SPOT units are compact communication devices that can be used to summon help in event of an emergency in remote areas. SPOT can be a life-saving tool, but false alarms by inept users can also be a problem. Recent incidents in two parks illustrate the potential and the pitfalls of modern technology.
A previous article in the Traveler described the potential benefits of SPOT:
Officially dubbed a "Satellite GPS Messenger," this unit can be used to summon the authorities ASAP, track and store your movements, allow friends to follow you via Google Maps, and let those back home know that you could use a little assistance but that there's no emergency.
A good example of a beneficial use of SPOT occurred recently at Olympic National Park in Washington State. According to a park report,
On September 2nd, a 65-year-old man from Montesano, Washington, fell 20 feet while traversing above the Elwha Snowfinger on the Bailey Traverse. The man complained of head and back pain, so members of his party of three activated their emergency SPOT beacon.
The park had a light plane in the air doing wildfire reconnaissance at the time. It was diverted to the reported location and spotted the group of three on a steep hillside signaling for help.
Assistant Fire Management Officer Todd Rankin and ranger Mike Danisiewicz were flown close to the location by helicopter and Danisiewicz was able to scramble up the hillside to the injured man and begin an assessment. He determined that a hoist evacuation would be required due to the hazardous terrain and extent of the man’s injuries.
Whidbey Island Naval Air Station responded with a Blackhawk and flew the man to Seattle's Harbor View Hospital. He suffered no internal injuries, but required eight liters of fluid because of severe dehydration.
On the flip side of the SPOT ledger, a situation at Grand Canyon National Park confirms that some people don't understand what's required for a "911" response to a remote location. Ironically, the following incident occurred on the same day as the rescue at Olympic.
At 1:30 a.m. on the morning of September 2nd, the GEOS Emergency Response Center in Houston notified dispatch of a SPOT personal satellite tracker 911 activation that had been received from the park. The location coordinates placed the device along the Tanner Trail, approximately three miles from the trailhead.
An investigation revealed that the registered owner was associated with a backcountry permit holder who had extensive hiking experience in the park.
That "extensive hiking experience in the park" was important information, since it increased the probability that this call for help was the real deal. The park responded accordingly:
A trail response was begun at first light, just prior to the launch of the NPS helicopter with additional personnel.
Unfortunately, not everyone in the group had the extensive hiking experience of the person who obtained the backcountry permit, and that includes the person who sounded the alarm via SPOT.
A ranger arrived on scene to find three people asleep in their tents and in no need of assistance. One of the hikers, who was on her first hike into Grand Canyon, claimed to have become alarmed during the night when her group ran out of water and she subsequently heard “odd” respiratory noises emanating from the leader of the group as he slept.
At this point, the hiker decided that the group was in trouble [and] activated her SPOT messenger device.
It's a good thing those "odd respiratory noises" by the group leader didn't indicate a need for immediate help by that individual. After activating her "911" call via her SPOT unit, the inexperience hiker
...went back to sleep without making any contact with her hiking companions.
There are several potential lessons to be learned from this situation, but since my knowledge of the incident is limited to the park's brief report, I'll exercise discretion, and let you draw your own conclusions. The group's lack of water was a certainly a serious problem if they had tried to continue their hike…but not a reason to call out the cavalry.
Given their circumstance, the group made a good decision:
The group ultimately abandoned further plans for their hike and returned to the rim. The Tanner Trail is exposed, with little shade and no water for the entire nine miles of the hike to the Colorado River.
Following subsequent interviews with the involved hikers, the park decided not to take further action.
Whether devices like SPOT prove to be a boon or a bane for rescue personnel remains to be seen. The verdict is largely in the hands of the users.
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Comments
In this infuriating example of misuse, these hikers use SPOT as room service:
Reposted from the Rafting_Grand_Canyon Yahoo board:
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Hikers Evacuated After Three SPOT Activations In Three Days
On the evening of September 23rd, rangers began a search for hikers who
repeatedly activated their rented SPOT satellite tracking device. The GEOS
Emergency Response Center in Houston reported that someone in the group of
four hikers - two men and their two teenaged sons - had pressed the "help"
button on their SPOT unit. The coordinates for the signal placed the group
in a remote section of the park, most likely on the challenging Royal Arch
loop. Due to darkness and the remoteness of the location, rangers were
unable to reach them via helicopter until the following morning. When found,
they'd moved about a mile and a half to a water source. They declined
rescue, as they'd activated the device due to their lack of water. Later
that same evening, the same SPOT device was again activated, this time using
the "911" button. Coordinates placed them less than a quarter mile from the
spot where searchers had found them that morning. Once again, nightfall
prevented a response by park helicopter, so an Arizona DPS helicopter whose
crew utilized night vision goggles was brought in. They found that the
members of the group were concerned about possible dehydration because the
water they'd found tasted salty, but no actual emergency existed. The
helicopter crew declined their request for a night evacuation, but provided
them with water before departing. On the following morning, another SPOT
"help" activation came in from the group. This time they were flown out by
park helicopter. All four refused medical assessment or treatment. The
group's leader had reportedly hiked once at the Grand Canyon; the other
adult had no Grand Canyon and very little backpacking experience. When asked
what they would have done without the SPOT device, the leader stated, "We
would have never attempted this hike." The group leader was issued a
citation for creating a hazardous condition (36 CFR 2.34(a)(4)). [Submitted
by Brandon Torres, Canyon District Shift Supervisor]