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Missing hiker found dead in the Whites


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Home Forums General Forums General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion Missing hiker found dead in the Whites

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Viewing 25 posts - 51 through 75 (of 88 total)
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  • #2176598
    BlackHatGuy
    Spectator

    @sleeping

    Locale: The Cascades

    "A good article.
    The details are enlightening.

    Thanks."

    +1

    #2176606
    Tom Hadley
    BPL Member

    @chiniak

    Locale: New Hampshire

    In response to my inquiry…

    Tom,
    Preliminary information that we have received is that this model is a “Class 2 Beacon” only rated to -4 degrees (class one beacons are operational to -40)which may have contributed to the erroneous readings. You may want to contact the company directly with questions about the device as this information came from a third party.
    Take care,
    Jim

    Lt. James Goss
    NH Fish and Game Department
    Region 2
    Box 417
    New Hampton, NH 03256
    Tel: 603-744-5470

    #2176608
    Greg Mihalik
    Spectator

    @greg23

    Locale: Colorado

    Class 2: -4F

    I never paid any attention, until now.
    I'm not camping in sub-zero weather, but many are, and this could be significant.

    Thanks.

    #2176631
    Derek Weeks
    BPL Member

    @lighting12

    Good article!

    Thanks for sharing!

    #2176766
    Seth R
    BPL Member

    @lerxst

    Locale: Northeast

    What are the class 1 PLB devices that operate at lower temps accurately? My google search was fruitless?

    #2176786
    Richard Cullip
    BPL Member

    @richardcullip

    Locale: San Diego County

    Class 1 or 2 relates to the battery

    "When researching which PLB to buy, there’s no reason to choose an aviation-specific model. In fact, there’s really no such thing. You’re better off selecting a unit based on features and battery life. COSPAS-SARSAT rules require all approved PLBs to operate for a minimum of 24 hours after activation, but there are two battery classes. Class 1 heavy-duty batteries must be able to transmit for 24 hours at -40 degrees Fahrenheit while Class 2 batteries must transmit for 24 hours at -20 degrees Fahrenheit."

    ref: http://www.flyingmag.com/avionics-gear/pilot-supplies/buyers-guide-personal-locator-beacons

    #2176804
    Greg Mihalik
    Spectator

    @greg23

    Locale: Colorado

    Seth,
    I too looked for a Class 1 PLB to no avail. I found plenty of references to Class 1 standards and batteries, but no actual devices.

    The battery weight difference was about 4 ounces, and I assume a bigger housing would be needed. Weight could be an issue.

    If one were spending time below -4℉ I think a Class 2 at body temperature would suffice for 30 to 60 minutes in the elements. Is that enough? Not for me…, but as I mentioned, at those temps I'm, sitting by the fireplace.

    If you or anyone else finds a Class 1, please post.

    #2176906
    peter tooke
    Spectator

    @petersont

    Locale: NYC

    The Boston Globe article establishes that – taking the tracking info off of her personal GPS – she reaches the top of Mt Adams and then turns back down towards Star Lake & presumably just a bit further, Madison Spring Hut and survival. But the article leaves us assuming that she can't make enough headway or walk at all to reach it because of 100+ mph winds blowing directly in her face. Certainly I've never experienced, let alone tried walking in winds anywhere close to that… but apparently the search & rescue folks were able to. So – why couldn't she reach the hut? Lost in the whiteout? Too cold / beat / frostbitten / disoriented to walk any further? Terribly tragic – the hut's just 900' or so / a long NYC city block away, although I don't know how boarded up / difficult it might be to break into.

    #2176910
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    Article said she was blown off trail.

    #2176911
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    http://www.equipped.com/plb_chart.htm for some class 1 examples.

    Becker.com.tw has class 1

    #2176915
    Seth R
    BPL Member

    @lerxst

    Locale: Northeast

    Greg, I looked up SPOT just to see what they claim and it's -30. I agree, not that big an issue as I'm on the couch with the cat when it's that cold.

