Geraldine Largay died of exposure on Appalachian Trail, autopsy finds - Press Herald

[WhiteBlaze]

Press Herald

Geraldine Largay died of exposure on Appalachian Trail, autopsy finds Press Herald Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Geraldine Largay died of exposure and lack of food and water, according to an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The Maine Warden Service announced the results of the medical examiner's examination, which ...

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[Sheriff Cougar]

I hope she was able to leave a note for her family........

[JohnHuth]

The search patterns look very thorough. I suppose this bring the sad story some closure.

For the rest of us: bring along your maps and compass.

[Venchka]

A strong case could also be made for carrying a P.L.B.

Wayne

[Offshore]

A strong case could also be made for carrying a P.L.B.

Wayne

Spot Gen 3 is free after $150 rebate (with purchase of service plan) until 12/31/15 should anyone be so inclined.

[Venchka]

Spot Gen 3 may not always work in dense tree cover. A PLB has no subscription fees. $150 battery replacement every 5 years or $30/year. I believe that is less than a Spot subscription. PLBs always get your SOS out.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[johnnybgood]

Spot Gen 3 may not always work in dense tree cover. A PLB has no subscription fees. $150 battery replacement every 5 years or $30/year. I believe that is less than a Spot subscription. PLBs always get your SOS out.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

Sorry, catch me up to speed here....What exactly is a PLB ? Is it the newer generation SPOT ?

[Venchka]

Personal Locator Beacon. They have been around longer than Spot. Google knows.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[Venchka]

I did the research for you.
Personal Locator Beacon. When you absolutely, positively MUST be found.
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Person...Locator-Beacon

Wayne

[johnnybgood]

Ah , of course . Personal Locator Beacon .
Thanks !

[Offshore]

PLBs always get your SOS out.

One would be a fool to believe that. They rely on electronics and batteries, and many use GPS so need the same view of the sky.

[Venchka]

One would be a fool to believe that. They rely on electronics and batteries, and many use GPS so need the same view of the sky.

I'm that fool.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[Starchild]

One plus about spot is that if you have the subscription it does include rescue insurance.

[Shutterbug]

Sorry, catch me up to speed here....What exactly is a PLB ? Is it the newer generation SPOT ?

Personal Locator Beacon is what I used when I was a USAF Pilot. It is basically the same technology that I carried in Vietnam although the actual units are more compact and the batteries last longer. I own PLB, but no longer carry it, because it's only use is rescue.

The SPOT is a satellite communicator. I was an "early adopter." What I liked about the SPOT was that in addition to using it for emergencies, I could use it to allow my family to track where I was even when there was not emergency. The early versions of the SPOT were strictly one way communication. It sends out messages, but does not receive. I am not sure if there are later versions that are two way.

Personally, I use a Delorme InReach satellite communicator. It does everything the SPOT does, plus it also receives messages. When I hike in places where there is no cell coverage, I use the InReach to communicate with family. I use it when I travel internationally. Last year I was able to communicate with family from the Mekong River.

[Offshore]

I'm that fool.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

Nothing against the PLB, just the use of "always". Don't put absolute faith in an electronic device that runs on a battery.

[Offshore]

One plus about spot is that if you have the subscription it does include rescue insurance.

You need to select the GEOS rescue benefit as an optional item - it's only about $20, but its not in the base plan so be sure you select it if you want it.

[egilbe]

I'm that fool.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

It may make the body easier or harder to recover as it did Kate Maristrovka.

[Another Kevin]

The SARSAT network can solve for the location of a PLB even if the PLB doesn't have a GPS signal. Unfortunately, it could take as long as a few hours if the geometry is wrong. If the GPS signal is good, a single ping can get the information out. (That's one advantage of a PLB over a SPOT or InReach.)

Making my body easier to find is a Very Good Thing for the safety of searchers. I don't expect to be fortunate enough to be found still alive if I get into serious trouble, but since I know the searchers will be coming after me, I want to do what I can to keep them safe. Lighting a PLB will take most of the 'search' out of 'search and rescue'.

[adamkrz]

I did the research for you.
Personal Locator Beacon. When you absolutely, positively MUST be found.
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Person...Locator-Beacon

Wayne

Not all the time - The female hiker who died this past winter in the Whites had used hers and actually took the rescuers off track.

[Another Kevin]

Not all the time - The female hiker who died this past winter in the Whites had used hers and actually took the rescuers off track.

Ms. Matrosova's PLB was not certified to operate in the weather that she encountered. Which says more about the weather than the PLB. It never reported a GPS position, and the satellite triangulation was near-worst case, with an uncertainty of about a kilometer. The device failed before anyone could use the 121.5 MHz signal to home in on. (There are several redundant systems by which a PLB can be triangulated.) The conditions were so foul that nobody could have reached her in time, even if the device had worked perfectly.