[NICKTHEGREEK]

I'm in Sedona, AZ right now (just got here 2 days ago)
Lots of beatiful mountains around and i'm staying with a friend who has tons of hiking experience. (way more than me)

Anyway, we are looking at this huge mountain in the middle of his great view from his back deck. I asked him if he's been up there yet and he said no.
So, we are going up there Sunday morning.
But we mentioned it to a 75 year old guy who's been up there 5 times.
He said that was a bad idea because there is no trail and some times people have to be rescued.

We're going anyway. Can't wait. See how my body likes going to 6600 feet from living at sea level for the past 10 months.
Go early, it really gets hot

[Wise Old Owl]

I knew this would be a hit! Thank's Khanti I like your reply. Great job everybody!


Thank's Moderators, NOW EVEN I CANNOT FIND MY THREAD! I really like hide & seek!