    Peter, she was probably near hypothermic breakdown by the time she reached Star Lake. It took her 10.5 hours to cover a relatively short distance. The SAR folks went straight to the lake without summitting either peak(I presume). It's a short hike once you're out of the trees. The hut was closed and offered no rescue.

    John, thanks for the list.

    #2177034
    Jake D
    BPL Member

    @jakedatc

    Locale: Bristol,RI

    ^^ agree. The summits are on spur paths from the main trail so you can bypass them. All of it is super exposed.

    take in consideration that she was in crampons not snowshoes.. so any drifts or deep snow would have been very difficult to move through. I think the article said chest deep in some spots. That will slow down and exhaust someone.

    As much as the PLB stuff is useful for everyone else. The issue in this case was leaving the car. or in the very least.. going past Madison Hut once she got out of the trees. I had friends on lower mountains that had no problems.

    Hut is quite boarded up. I'm not sure what they lock all the shutters with but i'm guessing it would not be easy. Would involve prying off shutters, breaking locks and glass more than likely. the main entrance is actually buried in that drift.
    (not my pic)
    mad.hut

    100mph on mt washington.. century club (weather observers on the deck)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCbaFEYldUg

    #2177101
    peter tooke
    Spectator

    @petersont

    Locale: NYC

    i looked but could not find any account of anyone ever breaking into one of the huts in an emergency… and from the picture it looks unlikely she could have managed to get in even had she reached it. And you are certainly right: 10+ hours out, no snowshoes, chest high drifts, hypothermic breakdown, 100+ mph winds, white out conditions, exhaustion…

    #2177112
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    You know, I am staring at that hut photo. It seems to me that if a person had any sort of digging tool, they could dig themselves a tunnel into that snow drift. It might not be warm, but it would get you out of the wind. How many winter hikers carry a digging tool with them on a dayhike? It could save your life.

    –B.G.–

    #2177131
    Paul Magnanti
    BPL Member

    @paulmags

    Locale: Colorado Plateau

    "How many winter hikers carry a digging tool with them on a dayhike? It could save your life."

    For any excursions the are lengthy and/or above treeline and/or away from popular use, I always carry a shovel. For ANY day trip, I carry a Christmas tree storage bag. It is always in my winter pack. 4oz, $2 and makes a quick and dirty bivy shelter in an emergency.

    http://www.pmags.com/quick-tip-xmas-tree-disposal-bag-emergency-shelter

    The storage bag, with a shovel, provides some measure of safety and security if an emergency should develop.

    #2177133
    Jake D
    BPL Member

    @jakedatc

    Locale: Bristol,RI

    Probably right Bob. Problem is they were well past that point when they got back towards that area. I think most locals, even if they had given just Madison a shot would have turned around at treeline just before the shelter. you come out of trees a few hundred yds north of the hut and it is all rock/scrub after that.

    Snowshoes could be uses for digging.

    #2177195
    Paul Magnanti
    BPL Member

    @paulmags

    Locale: Colorado Plateau

    Snowshoes make terrible shovels..even in an emergency.

    If you want go light, these are good JIC type gear.

    http://www.snowclaw.com/

    Not nearly as good as real shovel, but packs easier and is lighter. Only $20 as well.

    #2177217
    Jake D
    BPL Member

    @jakedatc

    Locale: Bristol,RI

    good to know. I don't hike much in the winter.. i'm a skinny bastard who doesn't like the cold ;) If i did i'm sure i'd want a real avy shovel.

    #2177228
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    Real avalanche shovels tend to be shaped like grain scoops because they are intended to move a lot of snow in a hurry. As a result of their large size, often they are left behind in the car. As Paul pointed out, a Snowclaw is not as good as a real shovel, but it is compact enough that it is likely to be carried. If things get really bad, something as simple as a Sierra cup can be used, although this is very small and slow. I've dug out solo snow trenches before using the metal lid of a 4-quart cook pot. Crude, but effective.

