Re: Do you carry a PLB ( Locator Beacon) ?
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 3:15 pm
asmrz wrote:
Unfortunately, I live in Idyllwild with full view of Tahquitz Rock, San Jacinto Peak and the heli pad. One of the things that colors my opinion is the amount of rescues and the reasons for them. Every week during the spring and summer, people get tired while hiking local trails, run out of water, or miss the trail and, you guessed it, press the locator or make the call. When we first moved here 15 years ago, it was amusing. It is less so now. Basic skills of backcountry travel are not followed, people have not a clue about outdoors, responsibility for one's safety is given to that button and the experts, who will pull my ass out of danger so I can do it again next weekend. This is not complicated, it happens every week here, and I'm sure in lot of other places.
I think I understand your opinion of PLB's better, asmrz.
Where I live and 'recreate' I may not see anyone else on the trail/mountain for a day or maybe longer, so I am glad I have a PLB. However, if I was in your area and saw the same sort of 'abuse' of the SAR system as you mention in your post; I would have a different opinion, I think.