    –B.G.–

    #2177266
    David Thomas
    BPL Member

    @davidinkenai

    Locale: North Woods. Far North.

    You can make two pretty substantial snow claws – larger than the manufactured one if you want – out of the sides of a 5-gallon bucket. I'd suggest filing down the business end to cut into packed / icy snow better. And wrap the handles with some duct tape / first-aid tape / pipe wrap / vapor-barrier tape or whatever your favorites are. Then you have some tape along, just as if you'd wrapped it around your water bottle, but it also pads and smoothes the edges of the handle portion.

    The side of the bucket are just about right. A lighter weight version can be made from those roll-up HDPE sleds. But then I'd go a little smaller-sized snow claw – that gauge of plastic isn't as stiff.

    roll up sled

    sled

    I always keep a few of those roll-up sleds around, and snag any I see at garage sales, thrift stores, or end-of-the-season sales. It is a nice thickness for a variety of things, including sheet-frames in packs and HDPE is so very versatile over such a huge temp range.

    #2177287
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    David, that looks like something that I saw on the shelves at the Fred Meyer store in Anchorage.

    –B.G.–

    #2177710
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    "but apparently the search & rescue folks were able to. So – why couldn't she reach the hut?"

    When researching for my own trip, local professionals (name withheld for liability sake) said body weight is one of the main factors in what wind you can walk in. Their rule of thumb is Half your bodyweight is "an" advisable limit. So whereas a 200 lb man could stand in upto 100 mph winds. A (150?) lb girl could be swept up in 75 mph winds. This girl seemed pretty lean.

    In defense of the girl's judgement. She may have known early in the morning she wasn't going to finish the full trip and may have just been trying to summit 1 or two of the mountains before turning back for the car. That's based on what I have done in similar situations. 3:30 is late in the day to be above treeline, but from cycling I know its sometimes easy when making good time with the wind, to forget how much harder the return trip is going to be. Has often thrown off my estimated round trip time on a bike.

    Alot of recent discussions have focused on her PLB, but I haven't heard much about helmets? My understanding was she got blown off trail and/or may have hit her head which ultimately stranded her. I haven't seen confirmation if she had a helmet. In my recent trip, neither I nor any of the other climbers wore helmets because we weren't concerned about falling rocks. Admitedly though, I have read stories where climbers fall, and a cracked helmet suggest it saved them from a concussion on landing.

    My condolences to anyone who might have known the girl. Based on her posted expedition photos, she seemed like a pretty cool member of the outdoor community.

    #2177805
    Jake D
    BPL Member

    @jakedatc

    Locale: Bristol,RI

    Rock/ice climbing helmets are meant to protect you from things being dropped from above.. falling rocks, ice, gear etc. They do not do a great job at protecting you falling into other things, especially the sides of your head. It may help some but not a sure plan.

    Ski helmet would protect more but at that point most hikers wouldn't be going out if they envisioned that risk.

    She wouldn't have to even be knocked out or injured to get stuck off of the trail. If you aren't on the packed down area it is quite deep. and who knows how the drifting was on that side of the peak.

    #2177918
    Ryan Smith
    BPL Member

    @violentgreen

    Locale: East TN

    "For any excursions the are lengthy and/or above treeline and/or away from popular use, I always carry a shovel. For ANY day trip, I carry a Christmas tree storage bag. It is always in my winter pack. 4oz, $2 and makes a quick and dirty bivy shelter in an emergency.

    http://www.pmags.com/quick-tip-xmas-tree-disposal-bag-emergency-shelter"

    Dang it, Mags. I try every way in the world to not click on blog links, but you sucked me in on that one.

    Ryan

    #2177939
    Paul Magnanti
    BPL Member

    @paulmags

    Locale: Colorado Plateau

    I'm obviously in thrall in to the Home Depot Christmas Tree Bag lobby..don't tell anyone! :D

Viewing 25 posts - 51 through 75 (of 88 total)
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